Contextualization

The world is a tremendously diverse and fascinating set of ecosystems. There are several ways to classify and study this diversity, one of them is through biomes. Biomes are large areas with distinct characteristics, such as climate and types of plants and animals. There are various types of biomes distributed around the world, each with its own beauty and unique importance.

Understanding biomes and their characteristics is fundamental to comprehend the ecological systems of the planet, how they interact with each other and with human beings. Biomes allow us to understand biodiversity, climate, natural resources, and the adaptation and interaction of species.

Theoretical Introduction

To have a complete and systematic view of the geography and ecology of our planet, it is essential to understand the concepts that describe the world's biomes. They are geographical entities of global scale that gather terrestrial ecosystems with similarities in terms of flora, fauna, relief, and, mainly, climate. Biomes are defined based on large climatic patterns and are classified into five major types: desert, forest, mountain, aquatic, and tundra.

At a second moment, it is important to delve into the concept of a 'production chain.' A production chain is the sequence of processes and operations involved in the production and distribution of a good or service, from the obtaining of raw materials to the delivery of the final product to the consumer. Studying the impact of production chains on biomes provides us with a more critical and conscious view of the relationship between economy and the environment.

Finally, we must also understand the concept of sustainability, which refers to the ability to sustain or support one or more conditions, exhibited by something or someone. It is a characteristic or condition of a process or system that allows its permanence, at a certain level, for a certain period. It is within this concept that studies on the exploitation of biomes find the necessary balance for the long-term maintenance of life.

To deepen the study on biomes, I suggest the following reliable resources:

1. World Biomes - Earth School's YouTube Channel
2. Article 'Biomes: basic characteristics and main aspects' - Mundo Educação Portal
3. World Biomes - Geografia para todos Website
4. Guide to Brazilian Biomes - WWF-Brazil

This biome study project is an opportunity to expand knowledge about our planet, as well as to develop technical and socio-emotional skills.

Practical Activity: Biomes in Focus

Project Objective

The project's objective is to study and deeply understand the world's biomes, exploring their characteristics, their role in the global context, and the impacts of different production chains on them. Students should be divided into groups of 3 to 5 members.

Detailed Project Description

Each group will be responsible for a biome. From this, students should research in-depth about this biome, considering geographical, climatic, biological, and economic aspects. They must understand how the biome is integrated into the global system, how it is affected by human action, and what are the main active production chains and their socio-environmental and economic impacts. Additionally, they should think and propose sustainable solutions to the identified problems.

There are five types of biomes: desert, forest, mountain, aquatic, and tundra. Therefore, each group must choose a different biome to ensure the diversity of the study.

Required Materials

• Computer with internet access
• Materials for video production (camera, microphone, video editor)
• Articles, books, videos, and other research materials.

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Biome Selection: Each group chooses a biome to be the focus of their research.

2. Research: The groups conduct intensive research on the chosen biome. They should gather information about the biome's location, climate, main species, ecological interactions, main threats, present production chains, and socio-environmental and economic impacts.

3. Sustainable Solutions: The groups must identify specific problems faced by the biome and propose sustainable management and exploitation strategies.

4. Video Production: Each group must produce a 15 to 20-minute video presenting the biome, its characteristics, threats, and proposed solutions. The video should be informative, creative, and engaging.

5. Written Document: After completing the practical part, each group must write a report document discussing their findings and experiences. The report should include an introduction, development, conclusion, and bibliography.

6. Presentation: Each group will present their video to the class and discuss their conclusions.

Project Deliverables

1. Video: The production of an educational video of 15 to 20 minutes about the chosen biome is one of the main deliverables of this project. The video should be detailed, informative, and engage the audience.

2. Written Document: In addition to the video, students must deliver a final report in which they discuss the research and video production process. The report should include:

   • Introduction: Contextualization of the biome, relevance of the theme, and project objective.
   • Development: Detailed discussion of the biome aspects, production chain impacts, and proposed solutions. The research methodology should be explained.
   • Conclusion: Recap of the main points, discussion of learnings, and conclusions drawn from the project.
   • Bibliography: References of the materials used for research.

3. Presentation: Each group must present their video to the class and answer questions from the audience and the teacher.

The expectation is that this project will take 12 to 20 hours of work per student, depending on the level of detail and depth of research desired. Research, video production, report writing, and presentation preparation should be evenly distributed over a period of three to four weeks.