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Lesson plan In this lesson, students first watch a video to learn about the overall identifying features of tropical rainforests and then work in groups to research rainforests using a wide variety of technology tools, including Ecoregions World Map and Map Trek. Each group investigates where rainforests are located, their temperature and soil conditions, plant and animal life, economic conditions, and conservation challenges. After summarizing their multimedia research, each group presents a five-minute multimedia presentation to the rest of the class. 
On This PageLesson plan information|
School level | | Curriculum areas | | Class time | | Software required | | Materials needed | |
Teacher guideGoals| • | Students will be able to explain what a rainforest is, identify where they can be found, and summarize specific features or aspects of rainforests. |
Objectives| • | Students will research tropical rainforests using readings and multimedia presentations. | | • | Students will describe the important features of a tropical rain forest. | | • | Students will summarize what they learned in their research and form conclusions based upon it. | | • | Students will organize the summary of their information into a logical sequence suitable for oral presentation. | | • | Students will present their organized research summary to the class using presentation software. |
Lesson procedureIntroduction[Show the “Rain Forest Plants” video to the class. To access the video, follow the instructions in the Discover Tropical Rainforests Tools document (.doc, 200 KB). Students who miss this presentation in class can access it on their own when they return.] This video gives you a good overview of what a tropical rainforest is. What are the main features of a tropical rainforest? [List them on the board or overhead projector.] Now that you understand the basic features of a tropical rainforest, you are going to conduct more specific research about this type of ecosystem. I will assign each of you to a group. You will work in your group to research specific questions about tropical rainforests, using different technology tools such as Ecoregions World Map, Map Trek, and other Microsoft Student and Encarta tools. After summarizing your research, you will prepare and present a five-minute presentation to the rest of the class that incorporates multimedia sources. Main activitySoftware: Microsoft Student
What to do: Step 1: Research tropical rainforests
[Note If a student needs more time to research question #2 about where the rainforests are located, have them skip researching question #4, the Map Trek activity.]
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What is a tropical rain forest? (Summarize what you learned from the video on rainforest plants. If you need to, you can watch the video again (.doc, 200 KB)).
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Where are the world’s tropical rain forests located? For help with this, use the Ecoregions World Map in Microsoft Student. For help using and navigating this tool, read the Discover Tropical Rainforests Tools document (.doc, 200 KB).
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What is the physical structure of a tropical rain forest? Use Map Trek to find this information.
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Describe the temperature, rain, and soil in a tropical rain forest. Use Map Trek in Microsoft Student for this. For help using Map Trek, read the Discover Tropical Rainforests Tools document (.doc, 200 KB).
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Describe the plant and animal life of a tropical rain forest. Use Map Trek or other Encarta tools to find this information.
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What is the economic value of tropical rain forests? Use Map Trek or other Encarta tools to help find this information.
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What is deforestation, and what are its consequences? Use Map Trek or other Encarta tools to find this information.
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Describe conservation efforts to save tropical rain forests. Use Map Trek or other Encarta tools to find this information.
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Step 2: Summarize, organize and present your research1. | Summarize your research orally and organize it into a logical sequence that others can easily follow. | 2. | Use the summary of your research to create a five-minute multimedia presentation that you can present to the class.
For help creating a powerful presentation, follow the instructions for How to Access Tutorials and Templates for Presentations. To find these instructions in Microsoft Student, click Homework Tools, click Other Homework Tools, click More, and then click Learning Essentials.
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Conclusion| • | Observe students as they organize and conduct their research. | | • | Evaluate each student presentation. | | • | Discuss with the class other topics to be researched in this way. Assign them the task of bringing to class a suggested topic for another research project. Let the class vote on the next project. |
Materials needed| • | Save the document Discover Tropical Rainforests Tools (.doc, 200 KB) to your classroom computer and place it in a clearly marked folder so students can access it easily. To open this file, you might need to get Microsoft Office File Viewers. Adjust the directions as needed for your lesson. | | • | Save the document Student Handout (.doc, 77 KB) to your classroom computer and place it in a clearly marked folder so students can access it easily. To open this file, you might need to get Microsoft Office File Viewers. Adjust the directions as needed for your lesson. |
Lesson extension activities| • | Have students investigate population statistics that impact population density (migration, birth rate, and so on). |
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