2. Lesson Unit: The Rainforest Grade: 3rd Topic/Subject Area: The Rainforest—Science Language Arts Key Words: emergent, canopy, understory, forest floor, layers Designed by: Hannah Roberts Time Frame: 1 day
3. Brief Description of Lesson Brief Description of Unit: This goal of this unit is for the students to have a deeper understanding of the layers that make up the rainforest. Each layer has its own set of distinct characteristics whether it deals with plant or animal life. Students will be responsible for remembering these characteristics and labeling them on a flip book. Students will also be responsible for creating a digital story that aligns with the layers of the rainforest. *This is one day out of a unit*
4. Objectives Science: Communicate by creating diagrams, charts, tables, and graphs. 1.e. Language Arts: The student will apply strategies and skills to comprehend, respond to, interpret, or evaluate a variety of texts of increasing length, difficulty, and complexity. 2 NETS-S: Create original works as a means of personal or group expression 1.b.
5. Materials Whole Group Rainforest Layer Movie-- http://jaycut.com/content/rainforest-75 Center 1 The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry on tape The Great Kapok Tree animal sheet Center 2 Rainforest activity flip book Stapler Markers Scissors Center 3 Computers Log-In information
6. Opening “Yesterday, we began our unit on the rainforest and read the story The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry. Today, we will be focusing on the layers of the rainforest and continue working on our story for the week.”
7. Whole Group Instruction Procedures: The teacher will present the Rainforest Layer Movie to the whole class. The teacher will pause the video and ask questions throughout. http://jaycut.com/content/rainforest-75 After the video has been presented, the teacher will explain the procedures for each center.
8. Center 1– Language Arts The students will listen to The Great Kapok Tree on tape. The students will complete The Great Kapok Tree Animal worksheet.
10. Center 2– Science The students will cut, staple and complete their rainforest layer flip book. The students will write at least two characteristics of each layer that they learned from the video. Once students have finished writing their characteristics they may color the booklet if time allows.
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12. Center 3– Computer *The students have prior knowledge on working with computers and creating digital stories* The students will log into jaycut.com using their group log-in information. The students will work together as a group to begin their digital story on the rainforest. The teacher will remind the students of the requirements. The teacher will also post the finished digital stories on the class blog.
13. Closing “Tomorrow, we will continue our study of the rainforest. We will determine if your prediction is correct on which layer your animals live in. We will also continue working on your digital story that we will present later this week. “
14. Assessment Center 1—The teacher will assess the animal worksheet for completion. Center 2—The teacher will assess the flip book using anecdotal notes. Center 3—The teacher will assess the digital story by using a rubric.
