El Salvador -- Fifth Grade
Units Additional Resources Standards
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Every year thousands of migratory birds make the long journey from North American forests, parks and backyards to the warm rainforests of Central and South America. Many of these birds will land in trees that shade coffee farms in Central America. Fifth- and sixth-graders will learn about the important work that SalvaNatura, the Rainforest Alliance's partner group in El Salvador, is carrying out to protect coffee forests and El Imposible, the first national park of El Salvador. |
Units
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Download all 5th grade units [PDF ~182K]
Key Concept: The more diverse an ecosystem is, the more interdependence of species exists within that system. The complex relationships among diverse species are difficult to identify. As species disappear or become extinct we begin to see the vital links that exist among species. Essential levels of biodiversity vary among biomes and bioregions.
Essential Question:
Could an ocelot live where you live?
Download in PDF [PDF ~128K] View On Screen
Key Concept: A global economy, where products from one country or bioregion are used in another bioregion, resource use and changes in the landscape impact the lives of species that depend on several bioregions for survival.
Essential Question:
How are migratory birds affected by coffee production in El Salvador?
Download in PDF [PDF ~181K] View On Screen
Key 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?
Download in PDF [PDF ~123K] View On Screen
Key Concept: Decisions about how one uses the resources within a particular bioregion must consider the biodiversity and complexity of the ecosystem.
Essential Question: How can communities make decisions that benefit both their families and the animals that live within them?
Download in PDF [PDF ~124K] View On Screen
Additional Resources
Don't forget to check out our Great Resources page for easy access to the many supplemental materials tailored to complement these units.
- Slideshow - This slideshow will introduce students to the country of El Salvador, the wildlife of El Imposible and the conservation of the region. An easy-to-follow script has been provided. The slideshow can be downloaded for viewing in the classroom, printed out and read as a story or viewed online with the students.
View On-Screen Download [PDF ~3.2M]
Download Script [PDF ~16K]
- Species Profiles - See below for profiles that include that include photos, along with information on habitat, foraging behavior, group relationships, threats, etc.
- Ocelot View on Screen Download [PDF ~80K]
- Great curassow View on Screen Download [PDF ~63K]
- King vulture View on Screen Download [PDF ~26K]
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird View on Screen Download [PDF~71K]
- Blue-Crowned Motmot View on Screen Download [PDF ~36K]
- Coffee View on Screen Download [PDF ~84K]
- Unit-Specific Stories - The Rainforest Alliance has developed two original stories for use with these units. The stories are available to download and print or can be viewed on-screen.
Alex Goes Exploring in El Imposible
English: View On-Screen Download [PDF ~1.5M]
Spanish: View On-Screen Download [PDF ~442K]
Portuguese: View On-Screen Download [PDF ~432K]
Life in San Miguelito
English: View On-Screen Download in PDF [PDF ~1.6M]
Spanish: View On-Screen Download in PDF [PDF ~449K]
Portuguese: View On-Screen Download in PDF [PDF ~441K]
- Park Profile - Click here for a basic introduction to El Imposible National Park.
- Rainforest Poster - A colorful two-page poster is available for you to use in explaining the layers of the rainforest, its products and the environmental threats facing many rainforests around the world.
Inside the Canopy - Structure and species of the rainforest
Download 8.5x14 [PDF ~2.3M]
Status Report - What is happening to the rainforest
Download 8.5x14 [PDF ~356K]
- Rainforest Products - Click here for a summary of products found in our homes and supermarkets that either originated in tropical forests or are currently produced there.
- Profiles in Sustainability - Click here for case studies on companies who work closely with the Rainforest Alliance to ensure that their practices protect wildlife, workers and communities.
- Conservation Coffee Summary - An eight-page introduction to the issue, including a glossary of terms. Appropriate for students to read independently. Download [PDF ~92K]
- Venn Diagram Template - Click here [PDF ~321K] for a photocopy-ready Venn diagram for use in this unit.
- Certificate of Accomplishment - Print out colorful rainforest certificates for your students to commemorate their completion of these units. Download [PDF ~594K]
- Great Resources - Check out this page for easy access to additional supplemental materials that complement these dynamic units.
Standards
English
Standard 3: Evaluation Strategies
Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate and appreciate texts.
Standard 1: Reading for Perspective
Students read a wide range of print and non-print texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves and of the cultures of the US and the world.
Standard 4: Communication Skills
Students adjust their use of spoken, written and visual language to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
Standard 7: Evaluating Data
Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems.
Life Science
Standard 3
Students develop an understanding of the structure and function in living systems, populations and ecosystems, and diversity and adaptations of organisms.
Math
Standard 1: Grades 3-5
Students understand the need for measuring with standard units and that measurements are approximations and how differences in units affect precision.
Technology
Standard 5: Technology Research Tools
Students use technology to locate, evaluate and collect information from a variety of sources.
Standard 4: Technology Communication Tools
Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.
Social Studies
Standard 5: Environment and Society
Students should understand how human actions modify the physical environment.
Science
Standard 6: Personal and Social Perspectives
Students develop an understanding of populations, resources and environments.
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