Activity 1-1
What’s Your Biodiversity IQ?
AT A GLANCE
Take a “gee-whiz quiz” to find out how much you know about
biodiversity, especially in Illinois.
OBJECTIVES
Define biodiversity, discuss facts and issues related to Illinois
biodiversity, and list reasons why biodiversity is important.
SUBJECTS
English language arts, science
SKILLS
analyzing (discussing), interpreting (inferring, reasoning),
applying (synthesizing)
LINKS TO ILLINOIS BIODIVERSITY BASICS
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
biological diversity
VOCABULARY
biodiversity, ecosystems, genes, migration, species, plus
review “What’s Your Biodiversity IQ?” for words that may be
unfamiliar
TIME
one class period
MATERIALS
copy of the “Student Pages” and copies of the “Answer
Pages” for each group (or for each individual)
CORRELATION TO ILLINOIS LEARNING STANDARDS
English language arts 1.C.2a, 1.C.3a
science 12.B.2a, 12.B.2b, 12.B.3a, 12.B.3b
Did you know that there are insects that masquerade as
plant parts, birds that map their migration by the stars,
and fungi that find their way into your favorite foods?
In Illinois alone, there are more than 54,000 different
species of organisms. When it comes to biodiversity,
these and other fascinating facts prove that truth really is
stranger than fiction.
Have your students take the biodiversity quiz to learn
about some of the tantalizing stranger-than-fiction tidbits
that biodiversity has to offer. In the process, they’ll become
familiar with some important biodiversity basics.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
For each group of three or four students, make a copy of
the quiz and the answers. Or, if you wish to place the quiz
in the student’s portfolio, you may have each student
take the quiz.
WHAT TO DO
1. Distribute the quizzes and review vocabulary.
Divide the class into groups of three or four students
and give each group a copy of the quiz. Review any
words that may be unfamiliar to the students. For
now, don’t define the word...