The Effects of Deforestation

Grade 6: Science: Ms. Srour

 

INTRODUCTION:

What would happen if all the trees in the world disappeared? What would happen if we kept taking from the forests around the world? How would that affect the animals that live there and the environment?

 

Forests cover about 31% of Earth’s land surface. ​​Forests house 60,000 different tree species, 80 percent of amphibian species, 75 percent of bird species, and 68 percent of the world's mammal species. Forests provide humans with the air we breathe, they filter the water we drink, prevent erosion, and act as an important buffer against climate change. With deforestation, these important things that animals and humans need will disappear.

 

 

TASK

During this unit we will focus on the effects that deforestation has on the species that live within forests and the impact it has on human environments. You will be broken up into 3 groups of 3. Each group will be focusing on a different forest from around the world to create a presentation on the effect of deforestation for that forest that it has on the animals that live there and how it affects the human environment. Not only will your group be responsible for the presentation, but you will also be responsible for sharing the information with your class.

 

 

PROCESS:

I want you to think back to the presentation you were introduced to on verbal bullying. As a class we worked through the six steps of the PPA process to create a solution to verbal bullying. Over the next few days, you will be using the PPA process to create your presentation on the effects of deforestation on animals and the human environment.

 

The Six Steps of the PPA Process:

  1. Define the problem
  2. Gather Evidence
  3. Identify the Cause
  4. Evaluate an Existing Policy
  5. Develop a Solution
  6. Select the Best Solution

 

Day 1 & 2: Defining the Problem and Gathering Evidence

Deforestation is a problem that not only affects the human environment but also the animals that live within these habitats. Your job is to pick a forest as a group from the list (each group will pick a different forest) and gather evidence on the animals that live there, what the forest does for the environment and other things you think are interesting and/or important to note.

 

Lists of Forests:

-       Amazon Rainforest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qynfHBJ168w, https://time.com/amazon-rainforest-disappearing,  https://www.amazonconservation.org/the-challenge/threats/)

-       Atlantic Forest ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULWSh8I9718,  https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/where_we_work/atlantic_forests/, https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/what-is-the-atlantic-forest-and-why-do-we-need-to-save-it)

-       Borneo and Sumatra Forest (https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/borneo-and-sumatra, https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation#:~:text=Deforestation%20is%20a%20particular%20concern,forest%20conversion%20for%20cattle%20ranching., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSumTLrJzdU)

-       Ulu Muda rainforest (https://news.mongabay.com/2022/07/deforestation-on-the-rise-in-northern-malaysias-most-important-water-catchment/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ejMEQswQqw)

 

Day 3 & 4: Identify the Causes and Existing Policies

After doing some research on your forest and what is happening within that area of forest your group has chosen. You now have a better understanding of the benefits a forest brings to an area and why they are so important. You will now identify the causes of deforestation and how it affects the animals and the human environment.

 

You will also be researching policies that have been passed to help combat deforestation in your area of forest that you have chosen.

 

Here are some links to help:

 

-       Amazon Rainforest https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/public-policies-for-the-protection-of-the-amazon-forest-what-works-and-how-to-improve/

-       Atlantic Forest https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/atlantic-forest/

-       Borneo and Sumatra Forest https://news.mongabay.com/2021/02/in-malaysian-borneos-rainforests-powerful-state-government-set-their-own-rules/

-       Ulu Muda rainforest https://www.wwf.org.my/?26025/Time-for-Beneficiaries-to-assist-Kedah-in-conserving-Ulu-Muda

 

 

Day 5 & 6: Develop a Solution and Select the Best Solution

Based on all your research that you have conducted over the past couple of days, as a group I want you to think about how we can help these forests from deforestation by looking at the existing policies and maybe creating our own petition (Change.org).

 

Once your group has created about 3 policies that you think could help spread the word about the importance of stopping deforestation in your forest, you will work together to determine the best solution.

 

Day 7 & 8: Presentation Set - Up

Over the next two days, your group will create a presentation to present to the class that shows the 6 steps of the PPA that helped you to come up with your solution to deforestation. You have a choice of creating a poster, a powerpoint, or an infographic. Make sure you include images in your presentation. You will be graded on your presentation as well as your share out with the class.

 

Day 9: Presentation Time!

Today is the day where you will present your work that you have been working on with the class!

 

 

Evaluation Rubrics:

Presentation:

Task

4

3

2

1

Group Work

Worked well with all group members and contributed ideas and work.

Worked well with all some members and contributed some ideas and work.

Worked well with some group members and contributed some ideas and work.

Hardly worked with group members and did not contribute ideas or work.

Knowledge of Content and Research

Used multiple sources to research deforestation and the affects.

Used two sources to research deforestation and the affects

Used one source to research deforestation and the affects

Did not conduct any research on deforestation and the affects

Presentation

Presentation included all six steps of the PPA process. Included several solutions and highlighted the best solution for your area.

Presentation included some steps of the PPA process. Included several solutions and highlighted the best solution for your area

Presentation included one step of the PPA process. Did not Include several solutions and did not highlight the best solution for your area

Presentation did not include the six steps of the PPA process. Only one or no solutions were highlighted for your area

 

Public Speaking:

 

Conclusion:

Together you have worked to create a six-step process of a PPA to come to a solution for deforestation and how it impacts the animals and the human environment. You have chosen the best solution that will help show the world why we need to save the forests!

 

 

Standards:

NGSS:

-       Practice 1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems

-       Practice 6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

-       Practice 8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information 

 

CCSS:

RI.6.1; W6.6; W.6.7 SL.6.1; SL.6.5