Student Information Brittney Entrikin Azusa Campus EDUC 526 Capstone Experience in Digital Teaching and Learning Joanne

Gilbreath Fun in the Rainforest February 17, 2014 Type of Project This unit plan is designed for a first grade class in the subject of science. The students will be exploring the habitat of the Amazon Rainforest. Additionally, students will be exploring the different layers of the Amazon Rainforest and the animals that inhabit each layer. As part of the Common Core state standards, students will be able to explain the different aspects of the Amazon Rainforest using technology through the use of writing, picture collecting, storytelling, acting, and gaming. Additionally, students will be exploring why the Rainforests around the world are disappearing and what can be done to help save them. Goals of the Portfolio This portfolio project will provide students with the necessary knowledge of the habitat and different aspects of the Amazon Rainforest. Students need to know how Rainforests differ than other habitats around the world and what makes Rainforests so special. Students will be informed on how the Rainforests around the world are disappearing and what steps are being taken to help keep them preserved. Student Learning Outcomes of the Portfolio Students will meet the learning goals of this project throughout the four weeks of this unit plan. Since there are four layers of the Rainforest, students will be learning in depth about 1 layer per week. Throughout the four weeks, students will be read three books on the Amazon Rainforest, Welcome to the Greenhouse, (Week 1) Amazon Rainforest, (Week 2) and The Great Kapok Tree (Week 4). In week 1, students will learn about the Emergent Layer of the Rainforest. The students will be shown a screencast presentation using Prezi about the Emergent Layer. They will use the iDiary for Kids app and the Speech Journal app to record what they have learned about the Emergent Layer. The book read for week 1 will assist them in introducing the habitat of the Rainforest and where the Amazon Rainforest is located in relation to where they live. In week 2, students will be shown a screencast presentation using Prezi about the Canopy Layer of the Rainforest. They will be read the week 2 book to introduce more animals that live in the Amazon Rainforest. This week they will be collecting pictures of 1 animal to create an animal portfolio to show their knowledge about that animal. In week 3, students will learn about the Understory Layer of the Rainforest using the Prezi app. Students will be acting out a play that is given to them about how all the animals in the Rainforest live together. This will be recorded on a mobile device to be shown to the rest of the class. Throughout the week, they will also be using the Rainforest Rangers website to create their own Rainforest. In week 4, students will learn about the last layer of the rainforest: the Forest Floor. Again, they will be shown a screencast presentation on Prezi, which will include information on why the

rainforests around the world are disappearing. They will explore a website called Rainforest Concern to learn more about the endangered animals. By the end of the week, they will have been working towards creating a digital book on all the information they have learned about the Amazon Rainforest. Outline 1) Week 1 a) Emergent Layer i) Read, Welcome to the Greenhouse throughout the week ii) Prezi presentation on the Emergent Layer iii) iDiary for Kids app and Speech Journal app to record information they learned about the Emergent Layer 2) Week 2 a) Canopy Layer i) Read, Amazon Rainforest throughout the week ii) Prezi presentation on the Canopy Layer iii) Watch video on Youtube on the Rainforest Song iv) iDiary for Kids app to summarize at least 4 things they learned about the Canopy Layer. v) Songify app to convert their summaries to music. vi) Explore the Journey into Amazonia website to classify the animals in the Canopy Layer vii) Animal report on an animal of their choosing that lives in the Canopy Layer (1) Students will choose an animal (2) They will record 4 pieces of information about that animal to match their pictures 3) Week 3 a) Understory Layer i) Students will start to prepare for a skit they will perform on the Amazon Rainforest animals ii) Prezi presentation on the Understory Layer iii) Students will explore the Rainforest Rangers website online to create their own rainforest throughout the week iv) Students will be shown previous years skits on the Amazon Rainforest v) Students will perform skits and teacher will record them using a mobile device 4) Week 4 a) Forest Floor i) Prezi presentation on the Forest Floor Layer ii) Students will be read, The Great Kapok Tree throughout the week iii) Explore the Rainforest Concern website iv) Start work on digital book using the Book Creator App Key Ideas: EDUC 514- videos and presentations EDUC 512- online resources and performance indicators using technology EDUC 522- multiple intelligences, QR codes, websites, apps, etc.

Resources Journey into Amazonia Rainforest Concern Rainforest Rangers