Lesson Preparation
This STEM lesson about the rainforest is intended for students in kindergarten and is aligned to Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. The lesson is designed for students to work individually and in groups. Students will discover and identify some plants and animals that live in the rainforest and what those plants and animals need to survive. They will use an online tool to build a model rainforest habitat for an animal. Teachers will need to guide students through the activities. Some work is done on the computer and some work is done in the paper-based Rainforest Detective Notebook, which all students should complete as they engage in both group and individual activities. Note that students will need crayons, scissors and glue to complete some of the activities.
Before you start the lesson, be sure to do the following:
- Read through the Teacher Notes, which provide a page-by-page companion to the student activities in this lesson.
- Print out and assemble a Rainforest Detective Notebook for each student and assign teams of 2—3 students, keeping in mind the number of computers your students have access to in the classroom.
- For more ideas about technology and implementation considerations, read these tips: Consider Your Technologies (PDF).
