Curriculum
Objectives

Materials and
Resources

Investigations
and Other
Activities

Assessment

Reflections

Tech-Know-Build

Project Schedule

Classroom Management, Timeline 

We each teach a content area along with reading.  We have a five period class load, four content classes and one reading class.  We decided to divide our students into groups of 4 to 5 per group.  We used our reading class students to form these groups.  

We decided to team teach this unit.  Students who were unable to work in a group setting or were absent during the research portion of the unit were given a similar activity .

 Tropical Rain Forest Tech-Know-Build Project Schedule 

 Period Block Schedule for April 16^th – 20^th  

 Research Room Assignments:

    Smith/Manlove – Library

       Haas/Dickerson – Room 228

       Van Horn/ Fiedler – FACS (foods side)

       O’Neal/Larson – Room 205

Investigations and Other Activities

Prior to this problem-based project, students will receive the necessary background information in their social studies and science classes.  They will also be engaged in a field trip to the Indianapolis Zoo to participate in special presentations and a Forest Biome scavenger hunt.  These activities aid in peaking our students' interest in the topic before we begin.

Initial Activity

The students will be grouped heterogeneously to discuss reasons why tropical rain forests should be saved.  They will then rate each statement on a scale of 1 to 5.

After students have individually ranked the statements, they will compare their rankings and reach consensus on the most important statement.  This statement will be used to guide their investigation.

Student Research Handouts

The following materials will be organized in a folder for each group.  

• Research and Planning Guide
• Outline
• Record of Work for Product or Performance Sheet (Coil, Carolyn. Encouraging Achievement. Marion, IL. Pieces of Learning 1999 pg 58,59.)
• Cooperative Group Evaluation Sheet  (Coil, Carolyn. Encouraging Achievement. Marion, IL. Pieces of Learning 1999 pg 69.)
• Research Focus Sheet/Research Rubric
• Schedule and Room Assignments (see above)
• List of Items Available From Teacher
• Bibliography Record Sheet

USE OF TECHNOLOGY

The Internet will be used to gather research.  We created a student friendly web quest to aid in their research. Excel will be used to create graphs and tables and Microsoft Word or Power Point will be used to present final presentations.

Example of Student Work:

Letter to the editor

Power Point

Tip:

Teachers- you may want to briefly conference with each group to check progress and participation.  Also help them to focus on their driving question.

Page created by Tuttle Middle School 6th Grade Team.  Last updated 06/24/01.