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Surviving in Our Ecosystems
Third graders identify the characteristics of a frog and compare them to a human child. They draw and describe the best environment for a human to live in and the best environment for a frog to live in based on their physical...
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Forest Ecosystem
Students become familiar with the temperate rainforest. In this forest ecosystem instructional activity, students identify the producers, consumers and decomposers in the forest ecosystem. Students sort cards and identify the...
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Amazon Deforestation
Students answer a quiz on rainforests. They plan an advertising campaign to let consumers know the effect their purchases are having on the environment. They list the reasons for deforestation and possible alternatives.
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Biomes of the World (and Canada)
Young scholars explore environments by analyzing food chains. In this biome identification instructional activity, students define a list of environmental vocabulary terms such as tundra, rain-forest and desert. Young scholars create a...
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Deforestation
Students study the effects of deforestation. In this environmental lesson, students view a PowerPoint slideshow about the importance of trees. Students read The Lorax and discuss what the characters represent in our society.
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Rain Forests
Students investigate rain forests. They view and discuss photos of rain forests, answer discussion questions, define key vocabulary words, and participate in a class discussion.
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That Is a Lot of Rain
Students investigate the amount of rainfall in Manu, Peru. They view and discuss a video and fill a rain guage with the amount of rainfall in Manu. They research and compare local rainfall amounts to those of Manu, and write about what...
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Rain Forest Project
Students recognize the relationships among the various parts of the world's environment. They practice the concepts of ecology and ecology. The importance of recycling and the complexities of world politics is also taught.
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TE Activity: Built to Last?
Fifth graders test the shelters that were built in a prior activity. They determine the level of durability and water resistance of these shelters through a scientific investigation.
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The Great Kapok Tree
Students read The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry. After reading the story, they center on the controversy of destroying the rain forest or conserving it. Students have to make an informed decision about rain forest destruction.
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Airline Carry-On Luggage
Students pretend they are taking trip to tropical rainforest of South America, and design and build luggage that fits within standard size requirements for most airlines. After researching requirements, design and build pieces of soft...
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Biodiversity
Students are challenged to examine the diversity of their own forest and make comparisons to a tropical rainforest. By exploring and grouping tree and insect types in their local forest, students will develop an understanding of diversity.
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"Afternoon on the Amazon" by Mary Pope Osborne
Students read and complete activities dealing with the book "Afternoon on the Amazon". They create webs of words used in the book and write about what they have read.
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Soil, Forest, and Land Exploitation
Students debate over the cutting of rainforests in order to put people to work. They then brainstorm ways it may be possible to provide jobs for people and to preserve the rainforest.
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Adding Sound to a Story
Pupils read a short story about the rain forest. They listen to a recording of rain forest sounds and break into several smaller groups to create a soundtrack to the rainforest story.
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Information Fluency Unit
Third graders pretend they have been asked to make t-shirts to show endangered plants and animals in the rainforest. Using the internet, they research what is happening in the rainforest and discover why the destruction of it is harmful...
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Topical Ecosystems
Fourth graders read about two tropical ecosystems: the rainforest and the coral reef using Palm Reader. They then complete a study guide as part of their reading experience and create a Sketchy and PiCoMap as directed. Students take test...
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El Salvador: Whose Breakfast Isn't for the Birds?
Sixth graders investigate the understanding of where coffee is grown by conducting a survey. They study the natural history of coffee and examine bird habitats in the areas where coffee is grown. They write letters to explaining the...
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Let the Rain Come Down!
Second graders construct a bar graph comparing local precipitation to that of the Yucatan. In this graphing lesson, 2nd graders will use conversions and problem solving strategies.
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What's Goin' Down?
Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this service learning activity, students investigate the locations of the world's rain forests and concerns regarding the world's rain forests.
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Rain Reasons
Students explore how climatic factors influence the growth of plants. They create an experiment to find how variations in water, light, and temperature affect plant growth and describe how precipitation and geography can affect the...
Science 4 Inquiry
Deforestation
Young scientists observe deforestation from satellite photos and discuss the importance of forests to the global environment. They then simulate a plot of forest when farmers move into the area over the course of seven years. Finally,...
California Academy of Science
Conservation Island
Why not walk in the footsteps of Teddy Roosevelt and become a conservationist? After discussing issues and reasons for animal extinction, the class creates their own conservation plans. Each small group is given mock data regarding a...
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Biodiversity: El Imposible National Park, El Salvador
Fifth graders explore the concept of how the more diverse an ecosystem is, the more interdependence of species exists within that system. The complex relationships among diverse species are difficult to identify. As species disappear or...