Indirect Instruction Lesson Plan

What is the rainforest?

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Central Focus/Big Idea: The goal is to learn about types of terrestrial ecosystems with todays
focus on the rainforest

Subject of this lesson: Science

Grade Level: 5th grade

NC Essential Standard(s): 5.L.2.1 Compare the characteristics of several common

ecosystems, including estuaries and salt marshes, oceans, lakes and ponds, forests,
and grasslands.

Next Generation Science Standard(s):

5LS21. Developamodeltodescribethemovementofmatteramongplants,animals,
decomposers,andtheenvironment.

21st Century Skills:

Creativity: The students will be given the opportunity to use multiple resources to create a
drawing of the rainforest.
Collaborate: Students will be given the opportunity to work with their peers on the explore
section of the lesson.

Academic Language Demand

Language Function: Students will be able to describe the characteristics of the Rainforest
within the terrestrial ecosystem.

Analyze Argue Categorize Compare/contras Describe Explain

t
Interpret Predict Question Retell Summarize

Scientific Vocabulary: Terrestrial, Aquatic, Ecosystem, Habitat, Community, Emergent

Layer, Canopy Layer, Understory, Forest Floor, Herbivore, Carnivore, Food Web, Food
Chain
Instructional Objective: Students will independently create a drawing of the Rainforest to
describe the characteristics with 9 out 11 point for mastery.

Prior Knowledge (student): Students should knowledge of the difference between terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems.
They will have already learned where deciduous forests are located, what animals live there, the
climate,
Students will know common climates
Have geographical knowledge or access to an interactive map
Herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore

Content Knowledge (teacher): Terrestrial: land based, includes forests and grasslands, we live in
the deciduous forest
Aquatic: water based, includes freshwater, saltwater, estuaries, Oceans divide up our continents
Where is it located? Near the Equator, in Central and South America, middle of Africa, and the
bottom of Asia
The Rainforest takes up about 7% of our land, but hold 50%of our animals
Animals? Birds (toucans), snakes (emerald tree boa), Geckos, Tree Frogs, Spider Monkey, Blue
Morph, Turtles, etc
Weather? Wet and Warm
Layers? Emerging- highest layer, with the oldest trees
Canopy- umbrella, main part
Understory
Forest Floor

Accommodations for special needs: All students will be given the opportunity to watch the
video as a class with Close Captioning on the bottom. Every student will have the opportunity to
watch the video again.
If a student is below grade level on reading or has a reading disability, all the childrens books
will be offered in audio versions.
If a student has a visual impairment, they will be placed at the front of the classroom.
If a student has trouble writing/drawing, they can create their foldable on Google Slides or a
brochure

Materials and Technology requirements: Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=JEsV5rqbVNQ
A projector or SMARTBoard
One piece of cardstock per student
Scissors for 2-3 people
Markers/crayons for 2-3 people
Here is the Tropical Rain Forest by Madeleine Dunphy
The Tropical Rain Forest by Philip Johansson
Who needs a Jungle by Karen Patku
ChromeBooks, if applicable
Document camera for pictures

Total Estimated Time: 1 hour

Source of lesson: Inspired by the Rainforest Field Trip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=JEsV5rqbVNQ) and Childrens Books on the Rainforest
Safety considerations: When viewing the video, the teacher must make sure there isnt any
inappropriate ads that come up.
Scissors will be in use for the foldable

Content and Strategies (Procedure)

Engage: Good Morning class! I would like you to turn and talk to your shoulder partner about
the differences between a terrestrial and an aquatic ecosystem? (Give the students three minutes
to complete this)
Now, I would like each group to go around and tell me one difference or similarities between the
two ecosystems.
Terrestrial: land based, includes forests and grasslands, we live in the deciduous forest
Aquatic: water based, includes freshwater, saltwater, estuaries, Oceans divide up our continents,

Today, we are going to be learning about the Rain Forest. Which ecosystem would it fit in?
Terrestrial

Explore: We are about to go through the Rainforest on a Virtual Field Trip.

Turn and Talk to your 3 oclock partner about what you already know about the Rainforest.
Now, tell you partner what you would like to know about the Rainforest.
First we are going to create a foldable, by folding it like a hotdog, then two little hamburgers.
This will create four flaps, and you should label them as the following:
1. Where are, rainforests located?
2. What does the weather look like?
3. What kind of animals live there?
4. What are the four layers?
We are now going to go on our Field Trip to the Rainforest. During this video, I would like you
to pay attention to the four questions that I have asked, but also some fun facts that you found
interesting!
After the video is over, all the students 10 minutes to compare with a partner and to look through
the Childrens Books.

Explanation: First off, what ecosystem are we looking at today?

What biome are we investigating?
What information did we find out about the Rainforest?
Where are, Rainforests located? (show picture)
What does the weather look like? (show picture)

What kind of animals live there? (show pictures and labels after hearing their examples)
What are the four layers of the rainforest? (ask then show picture)
What other fun facts did you learn? Which source gave you this information?
Does everyone have a completed foldable about the rainforest?

Elaborate: Now I would like you to flip over your foldable. On the back of this paper, you are
going to create a drawing of the rainforest. Your drawing must include all four layers of the
rainforest and 1 characteristic for each, must include four animals and their identification of
herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore, two plant types, and one surprise me!
You are expected to complete this independently and you are able to use the books, the field trip
video, your foldable, and one phone a friend.
Evaluate:
Summative: Through observations and questioning
Formative: The students will be graded on their labeling of the Rainforest within the drawing.
The drawing must include:
1. all four layers of the rainforest and 1 characteristic for each, (4 total points)
2. must include four animals and their identification of herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore, (4 total
points)
3. two plant types, (2 points)
4. and one surprise me! (1 point)

For mastery, a student must get 9 out of 11 points.