Alliance Created State Giant Traveling Map Lesson
Title: ​Minnesota Biomes
Recommended Grades: ​3-5
Time Needed: ​60 minutes (30 minute activity prior to the map, 30 minute map
activity)
Objectives:
● Students will understand what a biome is.
● Students will be able to identify and describe the four Minnesota biomes on
the map.
● Students will use geospatial skills to identify the locations of animals that live
in the four biomes.
● Students will be able to explain why biomes are important and how animals
depend on the biomes for survival.
Materials: ​DNR biome descriptions sheets*(link to printable PDFs below) and
blank Minnesota outline map ( for use in the classroom), Biome Fact Sheets for each
group, Animal Clue Cards, biome animals, Biome Answer Grid, colored chips, colored
chains to partition the four biomes on the map.
*Below are links to the Minnesota DNR website where PDF documents can be
printed. These documents accompany the introductory lesson on biomes.
Link to Minnesota Biome Comparison Document
Link to Coniferous Forest Biome Document
Link to Deciduous Forest Biome Document
Link to Tallgrass Aspen Parkland Biome Document
Link to Prairie Grass Biomes Document
Preparation: ​Before engaging students on the large Minnesota map it is important
to complete the background lesson on biomes. Teachers may want to partition the
four biomes (using the colored chains) on the map prior to students being on the
map.
Rules:
● Shoes are not allowed on the map. Please have students remove shoes before
walking on the map.
● No writing utensils on the map.
​
Alliance Created State Giant Traveling Map Lesson
​
Directions:
What Is a Biome? ​(introductory lesson prior to the “Find the Biome” map activity)
● Introduce the new vocabulary: ​ biome ​- a large area of land where plants and
animals live together
​ ● Read the book ​Minnesota’s Hidden Alphabet by David LaRochelle,
photography by Joe Rossi
○ Ask students to listen for the animals and plants in the book
● After reading explain that each of the animals and plants are part of
Minnesota’s four biomes.
● Project a map of Minnesota’s biomes. ​Link to DNR biome map
● Share the information about the four biomes from the Minnesota DNR fact
sheets (share as a whole class or have students read independently)
● Using a map of Minnesota have students sketch the borders of the four
biomes. Have students write four characteristics that define each of the
unique biomes.
Map Activity: “Find the Biome”
● Divide students into four groups (red, yellow, green, blue)
● Each group will go to the colored base area on the map.
○ Note: For this activity, each colored base has a set of five unique
animals and biome clue cards.
● Give each group one copy of the laminated Biome Fact Sheet, colored chips,
Biome Answer Grid and a set of animals and animal clue cards.
● Each group will be responsible for finding the biome location of five animals.
Once they have read the clue, they will place the animal in the appropriate
biome.
● Groups will place a colored chip on the the biome answer grid indicating
which biome they placed the animal in.
● Allow five to ten minutes for groups to locate the biomes. Then have groups
return all their animals, clue cards, and colored chips neatly to their colored
base area. (Note: you may want to have students count their animals to
ensure they get all five animals back to their base area)
● Rotate groups to a new colored base. Groups will then locate the biomes for
the animals in that base area.
● Depending on time, have groups rotate through as many colored base areas
as possible.
● Once the activity is completed, have students gather the animals, clue cards,
chips, and biome answer grids. Make sure their are 5 animals that match the
clue cards for each group. Place the materials in appropriate colored storage
containers, so that it is ready for the next group of students.
Alliance Created State Giant Traveling Map Lesson
Discussion Questions to Accompany the Lesson:
1. How do the biomes in Minnesota help animals to survive? (biomes provide
shelter, protection, and food for the animals)
2. How do animals use the biome? (sample answers: they find food there, they
can build their homes in trees, prairie grasses, underground, they can be
protected by the trees, prairie grasses, and plants)
3. What impact do you think farming has had on Minnesota’s biomes? (sample
answers: loss of trees, natural vegetation and plants, loss of habitats and
food for animals)
4. What impact has the development of cities and homes had on biomes?
(sample answers: animals lose their habitat, some animals have moved into
the cities, loss of land, trees, and plants)
5. How can humans help to protect the biomes in Minnesota? (sample answers:
they can protect the natural areas, plant native trees and plants, preserve the
land with State Parks and Forest areas, keep our land clean)
Tips:
● Teachers should check student’s placement of animals.
● Make sure students are referencing the Biome Fact Sheet to help them
accurately place the animals.
● Always have students check that they have all 5 animals when returning
them to their home base area.
● The Minnesota DNR has a great Jr. Naturalist program with materials that
can be used in the classroom. You may print all or parts of this to use. It
would be a great extension activity with this lesson. Follow the attached link
to access a Jr. Naturalist activity that goes with three of the Minnesota
biomes. ​Link to DNR Biome Booklet
Standards:
Social Studies Standards
3.3.1.1.1 - ​Use maps and concepts of location (relative location words and cardinal
and intermediate directions) to describe places in one’s community, the state of
Minnesota, the United States of the world.
For example: Relative location words close to, above, bordering.
4.3.2.3.1 -​Locate and identify the physical and human characteristics of places in
the United States, and also Canada or Mexico.
4.3.4.9.1 - ​Explain how humans adapt to and/or modify the physical environment
and how they are in turn affected by these adaptations and modifications.
Alliance Created State Giant Traveling Map Lesson
Science Standards
5.4.2.1.1 - ​Describe a natural system in Minnesota, such as a wetland, prairie, or
garden, in terms of the relationships among its living and nonliving parts, as well as
inputs and outputs.
Vocabulary:​ ​biome​ - a large area of land where animals and plants live together or
a unique ecosystem that support distinct animal and plant communities
deciduous​ - trees that lose their leaves at the end of each growing season
coniferous​ - evergreen trees that bear cones
Prairie Grasslands Biome
This biome has large areas of
grassland. It is open and has
a variety of plants and
grasses. The pictures to the
right are just a few of the
types of plants that would
grow naturally in this biome.
Blazing Star
Up to 2 feet tall
Big Bluestem
Up to 8 feet tall
Prairie Smoke
6-16 inches tall
Bur Oak
This type of tree grows
across much of Minnesota
including in parts of the
Prairie Grasslands Biome
80 feet tall
Deciduous Forest Biome
In this biome you can find
thickly forested areas. The
trees in this area are mostly
deciduous. This means they
lose their leaves each year.
The pictures to the right
include two of the most
common trees found in this
biome along with one of the
plants that is native to this
area.
Prickly Gooseberry
Up to 4 feet tall
Sugar Maple Trees
80 feet tall
White Oak Trees
70 feet tall
Coniferous Forest
Biome
In this biome you can
find forests of evergreen
trees. This type of tree
has needles instead of
leaves. These trees have
cones that spread the
seeds of the evergreen.
The pictures to the right
show two different
types of coniferous trees
in Minnesota. The Fly
Honeysuckle plant also
grows in the Coniferous
Biome.
Balsam Fir
50 feet tall
Northern White Cedar
60 feet tall
Norway Pine
70 feet tall
Fly Honeysuckle
Up to 4 feet tall
Tallgrass Aspen
Parkland Biome
This biome has patches
of prairie grass and
groves of Aspen and Bur
Oak trees.
Temperatures in the
biome can be very cold
in the winter and very
hot in the summer. The
pictures to the right
show two of the prairie
grasses and the
Big-Toothed Aspen that
grow in this biome.
Wiregrass Sedge
2 to 3 feet tall
Big-Toothed Aspen
70 feet tall
Little Bluestem grass.
Up to 3 feet tall
Blue Group - Find the Biome Clues
Animal Name
Common Loon
Animal Name
Raccoon
Biome Clue
This is Minnesota’s state bird. The loon can be found living
on lakes in the Deciduous Forest and Coniferous Forest
biomes. They love spending summers on Minnesota’s
lakes, but migrate south during the cold winter months.
Place the loon in either of these two biomes.
Biome Clue
The raccoon is a very familiar animal in Minnesota. That is
because it lives in every biome. In fact there are only three
counties in northeastern Minnesota where the raccoon
does not live. Place the raccoon in any of the four
Minnesota biomes.
Animal Name
Biome Clue
Black Bear
The smallest Minnesota biome provides a perfect habitat
for Minnesota’s only bear species. In this biome the black
bear can make its home among the many aspen groves.
Animal Name
Biome Clue
Beaver
Animal Name
Bison
What does the beaver like most? Trees of course. The trees
in the deciduous forest make a perfect place for the beaver.
Of course the beaver will want to choose a tree by a
beautiful stream or pond.
Biome Clue
This great animal once roamed freely in the prairies of
Minnesota. This provided a perfect place for buffalo as
their primary source of food is grass. Today buffaloes do
not live in the wild in Minnesota. You can visit Minnesota’s
Blue Mound State Park to see a herd of buffalo that makes
its home there in southern Minnesota.
Answer Grid
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Common Loon
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Raccoon
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Black Bear
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Beaver
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Bison
Prairie
Grasslands
Red Group - Find the Biome Clues
Animal Name
Moose
Animal Name
Sandhill Crane
Biome Clue
The average moose weighs nearly 1,000 pounds. They eat
water plants and various small trees and shrubs. Moose
make their homes in the biome that has a large area of
National Forest land. This biome also includes the highest
point in Minnesota.
Biome Clue
This is a large bird with a very special sound. No other bird
sounds like the sandhill crane. Standing, the sandhill crane
is nearly five feet tall. Many sandhill cranes can be found
in Minnesota’s smallest biome.
Animal Name
Biome Clue
Red Fox
This animal lives across all four Minnesota biomes. They
live in ground dens in open prairies and forested areas. The
red fox eats a variety of foods and will store food to use
later. Place the red fox in any of the four biomes.
Animal Name
Biome Clue
Snapping Turtle
The snapping turtle is Minnesota’s largest turtle. It can be
found in lakes, marshes, and rivers. One place that many
snapping turtles make their home is along the Mississippi
River. Find the biome with the Mississippi River and place
the snapping turtle here.
Animal Name
Biome Clue
White-tailed
Jackrabbit
The white-tailed jackrabbit is nicknamed “jack”. It is
Minnesota’s largest rabbit and lives in the prairie
grasslands. Its brown fur helps it blend into the prairie
grasses during the summer, but its fur turns mostly white
in the winters.
Answer Grid
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Moose
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Sandhill Crane
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Red Fox
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Snapping Turtle
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
White-tailed
jackrabbit
Prairie
Grasslands
Yellow Group - Find the Biome Clues
Animal Name
Biome Clue
Bobcat
To find this animal you will have to travel to the
northeastern part of Minnesota. Use the grid coordinates
E4 to help you locate the bobcat’s biome.
Animal Name
Biome Clue
Coyote
Animal Name
Gray Squirrel
Animal Name
American Elk
Animal Name
Pocket Gopher
This animal can actually be found all over Minnesota. We
will look back in time to see which biome most coyotes
once lived in. Long ago coyotes were rarely seen in
Northern Minnesota. They preferred the Prairie
Grasslands. Place the coyote here.
Biome Clue
You have probably seen this animal in your backyard. It is
very common in Minnesota, but it loves a place with lots of
leafy trees. These trees provide shelter and protection for
the squirrel. Place the squirrel where you find deciduous
trees.
Biome Clue
The American Elk at one time was found in many parts of
Minnesota. Today most American Elk live up north. Look
for the biome that is a mixture of grasslands and Aspen
trees near the Canadian border. This is where Elk can be
found grazing.
Biome Clue
Did you know this small animal has thirteen stripes down
its back? That is how it got its name thirteen-lined ground
squirrel. It is also the mascot for the Minnesota Gophers.
The gopher loves the grasslands, so look for the biome in
southwestern Minnesota to find this animal.
Answer Grid
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Bobcat
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Coyote
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Gray Squirrel
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
American Elk
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Pocket Gopher
Prairie
Grasslands
Green Group - Find the Biome Clues
Animal Name
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Animal Name
Bald Eagle
Animal Name
Gray Wolf
Animal Name
Great Horned Owl
Biome Clue
This interesting bird prefers an area with few trees and
open grassland. During the winter grouse eat twigs of
Aspen trees and feast on a variety of seeds and grain
during the summer. Their home is in the northwestern
biome of tall grassland and Aspen trees.
Biome Clue
With a wingspan up to seven feet, the bald eagle is the
second largest bird of prey. They build large nests in trees
near lakes and rivers. Bald eagles are most common in the
northeastern part of the state where there are large
evergreen trees and many lakes. They also can be found
along the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. Place the bald
eagle in either of these two biomes.
Biome Clue
You may think you can find this animal anywhere in
Minnesota, but it prefers a part of Minnesota that is cooler
and has many evergreen trees. You will find that more
wolves live in this biome than other parts of Minnesota.
Biome Clue
This particular owl can be found all over North America.
In Minnesota it uses the leaves and branches of the many
deciduous trees found in this biome to provide camouflage
and shelter.
Animal Name
Biome Clue
Spring Peeper
This animal is a type of tree frog. It lives in heavily
forested areas in northern Minnesota. This biome has
many evergreen trees and borders Lake Superior.
Answer Grid
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Tall Grassland
Aspen
Coniferous
Forest
Sharp-tailed
Grouse
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Bald Eagle
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Gray Wolf
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Prairie
Grasslands
Great Horned
Owl
Animal Name
Biome Animal Placed In
Deciduous
Forest
Spring Peeper
Prairie
Grasslands