S.O.S. for Information Literacy

The Tropical Rainforest

Description:

This lesson is geared toward a third grade level. The lesson address the science curriculum.Through this lesson students will gain knowledge of the rainforest and will demonstrate the ability to solve problems collectively. This lesson will build an awareness of global and environmental issues.

Goals & Objectives:

The student will identify the locations of the tropical rainforests.

Materials & Sources:

overhead projector, atlas, "What is a Biome?" by Bobbie Kalman, video tape "Habitats", television with VCR, reference books, Internet access

Procedures:

Introduction:

The teacher/librarian will elicit from the students what they know about the Amazon rainforest. The teacher/librarian will develop a KWHL chart. The teacher/librarian will elicit questions about what they know and want to know about the rainforest. As a whole class, the students will brainstorm about how to locate information about the rainforest.

Presentation:

Read "What is a Biome?", to build background information on this
biome.
Show a 15 minute video tape, "Habitat", this video will provide information about the locations and climate of the rainforests. Children will take notes during the video.
Use a world map to show children where in the world the rainforests are located.

Practice:

The students will work in small groups using world atlases. They will label and color their maps. They will share their maps with group members.The teacher will observe that the children are labeling the maps correctly.

Conclusion:

Review major concepts, and remind the students that the locations of the rainforests determine the climate and temperature. The children will write a short statement expalining why the rainforests are concentrated between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn.

Assessment:

The students will answer the following rainforest geography questions.
1) Are tropical rainforest located near the earth's equator or near the poles? (the equator)
2) What is the name of the area between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn? (The tropics)
3) Are there tropical rainforests on every continent? (no)
4) Approximately what percentage of the earth do the rainforests cover? (about 7%)
For question 5-9 the children will use a blank world map worksheet
Label the following:
5) the equator
6) 0 degree latitude
7) The Tropic of Cancer
8) The Tropic of Capricorn
9) The Amazon rainforest

Sources:

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Presented By: Lissette Rossi-Felipe