Summative Assessment: Marking Period 2
Grade 2
Project Based Learning
CCSS: RIT. 2.1, RIT.2.2, RIT.2.4, RIT 2.5, RIT. 2.6,
RL.2.3, RL.2.4, RL.2.6, RL.2.9
W.2.2, W.2.5, W.2.6, W.2.7
SL.2.1, SL.2.2, SL.2.6
Writing Genre: Expository/ Informational Writing
Inter- disciplinary connections: Social Studies, Science and Language Arts
Introduction:
Rainforests across the globe are home to approximately 50% of the world’s species. The
largest of these rainforests is located in the Amazon River Basin. This particular
rainforest is about the size of the mainland of the United States and takes up 40% of
South America. The Amazon Rainforest is home to over 500 species of mammals, 175
species of lizards, 300 other species of reptiles, and one third of the world’s birds. There
are also millions of species that have yet to be discovered. Unfortunately rainforests
around the world are being destroyed at a shocking rate. If our rainforests continue to be
destroyed at this rate life on earth will be severely affected.
How can people around the world save our rainforests including the different
animals and species that live in it?
The Task
There is a Science contest on conservation and preservation of a rain forest and its
inhabitants in your school. Interested students are required to form a team of
environmentalists and submit an essay on how to save their selected rainforest. Winners
will receive an award and an opportunity to visit the American Museum of Natural
History New York City.
You are on a team of environmentalists who want to save the rainforest. Your team must
work together to decide which rainforest you would like to focus on. Your team will
conduct research about your chosen rainforest and its inhabitants.
As a group, you will write an expository essay focusing on WHY and HOW you can
save a particular rainforest. Your essay must state:
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Brief background history of the rainforest
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Research findings about your selected rainforest which will include the animals
that live there (this can be a report that includes a visual such as a chart, graph,
or poster, painting, large-scale drawing, etc.
A proposed plan how you save this particular rainforest and its inhabitants.
Steps:
1. First you will research in teams of 4 to 5 students. Choose a country of Central or
South America and its rainforest.
2. You will explore different animals and people who live in the rainforest. As you are
exploring, jot down notes about what animals or species you might like to research
and the interesting information you find. Find out how it looks, where it exists,
what features it has that has allowed it to adapt to life in the rainforest, its
characteristics, what it eats, its behaviors, and other interesting facts that will
make your proposed plan urgent.
3. Each individual in the group should have a role when gathering information.
Consider the following roles:
o
Environmentalist - Researches information about the rainforest, mainly
their importance. Why is it being destroyed? How can the rainforest
benefit humans? Are we being responsible? How can we save the rain
forest? What is the forest being used for?
o
Campaign manager- Focus on something that kids can do that would
make a difference and help save the rainforest. Research programs,
solutions, or ideas that are being or can be implemented. Read about
success stories, Amazon conservation, How can you make a difference?
o
Historian- Researches history of the specific rainforest, mainly prior and
actual use of the land. What has been done to conserve and or preserve
land? Is it enough? What have been some of the past effects? What is the
government’s current role in that country?
o
Zoologist - Researches an endangered animal. Includes information about
why the animal’s habitat is being destroyed. Find out how it looks, where
it exists, what features it has that has allowed it to adapt to life in the
rainforest, its characteristics, what it eats, and its behaviors. Can it survive
outside the rainforest? What has been that animal’s importance, past and
present, in this specific country?
4. Begin your research. You should individually be researching information related to
your role. As you research take notes and keep your notes organized. You can
organize your notes by using fact sheets, outlines, index cards, flow charts, summary
tables, concept maps, etc.
5. In your proposal you will need to write down your references so be sure to keep
accurate records of where you found your information.
Consider the following sites for your research:
Rainforest Information
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Tropical Forest Information
All About Rainforests
Rainforests
Amazon Rainforest
Rainforest Facts
Biomes of the World: Rainforest
Amazon Explorer
Importance of Rainforests
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Rainforest Facts: Why Rainforests are so Important
Save the Rainforest
Why are Rainforests Important?
Tropical Rainforests: Disappearing Opportunities
The Importance of the Rainforest (scroll down on this page to find
this information)
Rainforest Destruction
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Why Are Rainforests Being Destroyed?
Why is the Rainforest Being Destroyed in Brazil?
The Destruction of Rainforests
The Disappearing Rainforests
Rainforests Being Destroyed for Food
Destroyed for Wood
Destroyed for Oil
Destroyed for Hamburgers and Steaks
National Geographic: Deforestation
Causes of Rainforest Destruction
Rainforest Animals
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Rainforest Alliance Research and Resources
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Rainforest Plants and Animals
Amazon Wildlife
Animal Information- Brazil
Animal Information- Country Index
Animals of the Rainforest
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Animal Diversity
Rainforest Alliance Research and Resources
Rainforest Plants and Animals
Amazon Wildlife
Animal Information- Brazil
Animal Information- Country Index
Possible Solutions
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Kids' Action
Heroes Corner
10 Easy Ways YOU Can Help Save Rainforests
Adopt-A-Rainforest
Adopt-A-Rainforest Success Stories
How You Can Help
How Can We Save Rainforests?
Amazon Conservation
Be Environmentally Responsible
Rainforests
Food (Look inside article for solutions)
Wood (Look inside article for solutions)
Oil (Look inside article for solutions)
Beef (Look inside article for solutions)
Make a Difference
Fundraising for the Rainforest
Become an Amazon Activist
Reading Texts:
o The Great Kapok Tree
o Other supplemental texts