What type of animals live in a rainforest?

SUBJECT:

This lesson plan is designed for life science students. It may also be used for creative writing and research.

GRADE LEVEL:

6th, 7th or 8th

OBJECTIVES:

1. Students will search out specific information on the WWW.


2. Students will write a paragraph about animals in the rainforest.


3. Students will illustrate the animals in the rainforest and their habitat.


4. Students will research the subject using the internet, CD-Roms, encyclopedia, magazines and books.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:

• paper


• pen


• folder


• markers


• construction paper


• sissors


• ruler


• glue


• Posterboard (optional)


• Magazine pictures (optional)


• PC or Mac computer w/ internet link


• Linkway Live (optional)


• Hyperstudio (optional)


• Encyclopedias, CD-ROMS, Books, magazines etc. for research

ACTIVITIES:

1. Teacher logs onto the internet. (PC/Mac monitor displayed on large TV or wall screen is helpful) Go to the internet site Rainforest Workshop. Teacher scrolls down to section about animal in a tropical rainforest. Click hyper reference links (blue) to "Animals" to get a listing of different bird, reptile, and insect names for students to research.
2. Have students write down the name of a specific animal such as "Monarch Butterfly" or "Toucan" in their notebook. This will be their animal. (It is a good idea to have students pick a back up animal in case information is rare about their first choice.)
3. Have students list the following catagories below the animal name (this is the information they will be seeking): Common and Scientific name of the animal; Location of the animal; What the animal eats; Animal habitat; Living arrangements; Endangered Species?
4. Students research the above topics using the following resources: a) the Internet; b) CD-ROMs such as Encarta, Grolier's Encyclopedia, Infopedia, Microsoft Explorapedia; c)print encyclopedias; d) books; e)magazines
5. Students create a rubric evaluation form for the project by discussing and deciding what information must be contained in the presentation project and how items will be weighted and scored. (Teacher creates rubrics chart according to class specifications.)
6. Students organize their findings into one or more of the following projects for presentation: a) a manila folder which contains a creative writing exercise, drawings,and mounted magazine illustrations; b) a Linkway or Hyperstudio folder which contains a creative writing exercise, drawings and illustrations (clip art); c) a poster board presentation which contains a creative writing exercise, drawings and mounted magazine illustrations.
7. Students check each others project according to rubrics and make revisions
8. Students present their projects to the class

FOLLOW-UP:

Teacher will evaluate on rubric sheet while students are presenting their projects. After presentations is a good time to show a rainforest video from the local Region Center or other materials center. Students are now interested in the topic since they have just spent time researching animals in the rainforest. This is also a good time to go into lessons on Endangered Species and how we can help save them.