Photosynthesis and the Amazon Rainforest's impact on the Atmosphere
Lesson Objective
1) What will students discover?
In this lesson, students will be exploring how photosynthesis works and it's role in the Amazon Rainforest as it is holds the most diverse plant species on Earth. They will understand that the Amazon Rainforest plays a large impact on the Earth's atmosphere.
2) How will they discover it?
By launching a video from the PBS Learning Media on plants and the atmosphere, students will begin to think about the roles of plant respiration to the atmosphere. They will explore the mechanisms of photosynthesis through an online activity.
3) How will you measure their understanding?
After their exploration activity, students will be having a group and class discussion on questions the teacher provides. They will form a class consensus using a concept map or web chart of their knowledge on the content and big idea question. They will then take part in a pictionary game which tests for their understanding of the vocabulary.
Materials Used: Screen Projector, Computers/Tablets for students (share if not enough)
Management: Popsicle sticks can be used to randomize student calling.
Management: Popsicle sticks can be used to randomize student calling.
ENGAGE: Connect to Prior Knowledge and Experience, Create Emotionally Safe Learning Environment, Excite Students about Today’s Learning Objective
Estimated time: 5 min
Estimated time: 5 min
Description of Engage: Students will first be presented with the big idea question: Why the Amazon is considered the lungs of the Earth? There will be a brief discussion between students and the teacher about this. Students will then be shown a video from the PBS Learning Media website: http://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nves.sci.earth.atmosphere/plants-affect-the-atmosphere/.
EXPLORE: Hands-On Learning, Contextualize Language, Use of Scaffolding (Graphic Organizers, Thinking Maps, Cooperative Learning), Use of Multiple Intelligences, Check for Understanding
Estimated time: 10 min
Estimated time: 10 min
Description of Explore: Students will look examine the question*: Why is the Amazon considered the lungs of the Earth? But first, they will launch into a photosynthesis activity from a science website: http://www.tv411.org/science/tv411-whats-cooking/photosynthesis-science-lesson/activity/1/1. If the students are not provided with computers/tablets, then the teacher can go over it with the class using a projector. The teacher will then go over some of the main questions in the explain section.
EXPLAIN: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing to Communicate Conceptual Understanding, Define Vocabulary
Estimated time: 10 min
Estimated time: 10 min
Description of Explain: Students will be put into groups depending on class size and will use the time to have group discussions first and transition to a large class discussion.
Teacher Questions: What do plants need to grow? What is photosynthesis? What do plants release during photosynthesis and what do they take in? Do you think that in some areas with more plant life affect areas that have less plant life? --> Tie this last question with the big idea question.* Teachers want students to understand the importance of the Amazon Rainforest and it's impact on the Earth's atmosphere. (For more info: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/amazon/about_the_amazon/wildlife_amazon/plants/ )
As students are answering these questions, the teacher is writing the class answers on the board/poster either in a web chart or concept map fashion. ***Map or chart should be copied and provided for students to keep.
EVALUATE: Thinking Maps, Summarize Lesson and Review Vocabulary, Variety of Assessment Tools, Games to Show Understanding, Test Students on the Learning Objective Estimated time: 10-15 min
Description of Evaluate: Students will play a game of pictionary using the vocabulary terms to test their vocabulary content and understanding. In pictionary, one student selected from each group go up to the board and are given a vocabulary word to draw out without using words. They are only able to draw pictures and have 1 minute to do this task. The group then has to guess what that vocab word is before the other group can steal their chance of guessing. (For more info: http://www.ehow.com/how_18710_play-pictionary.html)
Group size depends on class size, but it is easier to divide the class in half. Students are given a chance to get help from their group at a max of 3 times. The groups will then be able to use the activity from the explore section to attain answers.
Vocabulary terms: photosynthesis, CO2, sunlight, Oxygen, water/H2O, glucose or sugar, chlorophyll, absorb, stomata,
EXTEND/ELABORATE: Group Projects, Plays, Murals, Songs, Connections to Real World, Connections to Other Curricular Areas
Estimated Time: x
Estimated Time: x
Description of Extend/Elaborate: Students can extend their learning of the content through making their own keynote/powerpoint presentation. They will develop skills to use technology as a tool to enhance their learning as well as spread their knowledge to peers
I like the way you incorporated the different websites in your lesson, like the video and the photosynthesis activity. Will the students share computers or will they each be provided one? Also, pictionary sounds fun :)
ReplyDeleteGreat detail on the lesson plan; I like the integration of different aspects of relevant technology into the different parts of the lesson. For the explore section, it seems that if computers/ tablets are not available, the teacher could also copy the readings and format the questions along the side (or on a separate sheet of paper) to preserve the individual exploration of the readings.
ReplyDeleteAlso, will the concept map the teacher draws up on the board during the explain be available to students in some form for the evaluate/ afterwards?
Finally, I just wanted to commend you for a very detailed blog! :)