The purpose of this lesson plan is to teach children how important the rainforest and its resources are for our everyday survival in the future. This unit lesson plan will teach children what resources come from the rainforest. It will also make them more aware of how to preserve our rainforest and why it is being destroyed. Last of all this lesson will teach the consequences of what will happen to the human population when the rainforest's disappear.
National Standards
No. 4 Knows and understands the physical and human characteristics
of places.
It is
important for children to understand how the rainforest benefits human
life.
No. 7 Knows and understands that physical processes shape
patterns on the earth's surface.
The
rainforest provides 70% of the earth's oxygen.
No. 9 Knows and understands the characteristics, distribution
and migration of human populations.
Over
200 million people live in tropical rainforests.
No.14 Knows and understands how the earth's physical
and human systems are connected and interact.
One in every four medicines used in the United States comes from the rainforest.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
Throughout social studies in Kindergarten-Grade 12, students build a foundation in history; geography; economics; government; citizenship; culture; science, technology, and society; and social studies skills. the content as appropriate for the grade level or course, enables students to understand the importance of patriotism, function in a free enterprise society, and appreciate the basic values of our state and nation.
The student understands the concept of location.
The student understands that basic human needs are met in many ways.
The student understands the physical and human characteristics of the environment.
The student understands ways in which technology has changed how people live.
Objectives list
Students will demonstrate their ability:
1. To learn useful information.
2. To learn how to turn that information into something
useful.
3. To learn that they can make a difference.
4. To become involved.
Overview of Presentation
This project is divided into five days. On the
first day the teacher would have green string attached from one side of
the room to the other just above head level. These will represent
vines in the rainforest. As children are learning about the rainforest
they will create animals to hang on these vines. By the end of the
week they will have a rainforest. On the last day begin removing
the animals. On this day the focus will be on the destruction of
the rainforest. This really makes things come alive for the children
as they realize what "destruction" actually is.
Day 1
Sponge Activity:
Students will be given the a puzzle page. Ten animals
are hiding in this picture of the rainforest. Some look like leaves
or tree trunks. Others look like brightly colored flowers of fallen
logs. Have them find as many animals as they can and color the entire
picture. This page can be found in Newbridge page 17. Students
will become familiar with the layout of the rainforest and the different
animals that live their.
Opening:
Before the class day has begun, the teacher would have
attached green string on the ceiling as described in the overview.
After the students have finished there sponge activity, the teacher could
read the book The Great Kapok Tree. This introduces the rain
forest to them.
Guided Practice:
This time would be used to discuss all of the different
materials that come from the rainforest. Such materials include:
oils found in shampoo, chocolate, coffee, medicine, nuts, cinnamon, spices,
and many others. Most importantly the air we breath comes from the
rainforest.
Independent Practice:
Pass out a paper that shows the different layers of the
rainforest: Emergent Layer, Understory, Canopy, and the Forest floor.
This will help them learn how many different layers their are and what
animals live in each layer. Have them glue the different layers in
the correct order.
http://www.pbs.org/tal/costa_rica/plants.html
http://www.mindspring.com/~sjslifep/richngreens.html
Day 2
Sponge Activity:
Pass out the worksheet titled Biodiversity. This
is just a worksheet with a bunch of butterflies on it. The children
can color the butterflies all different colors. Then the teacher
could read the sid of the worksheet and explain biodiversity in the rainforest
animals.
Opening:
Read the book Shermand is a Slowpoke. This
is a book about a sloth. Also, the teacher could introduce different
kinds of frogs that live in the rainforest.
Guided Practice:
have an example of a sloth and a red-eyed tree frog already
made. Explain to the students the unique traits in the animals.
Show them how to make their own sloth and red-eyed tree frog.
Independent Practice:
After the students have made their animals have them
hang the creatures from the "vines" on the ceiling. Eventually the
classroom ceiling will be full of different creatures from the rainforest.
http://www.sharingnature.com/BooksandResources.html
Day 3
Sponge Activity:
Have the Students color a toucan pattern. Explain
to them a little bit about toucans and other parrots that live in the rainforest.
Opening:
Read the book Juju and the Pirate. Macaws
are the biggest parrots. Have the students discuss the different
colors of a Macaw as well as their life span and what layers of the rainforest
they live in.
Guided Practice:
Give each student a piece of string. Then pass
out frootloops. Let the students string the frootloops on and help
them tie it into a necklace. This can also be turned into a math
lesson by allowing the children to count the frootloops on the necklace.
Independent Practice:
Students can make a Macaw by folding a piece of construction
paper into a cylinder. Attach strips of colored paper to the bottom
of the cylinder. Punch two holes at the top of the parrot so students
can hang it up.
http://www.jaglair.com/rain/jag-rain.htm
Day 4
Sponge Activity:
Have students draw in a journal what they have learned
so far about the rainforest. Let them draw their own rainforest.
If they want to the students could then show what they drew to the class
and explain it.
Opening:
Review books on the rainforest. Point out butterflies
and moths. Talk about life cycles of butterflies. Read the
book Charlie the Caterpillar.
Guided Practice:
Pass out black cutouts of butterflies and have children
cover with tissue of torn construction paper. Display the butterflies
in the rainforest.
Independent Practice:
Ask the students to answer questions. Have one
group review different materials which come from the rainforest.
Ask another group how many different layers there are in the rainforest.
Day 5
Sponge Activity:
Have the students draw their favorite animal they have
learned about and list some of its characteristics.
Opening:
Read the book The Vanishing Rainforest.
Tell the students about the rainforest and why it is being torn down.
Explain to them what will happen as the rainforest disappears. Loggers
chop down 9 million acres per day.
Guided Practice:
Talk to the students about how they can help preserve
the rainforest. Pass out a piece of paper for them to sign that says
FRIEND OF THE ENVIRONMENT PLEDGE
Independent Practice:
Watch the movie Fern Gully
Closure:
At the end of the day the rainforest in the classroom
should be completely "destroyed". Review why it is important to preserve
the rainforest. Review what comes from the rainforest, and the devastating
effects there absence would have in our lives.
http://www.hipark.austin.isd.tenet.edu/home/pro...nvironment.html
Materials
Handouts
Classroom computer
Crayons
Scissors
Construction paper
Yarn
Appendix
How much percent of our oxygen comes from the rainforest?
How much of earth's species live here?
How many different species live within a general area?
How can you help with the deforestation of the rainforest?
Extensions
Math could be taught by counting fruitloops when the Macaws are mentioned. You could even create a concentration game with sloth's, treefrogs and butterflies.
Social Studies is obviously taught right away by learning the different plants and layers in the rainforest.
Reading could be taught by making vocabulary words that relate to the rainforest.
There are many different types of art in this lesson plan.
Bibliography
The Great Kapok Tree
Sherman is a Slowpoke
Juju and the Pirate
Charlie the Caterpillar
The Vanishing Rainforest
http://www.pbs.org/tal/costa_rica/plants.html (4/27/99)
http://www.mindspring.com/~sjslifep/richngreens.html (4/27/99)
http://www.sharingnature.com/BooksandResources.html (4/27/99)
http://www.jaglair.com/rain/jag-rain.htm (4/27/99)
http://www.hipark.austin.isd.tenet.edu/home/pro...nvironment/html (4/27/99)
http://www.lifeplusvitamins.com/rainindex.html (4/27/99)
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