Goals
Students will continue to explore the human environmental interaction within biomes, and specifically, how human activity is negatively impacting biomes. Students will learn how groups of people come together to make change and find solutions to preserve biomes in the world. Students will apply this learning with care and empathy, determining a plan for their own community to do this work.
Materials
- The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
- Pre-selected organizations for students to research, laptops, note-taking sheets
Procedures
During this week, we read aloud a picture book about protecting rainforests. We show video clips of organizations that work to protect biomes. We have a visitor from one of these organizations visit the classroom. Students work with laptops to research two organizations (out of eight pre-selected by teachers) that protect biomes: Rainforests, Deserts, Wetlands, and Forests. Students present what they learned to each other. Then we brainstorm ways that we as a community could support the work of these organizations. Examples have included bake and craft sales and a fundraiser in the gym with families and children.
Assessment
Informal: Teacher observation of student research
Suggestions for Teachers
- Remind students of rules for researching on laptops.
- Encourage children to think of unconventional and creative ways to support these organizations beyond bake sales.
- Meet and plan a compelling presentation with the visitor, so that visitor is prepped on what children know already and on ways the visitor might present their organization.