Integrating Technology in Education K-12, Level 2

Group Project

Kimberly Razo
Julie Doyle
Audrey Estoque

Option 1
5-day Lesson Plan
Ecosystems

Outline
I. Ecosystems: Rainforests

A. California State Standards

Students will understand the following concepts:
a. Living organisms depend on one another and on their
environment for survival
b. Students know ecosystems can be characterized by their living
and nonliving components
c. Students know that in any particular environment, some kinds of
animals and plants survive well, survive less well, and some
cannot survive at all

II. Day 1-Introduction to systems

A. Lesson on different ecosystems around the world

a. What is a system?
b. Living and nonliving components-create list
c. Show pictures of maps and rainforest locations
d. KWL chart based on rainforest and discuss
e. Show video of rainforest

III. Day 2-How a system works

A. Lesson on components of rainforest and how they all work together

(system)
a. Discuss animals and plants that exist in a rainforest-relationship
between dependency of animals and plants
b. Introduce vocabulary terms: canopy, understory, and forest floor
c. Students will create list of different plants, animals, and weather
components that are specific to the rainforest
Animals Plants Weather

IV. Day 3-Research for their final project

A. Teacher will explain to student details of final project

a. Choose an animal or plant that lives in the rainforest
b. Research their topic on the Internet
c. Present two page report to class on Day 5
d. Report must include graphics (tables, charts, photos, graphs, etc.)
B. Conduct a computer lab session
 a. Teacher will provide students resources of websites about the
rainforest
b. Students will explore and research their topic on the Internet
C. Compile a list of topics and interesting facts

V. Day 4-Review of state standards

A. Teacher and students will discuss the following concepts

a. Living organisms depend on one another
b. Ecosystems can be characterized by their living and nonliving
components
c. In a particular environment, some animals and plants survive
well, somewhat survive well, and cannot survive at all
B. Students will have time to work on their final project

VI. Day 5-Student presentations

A. Students will present their 2 page report to class

B. Extension of lesson
a. Will your animal or plant survive in other ecosystems such as
grasslands, tundra, or ocean?
b. Why or why not?
C. Entire class will help create display of topics on the wall using and
decorating with pictures of rainforest

Integration of technology will be incorporated in Days 1 and 3. Students will

be shown photos of the rainforest as well as a video discussing the different
components of the rainforest during the introduction of ecosystems on Day 1.
A great way to help students complete their final project is using the Internet
to research their topic. Students will be able to find information on their
animal or plant using the resources and websites provided by the teacher
during a computer lab session on Day 3.