What is the problem?

Deforestation is the reduction in forest across the world. It is the permanent removal of trees to make room for something other than trees. This can also include clearing land for farms, or taking trees and using them for lumber to build homes or other structures, and making paper products.

Video on Deforestation

Introduction

Imagine a world without trees. Animals would have no food to eat or place to live, and people would not be able to have oxygen to breathe. 

Task

• The goal of this WebQuest is for you to have an understanding of why trees are essential for life and the effects of massive cutting down of trees is contributing to deforestation. Understanding that we have no control over natural disasters, we as citizens of the world must do our part. 
• You will research how deforestation affects not only animal habitats, but how it affects climate change and ultimately human life.
• You will create a tri-fold display model of deforestation, by including what life would be like without trees, and the importance of planting trees to support life as we know it to be.

Process Resources

Day 1: 

• Classroom discussion - Students will participate in discussions about various pictures that show deforestation. 

• As a whole group activity, students and the teacher will read together an article about the power of trees from the Arbor Day website.

https://bit.ly/3rhCbaB

• Students will watch a video about deforestation, causes, effects, and solutions to this problem.

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

• Students will share their thoughts within groups, write responses and draw a picture to support their understanding. 

Student worksheets

Day 2: 

• Students will be presented with the expectations of their presentations. This includes the parts that should be included in their presentations.

(Introduction of Topic, Evidence of the  problem, Causes and Impact of the problem, Existent policies, Solutions for the problem, How can I play a part)

• Students will be presented with a model of what their finished project should look like.

• Students will begin to think of ways that they can collect data for their presentations.
• Students will watch a video to help them to understand that data collected for their project should be credible.

Video 4

Day 3 : 

·         Students will begin to work on their Deforestation graphic organizer to collect data from various internet sources.

Worksheet for Day 3

       Day 4: 

• Students will work to collect data using the organizer that was given to them on day 3. 
• After students have completed their organizer, students will work with partners to discuss the information that was found during their research. 

Day 5:

·         Students will begin to construct their presentation boards. They will be given the opportunity to transfer the information from the organizer onto several sheets of paper to highlight each section individually.

·         Students will have the ability to also make revisions based on my feedback and revisions based on their peers.

Peer Feedback

       Day 6:

• Students will display and present their project to their peers.
• Students will reflect on their own projects to determine the areas in which they glow, and the areas where they need to grow.

Self Reflection

Students will be reminded that their final product should include:

1.      Definition of the Problem

2.    Gather Evidence

3.     Identify the causes

4.    Evaluate the existing policy

5.    Develop solutions

6.    Select the best solution

The design of the project can be done in any way that the student chooses. However, the students will be reminded that the project must include all steps.

Resources

Overview: Trees and their benefits.

Introduction to the problem

Effects of Deforestation on Humans 

and its Environment

Evidence of Species Loss in Amazon   caused by deforestation

Impact of the problem that deforestation causes

Solutions to reduce deforestation

How can I help solve the problem of deforestation?

Evaluation

Conclusion

During this unit, students learned information about deforestation and its many effects that it has on our world. Deforestation affects climate control, human beings, Students will see through their research the causes of deforestation, and ways in which deforestation can be prevented. 

Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.2

Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.1

Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.1.A

Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1

Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.