NY Botanical Gardens: Middle Grades

 

Deserts and Rainforests

The New York Botanical Gardens

 

 

Grade Level: 8th Grade

 

Subject: Earth Science

Learning Standards:

·       New York State MST Standard 4 – Science, Physical Setting

·       NYS MST Standard 6 – Interconnectedness, Patterns of Change

·       NYS MST Standard 7 – Interdisciplinary Problem Solving

Time Requirements:

·       Pre-Visit Lesson = 40 minutes

·       Visit = 120 minutes

Topics Covered by This Lesson:

·       What is a desert?

·       Where are they?

·       Climate

·       Plant and animal species of the desert

·       What is a rainforest?

·       Where are they?

·       Climate

·       Plant and animal species of the rainforest

·       New York Botanical Gardens

Pre-Visit

·       Purpose:

·       To understand what deserts are and how different forms of life (plants and animal) thrive in it

·       To understand what rainforests are and how different forms of life (plants and animal) thrive in it

·       To have the students become acquainted with the layout of the New York Botanical Gardens and what they will be doing there.

·       Objectives:

·       Students will learn what deserts and rainforests are and how they compare/differ.

·       Students will learn what types of plants and animals live in the desert and rainforest.

·       Students will brainstorm and figure out how these living forms survive in their respective habitats.

·       Students will learn how important these separate habitats are in sustaining a variety of life forms on Earth

·       Students will learn where deserts and rainforests are located throughout the world.

·       Students will become familiar with the layout of the New York Botanical Gardens.

·       Students will understand what they will be required to do during their visit of the New York Botanical Gardens (hand out the task requirements for their visit: information they will be gathering and questions they will be answering).

·       Materials Required:

·       some type of plant or animal species of the desert (i.e. cactus)

·       some type of plant or animal species of the rainforest

·       map of the botanical gardens

·       Student Learning Prerequisites:

·       Students must have an understanding of climate and weather.

Visit

·       Students will go to the Rainforest section of the botanical gardens and list/describe five different plants.

·       Students will go to the Desert section of the botanical gardens and list/describe five different plants.

·       Students will describe how the desert plants differ from the rainforest plants.

·       Students will describe how the desert climate differs from the rainforest climate.

·       Students will describe how the plant’s form and function enable it to survive in its respective habitat.

·       Students will describe how other life forms probably depend on the plants they have described.

·       Students will explain whether a desert plant could survive in the rainforest (and vice versa).

·       When they are done with their assignment, students can visit the other parts of the New York Botanical Gardens at their leisure.

Post Visit

·       Assessment:

·       Verbally ask the students and review with them:

·       What is a desert? A rainforest?

·       What type of climate does each have?

·       What types of plants and animals live in each respective habitat?

·       Where are the rainforests and deserts in the world?

·       Make sure their answers are correct. If not, review it with them.

·       Also, go over their botanical garden investigations and conclusions.

·       Extensions and Suggested Homework Assignments:

·       Have the students research what is being done to protect the rainforests? Have them brainstorm and think of any ways that the rainforest can be saved.

·       Have the students create separate habitats (desert and rainforest) and plant different species. Have them manage the habitats throughout the year.

Possible Questions:

·       Do you think a cactus could survive on the rainforest floor?

·       Why is the rainforest so important to us?

·       What can be done to protect the rainforest? What can you do?

·       Do the deserts of Africa and the United States have the same plant species? Why or why not?

·       What does a botanist do? How do you become a botanist?

 


MainMenu | About MSTEP | Lessons & Activities
Standards | Resources | Staff | Submit | Contact

MSTEP Webmaster | NYU home page | School of Education | School of Education Webmaster