1.  A topographic map shows the variation in elevation of an area using ________________.

 a.  a clay model
 b.  contour lines
 c.   contour intervals
 d.  concentric circles

feedback
B - Students should understand that although they can make a clay model that shows variation in elevation, a topographic map is 2 dimensional and must depict variation in elevation with contour lines whose finished product will show concentric circles and contour intervals.

2.  Contour lines can be thought of as an intersection of the topography with a ____________.

 a.  vertical plane
 b.  diagonal plane
 c.  wavy plane
 d.  horizontal plane

feedback
 D - Students must understand the concept of a horizontal plane in order to understand the true meaning of contour lines.  If they confuse horizontal they're missing a crucial first step.

3.  If you were standing on one side of a valley looking across the valley at a river which was on the same level as   you, the river would appear to be _________________.

 a.  a wavy line
 b.  a straight line
 c.  invisible
 d.  a jagged line

feedback
B- This concept is best conveyed by creating a topographic map on the playground and actually looking at the strings in this manner when it's completed.  Then students can see that it would appear to be a straight line.

4.  A contour map could show the temperatures in a given region.
 
a. temperatures of an area
b. elevation of an area
c. air pressure of an area
d. all of the above

feedback
D - Students should have seen examples of these kinds of maps with contour lines in the activity. 
 

Biome Detectives

5.  Plants and animals that live in a biome are determined by_____________.

 a. temperature and altitude
 b. altitude and topography
 c.  temperature and moisture
 d.  moisture and soil

feedback
C - Temperature and moisture are an important factor to the living things found in each biome.  Animals can usually  survive in a variety of topography, but temperature and moisture can be crucial to there survival  based on the structure of the species.

6.  A desert biome can receive how much rain per year?
 a. less than 5 inches
 b. less than 10 inches
 c. less than 15 inches
 d. not enough to record

feedback
B - Students need to understand that the desert does receive some rainfall, but it is very minimal.
 

7.  Where might you find a desert biome on a mountain in the northern hemisphere?

 a.  the lower south slope
 b. the higher south slope
 c. the lower north slope
 d. the higher north slope
 e. there wouldn't be one

feedback
A - It would probably be found on the lower south slope since the temperature on areas of the mountains exposed to more sunlight is high.  These areas are usually on the south slope.  It would also be in the lower regions since air cools as it rises.  Students need to be able to combine these elements of past learning to come up with the correct combination for this on.

8. Plants found in the forest biome include a wide variety of deciduous and coniferous trees.

a. True
b. False

feedback
T - Students need to understand that the forest biome has a wide variety of vegetation and requires the most rainfall of any biome.

9.  The forest biome has four seasons.

a. True
b. False

feedback
T - Forests grow most often in the temperate latitudes in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

10. The Alpine tundra biome:

a. is the coldest biome found on earth
b. has extremely fertile soil
c. has a treeless environment
d. a & c
e. a & b

feedback
D - It gets very little moisture and most of the water comes from snow.  The weather is severe, growing season short, and soil infertile and thin.

11. In the Alpine Tundra region the permafrost layer of ground is:

a. covered with frost all year
b. a permanent layer of solid ice
c. frozen all year
d. what makes the soil so fertile

feedback
C - They should know that the soil is infertile and thin and that it is not solid ice, but ground.
 

12.  Where would you find the Alpine Biome on a mountain?

  a.  the lower south slope
 b. the higher south slope
 c. the lower north slope
 d. the higher north slope
 e. there wouldn't be one

feedback
It would be found high on the mountain where there is little or no sun on the north side.  Since it's protected from the sun and wind, the snow can stay almost year round.  There would be a short growing season with thin soil.

13.  Animals survive the severe climate conditions of the Alpine Tundra by

 a. hibernating
 b. adapting
 c. migrating
 d. all of the above

feedback
D - Students should understand that their are a variety of animals and therefore a variety of methods for surviving a severe climate.

14.  The grasslands are not known as

 a.  savannas
 b. tundras
 c. steppes
 d. plains

feedback
B - Students should understand that there are different terms for grasslands around the world.  Tundra is the only one of the terms above that is not appropriate.

15.  Grasslands get about how much rain per year?

 a. 5-10 inches
 b. 10-15 inches
 c. 10-30 inches
 d. 25-40 inches

feedback
C - Students should understand that the grasslands need a moderate amount of moisture for the grass to be able to grow on the grasslands.
 

Bears:

16.  Grizzly Bears would be found in

 a. The United States
 b. Russia
 c. Australia
 d. a & b
 e. b & c
 f.  a, b & c

feedback
D - Students should understand that parts of the United States and Russia have similar climates and habitat supportive of the Grizzly Bear population, but that Australia doesn't. 

17.  Small populations of Grizzly Bears are declining around the world.

a. true
b. false

feedback
T - This statement is true because bears prefer to live in remote areas.  As the world population grows there a less remote areas left for grizzlies and they are pushed out of their natural habitats.

Fire:

18.  Forest Fires can be good for the environment because they

 a.  reduce the build-up of fuel, and thus the intensity of future burns.
 b. reduce competition, allowing existing and new vegetation to grow larger.
 c. add smoke to the atmosphere which recycles nutrients in the air.
 d. a & b
 e. b & c
 f. a, b & c

feedback
D - Students need to understand the necessity of let-burn policies and the important role that fire plays in an ecosystem as part of natural growth and development.  The only real negative aspect is the pollution to the air and threats to man-made features and dwellings.

1.  Explain why we need to now how to read maps with contour lines.

feedback
Many situations call for topographic info and weather info that is represented on contour maps.  Examples - flights, road construction, development planning, weather reports.

2.  Write a paragraph explaining the steps of the activity "Creating a Contour Map on your Playground".

feedback
Students should understand and be able to explain the steps of the project in relation to the terms they've been learning about.  Elevation, contour lines, and contour intervals.
They should also understand that if they've done the activity correctly, the lines should vary in distance from one another and create a variety of patterns, but if they look at them at eye level, they should appear to be equidistant, straight and parallel.

3.  Where would you find a grassland biome on a mountain?

feedback
Students should be able to explain that it would probably be in the rain shadow area on the east side of a mountain since it would have to be semi-arid with some sun, but not much rain.  (10-30 in.)  It may be above the tree line due to less moisture or low on the mountain where there is also less moisture.

4.  Forests grow most often in the temperate latitudes in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.  Compare the map of forest biomes to maps depicting bird migrations and explain the connection.
 
(The Journey North Project is an excellent extension of this concept)

5.  Where would you find most of the Grizzly Bears in the world?
 
feedback
Remote areas of mountain environments in the northern hemisphere.  Primarily Eurasia and North America.

6.  What observations can you make about grizzly survival based on the "Habitat Needs of a Grizzly" activity

feedback
 - Too many bears in too small of an area will mean death for most
 - Bears with cubs need the most food
  - Handicapped bears are not likely to be able to get enough food to survive
 - Bears need huge spaces for few bears

7.  Discuss any connections between where a fire burns in relation to elevation and vegetation.

feedback
This question allows students to look at many connections that would affect the fire in relation to elevation and vegetation.
More vegetation - fire will have more fuel so may spread faster, but there will also be more water to slow it down.  Amount of water will vary and dryness of fuel will vary.

Higher elevation - less humidity, drier fuel, greater wind fluctuations, cooler temps (all factors in fires)