Aim: The students will use the Internet to locate and share information about the rainforest.
Rationale: Students will be introduced to Internet-based research. They will access a rainforest site, a subject they are currently studying. This site involves an interactive virtual tour that will appeal to young learners. They will use the information gathered to share with the class in a game-like format.
Goals objectives:
Students will use Internet information to increase understanding of the
rainforest.
Students will locate a site using a URL.
Students will use Internet sources to gather information about the rainforest.
Students will share newly learned information with class.
For CPS teachers: Social Studies goal 17, CAS D.
Audience prerequites: This lesson is geared toward students in grades 2 though 4. Students should have prior knowledge of how to use the mouse, the back key on the tool bar, and very basic keyboarding abilities. The students should have some prior introduction to the basics of a rainforest. Suggestion: Students can be read The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry.
Subject matter: The rainforest is studied through it's animals, plants and people.
Instructional plan:
Lesson 1: Teacher asks class, "Can
someone tell the class a fact about the rainforest?" These can be made
into a list. Students view a world map so they can see that
rainforests are located along the equator.
Teacher
introduces and reads to class The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry.
The beautiful, informative illustrations will help students with comprehension.
After the story is read, the class has a discussion on the animals, plants
and people of the rainforest.
Lesson 2: Teachers asks class to recall (for just a few minutes) what they have learned about the rainforest. Teacher then asks who would like to go on a rainforest tour. Students are informed that this tour will be virtual, on the computer. Students then, in the computer lab, type in the URL. Time is allowed to read all the directions on the worksheet. Students begin their virtual tour.
Lesson 3: Students share with the class the information gathered from their tour by taking turns reading their facts. It is presented in a game-like manner. Fact readers chose someone to give answer. Class may be broken up into teams and scores can be kept. The pictures can be shown as each student shares their facts. The pictures can then be posted on bulletin board, designated or designed as a rainforest.
Materials: Hard
copy of Who Am I ? worksheet per student, pencils, markers or crayons.
Blank drawing paper.
Teacher copy of The Great Kapok Tree
Assessment and Evaluation: Teacher can assess student's learning by observing the relevance of the facts the students garnered from the site. Additional observations can be made during class discussions, time spent on the computers, and of the pictures drawn by the students. Interest in this project will be reflected in how many students choose the bonus activity.