Introduction
Students in 1st and 2nd grade will choose a temperate forest animal to research and persuade an audience to save the animals' forest habitat.
Task
Temperate forests are being cut down at an alarming rate and we need to conserve them! One of the best ways to do this is to learn about and share the amazing animals that live there. You are a forest conservationist and you have the opportunity to present information about the deciduous animal of your choice to a group of tree-cutters to try to convince them to conserve the forest habitat and save your fantastic animal!
Process
1. Decide on the type (mammal, bird, amphibian, insect/decomposer, reptile) of temperate forest animal you would be interested in learning about and submit your choice to your teacher.
2. The teacher will assign you a partner and you and your partner will compromise to decide which animal of that type you will study.
3. Research your forest animal using websites bookmarked on Mrs. Hamilton's wiki page called Temperate Forest Animals and record the information you learn on your recording sheet. If you need more information you could research on your own using links on the wiki page called Research Websites.
4. Create a poster that not only informs the reader about your forest animal but would also persuade them to not cut down forests that are this animals' habitat.
5. Prepare and practice your speech with your partner.
6. Give your speech to the group.
7. Evaluate yourself using the rubric.
Evaluation
Animals of the Temperate Forest Rubric
| 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Research Work | Found lots of good, interesting information, made very good use of time | Found some information, but not all relevant, mostly good use of time | Little research done; poor use of time |
| Timeliness | Completed and handed in on time | Handed in 1 - 2 days late | Over 3 days late; not done |
| Information Poster | Good information, neatly and clearly presented | Some information; could be done more neatly | Not very much information, hard to read and/or messy |
| Description of animal | Clear, detailed description | Partial description | no description or incorrect |
| Adaptations to forest | 2 or more adaptations | 1 adaptation mentioned | No information |
| Where it lives | Clear, detailed description | Partial description | No information |
| Raising the young | Clear, detailed description | Partial description | No information |
| Spelling/ Grammar | Few spelling and/or grammar mistakes | Many spelling and/or grammar mistakes | Spelling and grammar mistakes make it hard to read |
| References | Lists 2 or more references on back of poster | Poster includes one reference | No references listed |
| Oral Presentation | Excellent, interesting presentation of topic, clearly persuaded to protect forest habitat, good volume and eye contact | Somewhat organized presentation, very little persuasion to protect forest habitat, volume soft and very little eye contact | No new learning about the topic, no persuasion to protect the forest habitat, voice inaudible and no eye contact |