The Rainforest

An Integrated Unit In Science and Literacy

3rd Grade TEKS for Science: Plants and Animal Adaptations

ActivitiesThroughout the Rainforest unit, students will be able to

complete many different activities related to the Rainforest.

o Locate, label, and color the five types of Rainforests on a world map.

o Save the Rainforest poster.o Read aloud the Great Kapok Tree, by Lynne Cherry.o Self-Selected Reading (Individual and Group research).o Rainforest Poems.o Journal Writing.o Group Projects (3-D Animal and Poster of their layer of

the Rainforest).

TEKS ObjectivesScience:3.8 (A) Observe and describe the habitats of

organisms within an ecosystem. (B) Observe and identify organisms with similar needs that compete with one another for resources such as oxygen, water, food, or space.

3.9 (A) Observe and identify characteristics among species that allow each to survive and reproduce. (B) Analyze how adaptive characteristics help individuals within a species to survive and reproduce.

3.10 (A) Identify some inherited traits of plants. (B) Identify some inherited traits of animals.

TEKS ObjectivesLanguage Arts:3.1 (A) Determine the purpose(s) for listening such as

to get information, to solve problems, and to enjoy and appreciate. (B) Listen critically to interpret and evaluate.

3.3 (B) Use verbal and nonverbal communication in effective ways such as making announcements, giving directions, or making introductions. (C) Ask and answer relevant questions and make contributions in small or large group discussions.

3.6 (E) Read silently for increasing periods of time3.7 (C) Read to accomplish various purposes, both

assigned and self-selected3.14 (A) Write to record ideas and reflections

(B) Write to discover, develop, and refine ideas

Unintended TEKS Objectives

Social Studies:3.4 (A) Describe and explain variations in the

physical environment including climate, landforms, natural resources, and natural hazards. (B) Compare how people in different communities adapt to or modify the physical environment. (C) Describe the effects of physical and human processes in shaping the landscape. (D) Identify and compare the human characteristics of selected regions

Unintended TEKS Objectives

Technology:3.2 (A) Use a variety of input devices such as mouse,

keyboard, disk drive, modem, voice/sound recorder, scanner, digital video, CD-ROM, or touch screen.

3.4 (A) Apply appropriate electronic search strategies in the gaining of information including keywords and search strategies. (B) Select appropriate strategies to navigate and access information on local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs), including the Internet for research and resource sharing.

3.5 (A) Acquire information including text, audio, video, and graphics

Initial QuestionsAt the end of this unit, students will be

able to answer some of the following questions:

o Why is it always raining?o Are any of the plants poisonous?o Why are there four layers?o How may types of animals live in the

rainforest?o How tall do the trees get?o How many rainforests are there?o Does anyone take care of the rainforest?o Do people live in the rainforest?

Teacher Resources:o http://www.lessonplanspage.com/RainForestUnitA.htm

o http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htmo http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/programs/education/index.html

o http://www.rainforestcafe.com/ILink.asp

o The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherryo Nature’s Green Umbrella by Gail Gibbonso Protecting Forests by Sharon Markleo Explore and Discover Rain Forest by

Angela Wilkes