Rain Forest

Constructivist Unit
By Tanya Pietro
Ed 650
July 12, 2017
 2nd Grade Science
SCI2.4.1 Understands different characteristics of land
habitats identifies land habitats (i.e. rain forest,
woodland forest, desert, tundra) describes the
climate of the biome knows what kinds of plants and
animals live in the biome
SCI2.4.2 Understands relationships among living
things and their land habitats determines why
certain plants and animals can live in a land habitat
(e.g., parrot and bromeliad live in a rain forest)
understands how living things are affected by the
habitat they live in
SCI2.4.4 Understands negative effects that humans
have on Earths habitats.
 1. Students will understand different
characteristics of the rain forest.

1. Students will be able to describe the climate

Essential
of the rain forest biome and know what
kinds of plants and animals live in the rain
forest.

Objectives: 1. Students will understand relationships

among living things and their land habitats,
such as why certain plants and animals can
live in the rain forest and how living things
are affected by the habitat they live in.

1. Students will understand negative effects

that humans have on Earths rain forests.
Activate Background Knowledge
Begin KWL chart for Rain Forests

Show on the world map where the main

rain forests are located with a discussion
as to temperature and rainfall.
http://www.parkfieldict.co.uk/infant/rainforest/where.html

Increase interest by watching the introductory video on Brain

Pop Jr.

https://jr.brainpop.com/science/habitats/rainforests/

Write in science notebooks a sketch and label the rain forest

 Rain forest

Habitat

Vocabulary Words: Tropics/Tropical

Equator

Camouflage
Kahoot! Canopy
Fold, Draw, Learn Understory

I Have, Who Has

Text Set: Title of Book Here Is the Tropical Rain Forest

Picture ISBN# 1-56282-636-0

Book Author/Poet Dunphy, Madeleine, Illustrated by Rothman, Michael

Copyright Date/ Publisher 1994

Date

Brief Description Written in prose, this picture book immerses the child in the sights
and sounds of the tropical rain forest.

Readability Level BR20L, 1440L

Explanation of Choice This book is beautifully written and children will enjoy the repetition
and literary language.

Strategy you can use I would read this aloud to the students, they could discuss with their
teaching this text reading partner what theyre noticing and thinking while listening to
the text. Also, the sensory language could be used as a mentor text
for their own writing.

Source used to find the School Library, photo from Amazon.com

text
 Title of Book Rain Forests

Text Set: ISBN# http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/earth/rainforestpoem.htm

Poetry Author/Poet Songs for Teachers.com

Copyright Date/ Publisher Copyright 1998-2017

Date

Brief Description The rainforest poem is about the rainforest being far away from us,
but we should still act to save it.

Readability Level Fleishman-Kincaid level 3.6

Explanation of Choice I chose this poem because its a gentle way to get students thinking
about how their actions could have an impact on the future of the
rainforests.

Strategy you can use Whole class read aloud, modeling fluency and phrasing. Students
teaching this text could turn and talk about each stanza. The poem has no visual
representation, so students could draw a picture to go along with the
poem.

Source used to find the text Internet Search Engine

Text Set:
Title of Book Brave Rangers Help Gorillas in Africa

ISBN# https://newsela.com/articles/congo-gorillas/id/11736/

Article Author/Poet By Los Angeles Times, adapted by Newsela staff

Copyright Date/ Publisher August 31, 2015

Date

Brief Description In Congo, rangers are helping to save gorillas from war, deforestation,
and habitat loss.

Readability Level Lexile 470

Explanation of Choice This article highlights some of the dangers the rainforest faces and
gets students thinking about human impact on the rainforest.

Strategy you can use Students can read and annotate the text whole group, small group, or
teaching this text individually.

Source used to find the text Searched Newsela Website

 Title of Book Rainforest Alliance Kids

Text Set: ISBN# http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids

Website Author/Poet Rainforest Alliance

Copyright Date/ Copyright 1987-2017

Publisher Date

Brief Description Students can read articles about rainforest plants and animal
facts, take a virtual visit to the rainforest, and engage in
interactive games and activities.

Readability Level PK-8

Explanation of Choice I chose this site because of the different articles students can
choose to read to dive deeper into an area of their choice.

Strategy you can use Students can work independently or with a partner to read and
teaching this text learn more about a topic.

Source used to find the Internet Search Engine

text
Text Set: Title of Book Afternoon on the Amazon (Magic Tree House - fiction)

On Grade ISBN# 978-0679863724

Level Author/Poet Osborne, Mary Pope

Trade Copyright Date/ Publisher 1995
Book Date

Brief Description Jack and Annies tree house take them to the Amazon River where
they get lost. They must find their way back.

Readability Level 510L

Explanation of Choice This high interest book keeps readers engaged and it pairs nicely
with a nonfiction text.

Strategy you can use Students on level and higher can enjoy a book club with this text.
teaching this text

Source used to find the School Library, photo from Amazon.com

text
Text Set:
Title of Book Rain Forests (Magic Tree House Research Guide companion)

ISBN# 978-0375813559
Nonfiction Author/Poet Osborne, Will and Osborne, Mary Pope

Text Copyright Date/ Publisher 2001

Date

Brief Description The nonfiction companion to the fiction Afternoon on the Amazon,
this book follows Jack and Annie as they research and find out
about the rain forest.

Readability Level 730L

Explanation of Choice This paired text works nicely with the fiction text to help students
learn more about the rainforest.

Strategy you can use This could be used as a second book club once students finish the
teaching this text fiction book. I would consider using this in a guided reading setting,
too, to scaffold the students as needed.

Source used to find the School Library, photo from Amazon.com

text
Text Set:
Title of Book Recess is a Jungle (Eerie Elementary)

ISBN# 978-0-545-87352-9
Below Author/Poet Chabert, Jack
Grade
Copyright Date/ Publisher 2016
Level Date
Trade
Brief Description Sam, Lucy, and Antonio are playing at recess when suddenly their
Book playground turns into a jungle. They must rescue their peers and
find their way out of the jungle maze.

Readability Level 430L

Explanation of Choice I chose this as a beginning chapter book for my struggling readers,
since it has an exciting storyline with manageable font and many
illustrations to support these readers.

Strategy you can use This text would be used in a book club with plenty of adult support
teaching this text and appropriate scaffolding.

Source used to find the School Library, photo from Amazon.com

text
 Title of Book Rain Forests (Learning about the Earth)

Text Set: ISBN# 978-1-60014-115-7

Nonfiction Author/Poet Sexton, Colleen

Text Copyright Date/ Publisher 2008

Date

Brief Description This informational text covers what rain forests are, the layers,
plants and animals, human impact, and several text features.

Readability Level 510L

Explanation of Choice I chose this nonfiction text because of the accurate, but simple
presentation of information. The multiple text features provide
support to readers.

Strategy you can use This book could be read in a guided reading group with struggling
teaching this text readers or it could be read independently for on level or above
readers. This would make a good resource for any research a
student may want to do.

Source used to find the School Library, photo from Amazon.com

text
Instructional Strategies
Read aloud picture book and poem with students turning and talking to their
partner.

Read aloud article and annotate the text together.

Book clubs with students stopping and jotting down their thoughts while they
read. The book clubs will meet to discuss, ask questions, seek
clarification, etc. with adult support as needed.

A variety of additional rain forest texts in different reading levels will be

available for independent reading during reading workshop.

Students can explore the website for information and take virtual field
trips.

Produce an artifact to show your knowledge: write a paper, make a video,

give an oral presentation, make a poster, etc.

Complete KWL chart for Rainforests