tll3

Lesson 3

Summary:
Students will watch an Eyewitness video about the rain forest and answer questions.

Connections:
Environment identification, listening skills, geography of tropical rain forest

Time:
1 45-minute class period

Season:
any

Materials:
Video tape Eyewitness Video: Jungle, film questions.

TEKS:
5.1A,B 5.2A thru E 5.3A,B,D,E 5.5A,B 5.6B,C 5.9A,B,C 5.10A,B

Procedures:
1. Ask the students to describe a forest.

2. Discuss the difference between a tropical rain forest and a temperate rain forest using a Venn Diagram.

3. Present a list of questions to the students to answer during the film. I like to give 20 - 25 questions and then tell the students they only need to answer 10 - 15 questions to get a mastery score. (Use your own judgment on setting mastery for mainstream and GT students) This relieves some of the stress of searching for answers and leaves them open to experience the video.

4. Pick 3-5 points in the video to stop and discuss some of the ideas presented in the video. This will reinforce the ideas and give students a chance to answer questions and ask questions.

Questions:
1. What region on Earth has the greatest diversity?

2. What percent of the rain forest species have been identified?

3. 50% of the plant and animal species only live on what percent of the Earth?

4. What are the 4 layers of the rain forest?

5. What is the ratio or fraction on store purchases that come form rain forest products?

6. What was the greatest civilization to emerge form the rain forest?

7. What is the average amount of rainfall per year in a rain forest?

8. What is the average temperature year round in a tropical rain forest?

9. How many different types of fruit are in the rain forest?

10. What was the first fruit from the rain forest that was introduced to the Americas?

11. Name 2 plant species that come from the rain forest?

12. Who invented the first pair of rubber shoes?

13. What happened to the losers in a Mayan ball game?

14. What do Amazon dolphins use to see in the murky water?

15. Why do most house plants come from the rain forest?

16. Name 2 animal species that live in the tropical rain forest?

17. The cocoa tree was called the 'Tree of the Gods.' What did rain forest civilizations use it for?

18. Who is responsible for dispersing throughout the rain forest?

19. What is the name of the tree that starts its growth at the top on one tree, and grows downward as it strangles its host tree?

20. Can you relate any rain forest products that you use in everyday life?

Expanding the lesson:
1. Research local companies to see if they have any connections in tropical rain forest. (Example: McClanes has corporate offices in Brazil)

2. Reflect for a few minutes on your daily life. Are there any natural resources that you use that come from or affect the rain forest. What choices do you make that have an impact on the environment? If you could, would you change anything in your life in order to have a more beneficial, or less harmful, impact on that environment? Brainstorm 10 words that come to mind when you think of actions and behaviors you value. Create a sentence, paragraph, or poem that might capture the essence of your own personal code of 'environmental ethics. '

Resources:
video, Eyewitness Video: Jungle

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