Projects and Activities

Class Demographic

This PBL is designed for upper Kindergarten to 1st grade students ages 5-6.

STEAM Areas Covered

Science

SWBAT identify animals whose habitats are in jungles

SWBAT recognize signs of deforestation in satellite images

Technology

SWBAT manipulate tools like Google Earth to identify global rainforests

SWBAT manipulate tools like Google Earth and Simple GIS softwares to compare deforestation over time

Language

SWBAT make an oral presentation on why deforestation is a problem

SWBAT describe simple steps individuals can take to fight deforestation and help promote rainforests

Art

SWBAT create a collage of a tree using photos and words of materials we get from the rainforest

SWBAT create a diorama of a rainforest environment using recycling and waste materials

21st Century Skills

Problem solving: This project will require students to use their problem solving skills to brainstorm solutions to deforestation that they can implement at home

Collaboration: Brainstorm as a class or in small groups to develop a list of solutions to deforestation

Design a forest park as a class

Present deforestation solutions to an audience

Communication: Students will be encouraged to communicate about deforestation and our jungles as well as think and discuss habitat loss for jungle animals

Information, media, and technology skills: Students will use Google Earth, simple GIS softwares, videos and AR technology through virtual field trips to gain deeper understanding of deforestation and its effects

Interdisciplinary themes: This project will require students to use science and math to think of real solutions to the deforestation problem.

Creativity: This project will require students to demonstrate creativity in their forest park design, rainforest diorama, and their suggestions for changes we can make as a society that we can practice at home.

Part 1: Why We Need Trees

Step 1: Oxygen produced by trees

SWBAT understand that trees give us oxygen to breathe. Lead into a deep breathing meditation warm up.

Step 2: Food produced by trees

SWBAT brainstorm and record students' ideas on a flip chart using words and pictures

Step 3: Trees effect on fighting pollution

SWBAT watch an informative video on trees' ability to fight pollution

Step 4: What do Trees need

SWBAT learn what elements trees need- water, sunlight and carbon dioxide before placing seeds with wet paper towel in the classroom window.

Part 2: Trees in the Jungle

Step 1: Trees as a habitat

SWBAT discover what animals live in jungle trees. Sing a song that outlines some of these animals

Step 2: Jungles- Identify major rainforests in the world

SWBAT identify jungles using satellite images from Google Earth looking for green places. Teacher will help to label the jungles.

Step 3: Deforestation then and today with effect on Global Warming- Pictures of Amazon then vs. now

SWBAT see the effects of deforestation and compare and contrast jungle pictures

Part 3: What Can We Do to Protect Our Environment?

Step 1: Waste/ paper waste- audit everything we use that uses paper and trees. What about at home

SWBAT take a waste audit at school then conduct a home audit of their household's waste habits

Step 2: Brainstorm ideas how to cut down on waste in general but specifically paper/ tree based waste

SWBAT watch a video about reducing waste. SWBAT create a mind map of waste solutions for school and home

Step 3: Compare what plants absorb the most Carbon- Make a graph

If math skills allow, SWBAT create a simple bar graph comparing CO2 absorptions of different plants

Part 4: Our Trees at Home

Step 1: What do trees need- review

As a class design a forest park for the community keeping in mind the conditions trees need to grow

Step 2: Give students a sapling to take home and plant. Have students describe where they will plant their sapling.

SWBAT justify why their planting location will be successful for tree growth.

Step 3: Have students hypothesize what animals might use their tree as a home.

SWBAT draw a picture of some animals they hope will live in their tree

SWBAT give their final oral presentation.

Final Project

Since I teach English, students will synthesize all the class information to create an oral presentation. The presentation should include how trees grow (from part 1), talk about deforestation and it's consequences (from part 2), include simple solutions we can do at school and at home to help the environment (from part 3). Students will be evaluated using the following rubric.

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