This document provides instructions for a 5th grade science class activity on deforestation. Students are asked to color in a map showing current forest coverage compared to original coverage. They then predict and explain what forest coverage may look like in 2040. Students write two paragraphs, one discussing the environmental impacts of deforestation and how it will change the world over time, and another telling a story from the perspective of one animal experiencing deforestation.

1. Miss Armijo 5th grade Science Class

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4jhjt1_eyM

4.  “The clearing of trees, transforming a forest into cleared land.” (Vocabulary.com)

6. Original Forest
Coverage vs.
Current Forest
Coverage
**Pull out one of your blank
maps and color it based on the
current Forest Cover.

7.  What is happening to the environment?
 Why do you think deforestation is happening?
 What is the land being used for?
 What are the plants and the trees being used for
 What do you think is happening to the people and animals that live in the
rainforest areas?
**Once you are done share your thoughts with a partner.

8.  Fast forward…. It is now 2040.
 What do you think the forest coverage will
look like?
 Will it be less?
 Will there be trees growing back?

9. **When you are done give a two to
three sentence explanation about your
prediction.
Current map
• What do you think the
forest coverage will look
like in the year 2040?

10.  Paragraph one: THE
ENVIRONMENT
 What is being destroyed in the
rainforest?
 Is there any importance to the
trees and plants that are being
destroyed?
 How will this change the world
over time?
 Paragraph two: PEOPLE AND
ANIMALS
 Pick one animal and write a one
paragraph story about its life
through deforestation.
 Describe his or hers family, home,
life, food source, and how they feel
about deforestation.

11. When you are done please staple all
your papers together and place them in
the basket.