Sanford Middle School seventh graders recently wrapped up a seven-week science unit focused on global biomes, blending ecology research with hands-on building and real-world problem solving.
Working in groups of five to eight students, seventh graders across the school researched global biomes and took on specialized roles such as Chief Ecologist and Chief Engineer. Teams were also given a budget to manage, requiring them to track the cost of materials as they designed and built model dwellings suited to their assigned biome. Science teachers Diana Allen and Brock Sanborn led all seventh grade classes through the unit together.
To keep things interesting and a little unpredictable, teachers drew "community chest" cards throughout the project, introducing unexpected challenges that forced teams to rethink their budgets on the fly.
Each group produced two final deliverables: a research tri-fold display and a physical model of their biome dwelling. The research component pushed students to think critically about the quality of their sources. Many discovered firsthand that AI tools and social media platforms aren't always reliable, and that some of the exotic animals they'd spotted on TikTok and Instagram simply don't exist.
Teams also earned points through quizzes, on-time homework submissions, and other academic benchmarks, weaving cooperative learning and individual accountability throughout the experience.
The unit culminated in a presentation day where students fielded questions from a range of judges. Teachers prepared students by running timed practice Q&A sessions earlier in the week, helping groups sharpen their responses before the real thing.