The Tropics of Room #16

Objectives:

• Students will simulate the landscape of Costa Rica.
• Students will become familiar with landscape of Costa Rica.

Materials:

• Teacher needs:
  Mural paper - brown, green, white, yellow, and blue.
  Books on rain forests
  Tape of rain forest sounds
  Tape deck
• Students need:
  Glue
  Pencils
  Rulers

Introduction:

1. Explain that along with using geography to turn our room into Costa Rica, we need to depict the environment as well.
2. Tell students that before we can study more of Costa Rica, we have to feel like we are actually there as well. Also, remind students that at the end of the month other students will come into our room to visit Costa Rica and we would want them to feel like they were actually there.

Sequence of Instruction:

1. Show pictures of Costa Rica landscape to students. Ask them what they observe. (Students should observe the dark green, lush forests of trees)
2. Ask how they would draw the landscape of Costa Rica.
3. Explain that they will work in groups to turn our room into Costa Rica by making large trees to hang from the shades and adding a water fall in 2 corners of the room. Explain that we will add the animals the following week.
4. Ask if they see anything else in the pictures they would like to add.
5. Review instructions and ask for questions.
6. Remind students of the recent art techniques they learned from the student art teacher that would help them with this activity.
7. Break students into groups by assigning 2 - 3 people to a tree and 2 groups to make waterfalls.
8. Give students the appropriate materials and allow them to get started. Play rain forest music as students work.

Closure:

1. Hang up artwork as finished.
2. After clean up once all designs are up, ask students what they learned by doing this art activity.
3. Ask students what they think about the landscape of Costa Rica.
4. Ask students if they feel like they are actually in Costa Rica now and why.

Evidence of Learning

1. Students will simulate the landscape of Costa Rica by actively participating in making trees and waterfalls for the classroom. Teacher will look for everyone's participation in order to assess if students are simulating the landscape.
2. Students will become familiar with landscape of Costa Rica through participation. As students look at photos of Costa Rica, teacher will listen for students responses that the landscape is full of forests, green, dark, etc.. At conclusion of lesson, teacher will listen for student's responses that they learned the environment is full of forests, etc.. to assess student's familiarity with the landscape.

Reflection:

1. Did students enjoy activity?
2. Did they become familiar with the landscape?
3. Did the students learn anything through participation?
4. Could students work together, why or why not?
5. What could I have done differently?

Adaptations:

Group students into groups which I am aware that can work together without conflict.