Grade:

Middle school science

Time Frame:

Approximately two weeks or shorter

Goal:

Students are to design a rainforest biodome in Georgia. It should interact with the public that visits it and teach about the rainforest. Students must be able to show through their biodome project their knowledge of the following: 1) Be able to explain and show the four major parts of the rainforest and how they interact to create the environment of the rainforest. 2) Describe at least one tribe of indigenous people of the rainforest and their culture. Be able to explain their interaction with the rainforest and it’s importance to them. 3) Describe the overall need for the rainforest on our planet and the possible consequences to Earth if it destroyed. 4) Describe and show the diversity of the environment and how its organisms interact with one another. And 5) Design and build a model of the Rainforest biodome to show how it will look and work with the public that visit it.

Overview:

Students will be engaged in a conversation about the rainforest and its importance. The teacher and students will discuss the different types of entertainment parks found throughout the United States that demonstrate and teach about different topics, such as EPCOT, Busch Gardens, or Sea World. The class will discuss the different components of these parks and why they are successful. Also the class will discuss their motives and what each park is trying to teach through entertainment. Students will divide into groups and then using the Internet and other resources begin to research the rainforest and its many components. Student groups are to design a Rainforest Biodome that will be visited by the public in Georgia. Students not only have to design a teaching environment, but also take into consideration factors in how to design the building and how it will move its public along. At the end of the project each team will exhibit their biodome and explain how it will work and teach the public about the rainforest. Students must also turn in a written explanation of their park, including the information learned about the rainforest.

Materials:

Computers with Internet Access

Media Center

A variety of materials to build their Biodomes: shoe boxes, plastic, wood, toys, etc.

Imagination

Paper/pen/pencil

Invitation:

The teacher will start the lesson asking the students what will happen if all the rainforest of the Earth are destroyed. The teacher will list these answers on bulletin board paper. Also students will be challenged as to how to save the rainforest. These suggestions will also be posted. If the students do not make the amusement park suggestion the teacher will present it. Discussion will follow concerning the different types of entertainment parks that try to teach a lesson to the public that visits. The class will talk about the pros and cons of these types of environments and if they work. Students will then be encouraged to think of the possibilities of a Rainforest entertainment park. On bulletin board paper the class will list possible ideas for a Rainforest biodome.

Exploration:

The students will be placed in teams. It is suggested that the groups have at least four members, because there is a lot of research and work needed to be done on this project. Students are to first brainstorm on their ideas for their biodome and its components. Each team will be presented with a list of those objectives each group must research. (This is described in the Goals. A copy of this is shown in the Appendix.) A list of Internet sites will be provided to the students to visit for research. Also students will be encouraged to do their own searches. Each group will have to list the Internet site’s address that they’ve visited.

http://web-cr02.pbs.org/tal/costa_rica/rainfacts.html

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/vines/3648/fplist6.htm

http://www.uq.oz.au/~dnbpolak/rainfore.html

http://kids.osd.wednet.edu/Marshall/rainforest_home_page.html

http://www.oceanchallenge.com/rl/98f/rl98ffin.htm

Live sounds! http://christiananswers.net/kids/sounds.html

http://www.mobot.org/MBGnet/sets/rforest/index.htm

http://cyberfair.gsn.org/elanora/fsasum2.html

Also students are to visit a web site that plays an interactive game on Ecotourism in the Rainforest. Each team will visit the site and decide to pursue ecotourism. Each team will have to decide whether they want to cut down more rainforest or allow more people to visit. Each consequence that they decide upon will influence how much of the rainforest is saved and how much money is made. As the game proceeds the students are given more information on the rainforest and how it works. This can be used in their research of the rainforest for their biodome. Also each team will include a short summary explaining their choices while they worked through the game and their consequences.

Ecotourism site: http://www.eduweb.com/amazon.html Interactive!

Explanation:

Once each team has accumulated all their research needed for their Biodomes, teams should begin constructing their model of the biodome. Students will also include a paper describing their biodome and the information that will be presented in the biodome to teach the public about the rainforest. Each team will present to the class their model and describe how their biodome will work. After each biodome presentation, the class will discuss the components of each project and the pros and cons of the biodome. In summation each team will be given a large piece of bulletin board paper. Each team will list on their paper in markers what they’ve learned about the rainforest. Each team should be able to fill up the paper with facts and concepts learned from the project. These listings will be placed in the classroom and outside the classroom. The Biopark will be displayed in the media center. Each exhibit will be accompanied with a description of how the park works by the team that constructed it.

Take Action:

After completion of the Rainforest Biodomes, students will discuss other topics in science that are affecting our planet, such as, ozone depletion, space junk, destruction of habitats, overpopulation, extinction of specific species of animals, overuse of natural resources, landfill problems, etc. Students will do an Internet search of the topic chosen and describe to the class Internet sites that address these problems. Students will have to list ways of possibly solving these problems in the future.

Appendix:

Objective:

Students are to design a rainforest biodome in Georgia. It should interact with the public that visits it and teach about the rainforest.

Rainforest Biodome:

You must be able to show through your biodome project your knowledge of the following:

1. Be able to explain and show the four major parts of the rainforest and how they interact to create the environment of the rainforest.
2. Describe at least one tribe of indigenous people of the rainforest and their culture. Be able to explain their interaction with the rainforest and it’s importance to them.
3. Describe the overall need for the rainforest on our planet and the possible consequences to Earth if it destroyed.
4. Describe and show the diversity of the environment and how its organisms interact with one another.
5. Design and build a model of the Rainforest biodome to show how it will look and work with the public that visits it.

 

What you are Responsible for:

1. A paper describing your biodome and the information you will present in your exhibit. This should include what you have to research in the above objectives in Rainforest Biodome.
2. A model showing how your Rainforest Biodome will look like.
3. A list of the Internet sites you visited while doing your research on the Rainforest.
4. A summary of your results from visiting the Ecotourism web site. You and your team should describe what choices you made, why and the results of those decisions.

Time Frame:

You will have two weeks to accomplish your research and present your findings to the class. There will be a sign up sheet in the class for days you and your team can pick to present your project. See Mrs. Heath for this. Remember each day you and your team will have to show Mrs. Heath what you’ve accomplished and how this will work with your project. Use your time wisely.

(This sheet may be modified whatever way necessary for whoever is using this project.)