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Teaching Science with Kidlit: NGSS Performance Expectation 2-LS4-1, Part 2

2-LS4-1.
Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in
different habitats [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the diversity of living
things in each of a variety of different habitats.]

After
students have a clear understanding of what a habitat is, you can introduce the
term biome (a
large area of land with special features) and compare the diversity of life in a
rain forest biome and a desert biome. Here are some great books to share with
kids:

The
Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

Here
is the Southwestern Desert by Madeleine Dunphy

Desert
Voices by Byrd Baylor

Here
is the Tropical Rainforest by Madeline Dunphy

The Desert is Theirs by
Byrd Baylor

Rain, Rain, Rain Forest by
Brenda Z. Guiberson

Activity 1

After
reviewing the cumulative format of Here
Is the Southwestern Desert, invite students
to create their own cumulative text that features at least three rain forest
plants or animals. Here’s an example:

 

   Here is the tropical rainforest.

 

   Here is the kapok tree

   that grows tall:

   Here is the tropical rainforest.

   Here is the toucan

   who sits in the kapok tree

   that grows tall:

   Here is the tropical rainforest.

   Here is the jaguar

   who hunts the toucan

   who sits in the kapok tree

   that grows tall:

   Here is the tropical rainforest.

Encourage
students to illustrate their cumulative texts.

 


Activity 2


Show your class how
to make a pyramid by folding a piece of 12 × 12 drawing paper. (Excellent
directions can be found online.) After each child has created two pyramids,
invite students to turn each pyramid on its side to make a diorama frame. Then
provide art materials, so that students can create at least one plant and two
animals to add to a desert biome diorama and a rain forest biome diorama.

 

 

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