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Lesson 3 -- Deforestation

Fifth Grade Lesson Resources

Lesson 3 as a PDF

Lesson 3
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Fifth Grade

Fifth Grade

El Imposible National Park, El Salvador

Concept

One element of a complex ecosystem may provide essential components to the survival of many species of plants and animals.

Essential Question

How can the clearing of trees destroy a community?

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Expand or Collapse Step 1 -- Connect (The Concept to Prior Knowledge)

Challenge

Students will identify and connect with the benefits of trees.

Procedure

  1. As a class, brainstorm the relationship between trees and humans.

    1. How do we benefit from trees?

    2. How do they benefit from us?

  2. Discuss oxygen/CO2 exchange, soil stabilization and protection from erosion, animal habitat, shade, medicine from the rainforest, etc.

Expand or Collapse Step 2 -- Literature/Discuss (Give Expert Information Book; Ask Questions)

Challenge

Students will be challenged with opposing viewpoints of the relationship and attitudes between humans and the forest.

Materials

- Book: The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss

Procedure

  1. Read The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss.

  2. Discuss the two main characters. Explore student’s thoughts and reactions to what these characters represent in our society.

Expand or Collapse Step 3A -- Practice (Math and Learning Centers)

Challenge

Students will use their knowledge of the forest to predict a deforestation scenario.

Materials

- Paper, pencils

Procedure

  1. Students will create a story that shows what they think would happen if all the trees were cut down in their neighborhood.

    1. Who would be affected?

    2. What changes would occur? And so on...

  2. Students will act out their stories for the class and/or for the whole school.

Expand or Collapse Step 3B -- Create (Performance Tasks Related to Standard Indicators)

Challenge

Students will organize a community tree planting day.

Procedure

  1. Have students pretend they have replanted a forest that was cut down for coffee production. Predict how long it would take to look like a forest again.

  2. Students will organize a community tree planting day.

  3. Students will monitor the growth of their trees throughout the year.

Expand or Collapse Step 4 -- Present (Edit Work/Students Present Projects)

Challenge

Students will put on an open house to present their service project to the community.

Materials

- Recycled or Forest Stewardship Council-Certified paper

Procedure

Students will make and distribute invitations, on recycled or tree-free paper, for an open house where they will describe to the community their goals and objectives of their tree planting service project.

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