1.
Lesson Title: Rain Forests
2. Subject Area: Language Arts , Math , Science , Art , Social
Studies , Music , Drama , Technology
3. Grade Level: 3-5
4. Time: 6 week project
5. Lesson Summary: Students will:
1. Receive an overview of lesson (teacher power point
presentation)
2. Learn about the layers of the rain forest (teacher created
power point presentations),
3. Create a paper rain forest in the classroom including
animals drawn with information cards researched by students
using Amazing Amazon Trail CD-ROM,
4. Take notes on teacher's presentation and write a paragraph
in a book to make a layer book of the rain forest,
5. Take a videotape of creating the rain forest, make a
storyboard and use editing equipment to create a
documentary type video about the layers of the rain forest.
6. Create Power Point Presentations (have them for open
house) using research done at specific sites on the internet,
Encarta, Grolier and World Book CD-ROMs and Rain Forest
library books.
7. Write a newsletter about the rain forest to inform students
at the school.
8. Inform email buddies of rainforest information and their
projects. 9. Visit the class website to see selected published
projects teacher has uploaded
6. Objectives:
1. Students will use note taking, report writing, storyboard
writing, keyboarding, Power Point and video editing skills
previously learned.
2. Students will be learning about another environment,
creating products to enhance learning.
3. Students will use prior knowledge of other environments to
help them know what, where, and how to research. 4.
Students will understand the need to take care of the
environment for their future and share the information with
email buddies and school friends using a newsletter.
5. Students will use research and note taking to learn of a new
environment.
6. Students will write a report on a specific part of the
environment. Students will also write a book telling about the
layers of the forest. Writing rubric will be used for evaluation.
7. Students will give an oral report using a power point
presentation. Students and teacher will evaluate using a
rubric.
7. Prerequisite Skills:
1. Simple research skills
2. Keyboarding
3. How to use Amazon Trail CD-ROM to get information
4. How to use scanner, digital camera, video camera and
editing equipment
5. How to create a newsletter using MS Publisher
6. How to create PPT presentation
7. How to use URL to move on the internet
8. Materials and Resources:
Technology: Computer(s) , Television , VCR , Video Camera ,
Scanner , Printer , Digital Camera , Internet Connection ,
Multimedia Software , Word Processing Software , Image
Processing Software , Web Page Development Software ,
Desktop Publishing Software , Internet Web Browser , E-mail
Software , Encyclopedia on CD-ROM
Printed Materials: Variety of library books on the rain forest
Into the Rain Forest by The Nature Company Rain Forests by
Joy Palmer
Supplies: Premade books for Layer books, (see Rain Forest
Layer Book) Butcher paper to make paper rain forest Crayons,
markers or colored pencils Scissors Handouts Push pins,
staplers and staples Paint for paper rain forest leaves
Others: Computers Software-Amazing Amazon Trail, MS Word,
MS Publisher, MS Power Point, Encarta, Grolier, World Book or
other research software or books Digital Camera, scanner,
video camera and video editing equipment Access to the
internet. Video-National Geographic \\"Rain Forest\\"
9. Procedures: 1. Teacher introduces overall 6 week unit with
Power Point Presentation.
2. Students view National Geographic Video.
3. Teacher presentation of Power Points describing each layer
of the rain forest. Students take notes and write a paragraph
about the layer in their rain forest book. Students draw and
color the layer on the outside of the book. (Students will later
use the notes to create a script for the video)
4. Run 5 different stations. Station 1. 5 students create the
specific layer (this is done after the teacher gives the
presentation for the day)of the rainforest using butcher paper.
(see Paper Rainforest) Station 2. 5 students video tape the
process of making the layer of rainforest. Students should use
some wide angle shots and some close ups of flowers and
animals. Station 3. 4 students research animals using Amazing
Amazon Trails CD-ROM. (work in partners using 2 computers)
Station 4. 4 students research subjects for power point
presentations. (Students work as partners using 2
computers) . Specific subjects are: RAIN FOREST PRODUCTS
(www.ran.org/ran/kids_action/index1.html)
(http://204.98.1.2/barrier/rainreview.html), WHERE ARE RAIN
FOREST (www.nosweat.com)
5. (ANIMALS OF THE RAIN FOREST
(http://168.238.53/amazon/index.htm
(http:/kids.osd.wednet.edu/marshall/homepage/animal.html),
(http:/hyperion.advanced.org), PLANTS OF THE RAINFORESTS
((http://hyperion.advanced.org)
(www.pbs.org/tal/costa_rica/variety.html)
(http://168.238.53/amazon/index.htm
(http://kids.osd.wednet.edu/marshall/homepage/plants.html),
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE RAIN FORESTS
(http://168.238.53/amazon/index.htm
(http://www.ran.org/ran/kids_action/index1.html), Station 5.
Students drawing and coloring animals and flowers for the rain
forest layer. Students will have a chance to be at a different
station each day. When Power Point Presentations or paper
rainforest is done, students will start writing storyboard and
script for video. Then they will do the editing.
6. Students have 2 times a week when they will be able to
take turns as partners to use the internet for research in the
library and will have scheduled times to work on the
computers to finish research and Power Point Presentations. At
the beginning of the period, students will email their buddies.
7. Students will present oral reports using Power Point
Presentation and evaluate peers.
8. Students will use created rain forest to enjoy a quiet place
to read.
9. Finished rain forest layer books will be on desks at open
house.
10. Students will watch and critique video.
11. Students will visit the class webpage to enjoy seeing
selected projects published.
10. Conclusion/Evaluation of Lesson: 1. Writing will be
evaluated using writing rubric. 2. Power Point Presentations
will be evaluated using teacher created rubric, student
evaluation form and oral report rubric. 3. Video will be
evaluated for cooperative group work, for content, and for
technical work using point charts.
11. Modification for Differentiated Instruction:
Special Needs:1.Student can be partnered with more
experienced computer user. 2. This and extra teacher time
helps these students to be successful. 3. The student is not
expected to have as much information or show in their
presentations
Gifted Student: 1. Creative thinking on emphasis of project
can stimulate more web searches and more interesting
information on the slides. Slides can be added to bring in
appropriate emphasis. Actual science experimenting will also
be encouraged for these students. 2. Exploring the people of
the rainforest might be of interest to the student. The student
could add to the class storyboard, dress up like a native rain
forest inhabitant to add a segment to the video.
Reference :
http://www.comfsm.fm/pt3/techhelp/lessonexample.htm
