Lesson plan template (15 points each)

DIFF 510
Unit essential questions: How would a species be affected if something were
changed?
Lesson question: Why is the Rainforest so important?
Common core or other appropriate standard(s) addressed:
People depending on and modifying their physical environments
People living in world communities depend on and modify their physical environments
in
different ways.
Lifestyles in world communities are influenced by environmental and geographic
factors.
The development of world communities is influenced by environmental and
geographic factors.
Lesson objective:
The students will be able to state five reasons as to why the rainforest is important
such as:
1. The rainforest holds nearly half of the worlds species of plants, animals and
microorganisms.
2. The Amazon Rainforest helps the world by recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen.
3. The Rainforest affects local weather conditions by creating rainfall and moderating
temperatures.
4. The rainforests help maintain the water cycle.
5. Rainforests help reduce erosion, the roots of rainforest trees and vegetation help
anchor the soil.
Assessment:
The students will create a poster describing why the Rainforest is important with five
supporting facts.
Opening:
Start by saying, Imagine a world where there is no air, few animals and there are
droughts. What do you our world would be like? Do you think we would be able to
survive? This is what may happen if the Rainforests disappear.
Procedure:
1. Read the book Life in the Rainforests to the students.
2. After reading the book, ask the students Why do you think the rainforest is so
important? What do you think is going to happen if the rainforests disappear?
3. Write their thoughts on the board underneath the question.
4. The students will then be asked to create a poster describing why the
rainforest is so important with five supporting facts.

5. The students will use the book Life in the Rainforests and the website
http://kids.mongabay.com/elementary/401.html Why are Rainforests
important? as resources to help them create their posters.
6. Break the students into three groups: Bears (Beginners), Dragons(on level),
Starfish(Above level).
Tiered by __Outcome________:
3 different tiers
Beginners: The group will be asked to state five reasons why the Rainforest is so
important on a poster and illustrate a picture.
On Level: The group will be asked to give five facts to Why is the Rainforest so
important to humans? on a poster and illustrate.
Above level: The group will be asked to give five facts to What is affecting our
Rainforests? What can you do to help the Rainforests? on a poster and illustrate.
Closure:
The students will present their posters to class and discuss what their ideas.
Materials:
Book:
Baker, L. (1993). Life in the rainforests. Scholastic Paperbacks.
Website:
http://kids.mongabay.com/elementary/402.html
Poster paper, colored pencils, crayons