Deforestation Lesson Plan (So What Factor)

Common Core/PA Standard(s):

Standard - 4.5.3.A Identify resources humans take from the environment for their
survival.
Standard - 4.5.3.C Identify types of pollution and their sources.

Learning Targets/Objectives:

Students will be able to describe human impact on the environment by creating trioramas.

Assessment Approaches: Evidence:

1. Triorama 1. Creating a before and after of deforestation
2. Anchor Chart and its impact
3. Exit Slips 2. Provide examples of how to help the
environment.
3. Leaving with one way they can help the
environment.
Assessment Scale:
The scale will be out of 5

5 - Exceptional - (The student lists 3 or more negative effects of deforestation on the triorama)
4 - Satisfactory - ( The student lists 2 negative effects of deforestation)
< 3 - Needs work ( The student is only able to list 1 negative effect of deforestation)

___/5 points

Subject Matter/Content:
Prerequisites:
● How trees benefit the planet
● Functions of trees
Key Vocabulary:
● Deforestation ​- The action of clearing a wide area of trees.
 ● Pollution ​- Something introduced to the environment that is dirty and harmful to the
environment.
● Carbon Dioxide- ​Gas produced by burning or carbon or what humans exhale
● Climate Change-​ Climate change describes a change in the average conditions over a
long period of time
● Greenhouse gases- ​Gases that warm the earth’s surface and air.
Content/Facts:
● Trees provide oxygen for humans to breath
● Trees are used for creating paper, etc
● Cutting down trees impacts wildlife and can lead to extinction
Introduction/Activating/Launch Strategies:
● This whole week we talked about plants and trees.
● Before we go further into the topic let's check on the coffee filters from last week
○ Be sure to write your observations on the worksheet and turn it in.
○ What colors do you see?
● To introduce the topic of deforestation and pollution, we will first start off reading ​The
Lorax ​by Dr. Seuss
● Questions to ask while reading the book
○ What do you think a Lorax is?
○ Why do people cut down trees?
○ What do we make that comes from trees?
○ Why are the animals leaving?
● After reading ​The Lorax​ ask what the Lorax meant when he left the word,unless. What
did he mean by that?
● Once the students are done discussing these questions introduce the word deforestation
○ Can anyone guess what this word might mean?
● Have students view a video on deforestation by National Geographic
● Once the video finishes talk to the students and then let them know that they will be
creating a triorama to show the cause and effect of deforestation
○ Now that we’ve seen the impacts of deforestation let's create our own
examples!

Development/Teaching Approaches (40-50 Minutes)

Activity 1
● Before the activity begins provide a model sample of a triorama
○ We will be creating two triorama folds to show a before and after of
deforestation.
○ Explain that one side you want them to create a forest with animals and trees
○ On the other triorama fold show the effects of deforestation.
● After showing the model, hand out construction paper and explain to them how to
create the triorama folds.
● Once you are done showing how to make the folds, let them know what materials they
can use.
○ There are animal figures, construction vehicles to use for your trioramas!
○ You can also use colored pencils, markers, scissors.
 ● While they are working on their triorama models write guiding questions on the board
to remind them what happened in the Lorax and video.
○ What happened to the animals in the Lorax?
○ What happened to the environment once the once-ler chopped down all the
Truffula trees?
○ In the video we saw, what is released when the trees are cut down?
● When the students are done with their trioramas have them share their creations with
other classmates.
● If you feel ready to move on ask some students what they did to show the impact of
deforestation.
○ Some examples to look for
■ Smog, co2
■ Lack of animals
■ Construction vehicles
● After sharing review how deforestation impacts the environment
○ Creates carbon dioxide that gets released into the air.
○ Without trees greenhouse gases can’t get absorbed, warming our planet.
○ Destruction of trees destroys the homes of animals which can lead to extinction.
● In the next activity let students know that there are things that can be done to help the
environment and trees.
○ Remember the word that the Lorax left behind? Unless
○ There are ways we can help the environment!
● I am going to split you guys into groups and have you investigate how exactly we can
help our environment.
● Once you find out how we can help the trees and our environment I will give you chart
paper to list what you have found in your research! I will have each group share what
they found in how they can help the environment.
● Have students work in groups of four and have them investigate ways they can help the
environment. Encourage students to explore other books on how to help the
environment or use ipads for further research.
● After doing further research each group will be given chart paper and work together to
list and decorate the chart paper with ways they can help the environment.
● When the students are ready to present, have each group share their findings.
● After all groups have shared allow them to find a place where they hang up their charts.
● Before the students leave for the end of the day hand out a slip and have them answer
one take away of how they can help with the environment.
Closure/Summarizing Strategies:
● We learned what plants and trees do and now we know the consequences if we don’t
take care of our trees along with our environment.
● After learning about ways to help the environment are you going to apply them to your
life?
● Trees and plants do a lot for us so we should do what we can to ensure that we do what
we can to take care of them.

Accommodations/Differentiation:
 ● Accomodations- For a student who is visually impaire
○ Provide books with braille, large text, or audio they can listen to.
○ Have them work with a partner during the triorama activity.
● Differentiation-
○ For students who are struggling- If students are having difficulty with the
triorama have them work in pairs. One student can work on the before while the
other works on the after effect of deforestation.
○ For accelerated learners- Have students investigate how other schools are
helping against deforestation.

Materials/Resources:
● Book: The Lorax
● Additional book resources
○ What Does It Mean to be Green?
○ Anywhere Farm?
○ Miss Fox's Class Goes Green?
○ Greta and the Giants
● Chart Paper
● Colored Pencils
● Markers
● Construction Paper
● Construction toy vehicles
● Animal figures
● Ipads
● Scissors
● Video on deforestation: ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic-J6hcSKa8

Activity 1:​ Triorama

Activity 2: ​Anchor Chart
Rubric for Triarama:
 Name:__________ Environmental Triarama

5 4 <3

I used all the I drew some examples of I did not use

resources available to the impact of deforestation. markers,colored
Creativity me to display the pencils, etc. to decorate
impacts of my triorama.
deforestation.

I respected the space I followed the rules and I was disruptive and did
Behavior of others and worked only sometimes disrupted not respect the space of
on my project and others working. others.
not making a mess

Knowledge I gave 3 negative I gave 2 negative impacts I only gave 1 negative

Of impacts of of deforestation. impact of deforestation.
Deforestation deforestation.

Reflective Response:
Report of Student Learning Target/Objectives Proficiency Levels

Remediation Plan (if applicable)

Personal Reflection Questions

● Was I clear enough with my instruction?

● Did I provide enough resources?
● Was the content appropriate for the grade level?

Additional reflection/thoughts