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Life in the Greenhouse

Published April 13, 2014 | By Carol Malnor

CLIMT_COVER2A new report from the International Panel on Climate Change warns countries  they must make dramatic changes in their energy consumption, use of technology, and ways of life to avert  catastrophic effects of climate change. 

 LESSON PLAN: Life in the Greenhouse
This week’s lesson uses the book How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate to help students learn about the topic of climate change in an age-appropriate manner, with clarity and hope. Download a pdf with complete directions for the lesson called Life in the Greenhouse, and scroll down to page 10 of the pdf, which is an excerpt from the Teacher’s Guide.

 Suggested Grade Level: 4-6

 Suggested Time: 2 class periods

 Materials:

Procedure:
The lesson follows the 4-part Flow Learning model:

1: Awaken students’ enthusiasm by engaging them in the topic with an informal assessment to determine your their prior knowledge about the greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases. Use the questions provided in Life in the Greenhouse pdf.

2: Focus students’ attention by having them practice listening and recording skills. Instruct them to create a visual diagram of the greenhouse effect while they listen to a mini-lecture. The student handout for creating the diagram and the teacher script for the lecture are provided in Life in the Greenhouse.

 3: Direct students to use a variety of sources to get information by having them research answers to questions about the carbon cycle. Have then read pages 38-39 of How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate and do research online. Suggested questions and websites for research are provided in Life in the Greenhouse.

4: Give students an opportunity to share what they’ve learned by participating in “Think Dots,” a Differentiated Instruction activity. Directions for playing are in Life in the Greenhouse.

 Common Core Connection
~Informational Test: Key Ideas and Details 4.2, 4.3, 5.2, 5.3; Craft and Structure 4.4, 5.4, 6.4; Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 4.7, 5.7, 6.7
~Speaking and Listening 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2

Science Framework Connection
~ Earth and Human Activity (4, 5, 6)

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Posted in Nature Books Blog, Uncategorized
subscribe     Blog by Carol Malnor I love making connections: kids and nature, science and reading, fun and learning. I discovered the joy of connecting Dawn Publications' books with kids when I was a classroom teacher. Dawn's books were easy to incorporate into my lessons and the kids loved them. I used picture books with students of all ages, from primary school all the way up through 9th grade. Over the years, my relationship with Dawn changed and developed, and I authored Dawn’s Teacher’s Guides as well as writing books for children 4-14 years old. ARTICLE How to Use Creative Nonfiction Picture Books in Support of Common Core and Science ACTIVITIES Dawn Publications STANDARDS Common Core State Standards Next Generation Science Standards National Science Teachers Association Picture Perfect Science   OTHER FAVORITES Dawn Publications Children and Nature Network
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