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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
Students 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 instructional activity, 2nd graders will use conversions and problem solving strategies.
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What's Goin' Down?
Young scholars explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this service learning lesson, 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...
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Biomes
Arranged as an interactive lesson, this presentation focuses on the six world biomes. Upcoming biologists click on a specific biome and a slide lists its location, description, native plants, and animals. A quiz provides learners with...
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,...
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What is Deforestation?
An overview of deforestation is the focus of this resource, which present the reader with a list of facts. Ten comprehension questions follow; learners can write their answers on a separate piece of paper. Have your environmental...
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Celebrate the Beauty of Wildlife
Take advantage pupils' spring fever by learning about trees and wildlife.
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...
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Honduras: Going Bananas
Students explore the popularity of bananas. They conduct a survey to understand the reasons for their popularity. Students research a banana's journey from the farm to school lunch. They compose a children's book about bananas explaining...
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One Square Meter
Learners examine various ecosystems using scientific inquiry. Using the local area, they assess the characteristics and conditions in one square meter. They report their findings in the form of a survey map and data sheet. They...
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Habitats
Second graders identify characteristics of various habitats. In this habitats lesson, 2nd graders read Where the Forest Meets the Sea and Swimmy to identify the settings of different habitats. Students construct murals of different...
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Biomes Internet Lesson
In this biomes worksheet, students use an on line source to complete a table of the Earth's biomes. Students include the types of plants in each biome, the types of animals, the climate and any details about the biomes. Students answer...
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Producers -- Focus on Trees
Students examine the needs of trees and plants. In this forest ecosystem lesson students use seedlings to investigate the basic necessities of plants. They discuss the consequences of these basic needs not being met.
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Ecosystems Connect
Students investigate ecosystems near their school and across the world. They examine both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements of each. They recognize ecosystems from various continents around the globe. The use of computers...
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Where Do We Live?
Second graders investigate various types of habitats. In this habitat exploration lesson, 2nd graders view a PowerPoint presentation on habitats and explore websites to gather more information. Students choose a habitat to focus on and...
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Oceans-Coral Reefs
Second graders investigate coral reefs. In this oceanology lesson plan, 2nd graders discuss what constitutes a coral reef and the wildlife that lives there. Students watch a video about coral reefs and take an online quiz.