Rain Forest Module 2A Unit 1 Lesson 1

Building Background Knowledge:Examining the Unique Living Things of the Rainforests and the Scientists

Who Study Them

Based upon lessons created by Expeditionary Learning

Stephen J. O’Connor

ccss5.comsteve@wellsny.com

• I can listen effectively to my partner when sharing.

• I can record what I notice and wonder about during a Gallery Walk.

• I can compare and contrast texts and images about rainforests.

• I can describe in writing a unique living thing from the rainforest.

• I can explain how scientists communicate their research about the rainforest.

• I can explain the general purpose of an informational text.

Learning Targets

• I can listen effectively to my partner when sharing.

Learning Targets

Independently brainstorm what you

know about rain forests and record

what you know in your KWL chart.

Share with a partner what you

know already.

Focus of Module• You are going to become researchers and

scientists in order to learn more about the unique life that exists in the rainforests.

• You also will be building your skills as readers and writers. As you study the rainforest, you also will be learning even more about how to read informational text and write effectively to communicate with others.

As a group brainstorm what you

want to know about rain forests

and record what you know in your

KWL chart.

Begin a new page in their journals

titled: Notices and Wonders—

Scientific Research in Rainforests

• I can record what I notice and wonder about during a Gallery Walk.

• I can compare and contrast texts and images about rainforests.

Learning Targets

The culture and customs of the Muruts are uniquely distinguishable from other groups in Sabah. They too use blowpipe for hunting and attacking enemies.The Murut men in the past liked to fight fearlessness to prove he is more courageous than others. Before marriage the men must go to the war, with at least one trophy to bring back to show he is ready to look after his own family. The trophy is none other than the head of their enemy.

According to the Murut culture values, one must respects another and always unite with family and relatives. As in marriage, the bride family may ask the bridegroom for 20 big jars, 20 small jars, 10 water buffaloes and RM10,000.00 or more in cash as gift.  

In a funeral, the family must wait for at least seven days before they bury their loved one. Sometimes, funeral day could reach two weeks or even one month so that relatives and friends from afar can come to pay last respect. Those days, the Muruts used big jar as coffin.

• I can explain how scientists communicate their research about the rainforest.

• I can explain the general purpose of an informational text.

Learning Targets

Pretend you are a scientific team

working in the rainforest. Talk with

your partner about how you would

explain, or describe, what you are

doing or seeing to someone who

wasn’t there.

Write a brief paragraph in their

journal describing what they are

doing or seeing in the photograph.

• I can explain the general purpose of an informational text.

Learning Targets

Informational Texts

• I can listen effectively to my partner when sharing.

• I can record what I notice and wonder about during a Gallery Walk.

• I can compare and contrast texts and images about rainforests.

• I can describe in writing a unique living thing from the rainforest.

• I can explain how scientists communicate their research about the rainforest.

• I can explain the general purpose of an informational text.

Learning Targets

What are you most excited about learning about the

rainforest and why?

You will not only be learning about the

rainforest. You will also be learning about

how scientists research and communicate

your findings. At the end of the module,

you will get to be scientists and

communicate what you have learned to

others.

• Words and phrases that show the characters’ actions, thoughts, and feelings

• Words and phrases to clearly identify the setting

• Words/phrases from the UDHR your group is focusing on

• Words and phrases that make clear transitions between events and scenes

Rehearse your Readers Theater Scripts

• Consider the feedback they received

• Determine as a group what they will change about their performance based on the feedback

• Practice reading through their scripts