• Unit Topic or Theme: Science
• Grade: Grade 2

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• Lesson Topic or Theme: Tropical Rainforest
• Lesson Objectives: The students will be able to retell features about a tropical rainforest.   
• Instructional Technique: Whole class discussion, individual worksheet, individual computer quiz and homework worksheet.
• Instructional Materials: Copy of worksheet,  address to the computer quiz, homework sheet, KWL chart, book Kristin Joy Pratt's A Walk Through the Rainforest
• Theoretical Perspective: It is important for the students to learn about geography of the world and what it is made up of. Rainforests are often mentioned in books, movies, and it's essential for students to be aware of what a rainforest is.
• Procedure: A. Introductory Activity

            I would have the students sit on the floor and use a KWL chart about tropical rainforests. Since this is a follow up from a previous lesson, I’d ask them if they can retell anything they might know about a rainforest from previously reading and discussing the book,  A Walk Through the Rainforest by Kristin Joy Pratt. Then I would ask them what they want to know about a rainforest and record it on large chart paper for the whole class to see and later hang it up in the classroom.

B. Step-by-step

             I would ask the students to think and imagine what a rainforest looks like in their head and ask for volunteers to describe their thinking. I would draw it on chart paper for the whole class. If it the students incorrectly gave information about a rainforest, then I would assess and talk about it to clear the student’s misunderstandings. After I completed the drawing, I would show the students the four layers and talk to them about what is in a tropical rainforest and focus on each of the emergent layer, canopy layer, understory layer and finally the forest floor.

            After I would have a group discussion about the picture and have students come up to show and talk about each layer of the rainforest, I would talk about where they are located on a map. I would tell them since tropical rainforests are close to the equator, that's the reason why they are so warm.

            Next, I would give the students a worksheet to individually go back to their seat to work on to try and have them remember what we just discussed. When each student is done, they will go on the computer and take the tropical rainforest quiz.

C. Closure

            Finally, I would have the students come over to the rug and begin to fill in some of what they have learned about tropical rainforests. I would hang it up and go back to it later to fill in anymore information that will be later found.

D. Adaptations for different learners

            I would have any student who may have trouble sit in front and closest to the teacher so they can hear and see everything that is being written since this lesson is based on a lot of talking and drawing.

            If a struggling student is having trouble understanding and I can determine in the time, for example when I talk about the layers, I could have the students turn and talk and talk and I can talk to the student who may have trouble with the understandings of it.

            While doing the worksheet, I could have anyone who isn’t understanding work with a partner. If there was a non-native speaker, I could talk to them and ask then if they can see any words from the worksheet or chart paper and have them connect it with their language. For example, if an animal word was similar in their language and ours, I could talk to them about the animals and describe the rainforest that they live in.

E. Homework

            For homework, I would have the students write a paragraph about the rainforest and everything that is in it with as much detail as they can.  

• Evaluation:

A.     How/ when will you determine if you have met your objectives?

I will determine when I met my objectives by evaluating the worksheet that the students do in class, the quiz they take and hopefully learn more about and especially by the homework. My objective was for the students to recall as much information about the rainforest as possible, so with their own words, and own thinking I could see how much they have learned from this lesson unit.

B. Concerns or questions you have about teaching this lesson?