Green School Reaccreditation
Galapagos Lesson Plan
2nd Grade
(Spring; a 3-day lesson)
Objective:
· To learn about the islands, animals, and conservation of the Galapagos
· To compare the similarities and differences in conservation principles between the Galapagos and Chesapeake Bay
Essential Question: What would it be like to visit the Galapagos Islands?
Materials: Books, videos, internet, songs, pictures, information packets, maps, craft supplies
Subjects Covered/Skills: Social Studies, Geography, Science/Research, critical and evaluative thinking, hypothesizing, and public presentation.
Activities, Assessments, Celebration:
· Learn how the movement of tectonic plates creates earthquakes and volcanoes and formed the island chain. Use graham crackers to make earthquakes and volcanoes
· Take a “tour” of the islands with a guest speaker
· Learn about the vegetation zones and create a diagram representing each zone
· Research five of the islands
· Create a map for each of the five researched islands
· Present research on the islands
· Research animals that live on our islands
· Create 3D animals to put on the islands
· Learn about Charles Darwin and the adaptation of the animals on the different islands
· Present research on animals
· Read books about the island
· Learn about and set up a Pirate Post Office
· Learn about conservation efforts on the islands
· Compare conservation efforts to those in the Chesapeake Bay
· Adopt a tortoise from the Charles Darwin Center. Have a party welcoming our tortoise.
· Research reports and products are displayed in elementary entrance and hallways.
· This long-time unit has become a rite of passage for 2nd graders and a source of pride and excitement. A former 2nd grader, now in 4th grade, will be visiting the Galapagos Islands in Spring 2014. His first-hand report will be incorporated into the lessons.
Resources/Partnerships: Team-taught with teacher and quest speaker who spent 5 weeks studying in the Galapagos Islands. In 2015-16, guest 5th-grade speaker.
Galapagos Lesson Plan
2nd Grade
(Spring; a 3-day lesson)
Objective:
· To learn about the islands, animals, and conservation of the Galapagos
· To compare the similarities and differences in conservation principles between the Galapagos and Chesapeake Bay
Essential Question: What would it be like to visit the Galapagos Islands?
Materials: Books, videos, internet, songs, pictures, information packets, maps, craft supplies
Subjects Covered/Skills: Social Studies, Geography, Science/Research, critical and evaluative thinking, hypothesizing, and public presentation.
Activities, Assessments, Celebration:
· Learn how the movement of tectonic plates creates earthquakes and volcanoes and formed the island chain. Use graham crackers to make earthquakes and volcanoes
· Take a “tour” of the islands with a guest speaker
· Learn about the vegetation zones and create a diagram representing each zone
· Research five of the islands
· Create a map for each of the five researched islands
· Present research on the islands
· Research animals that live on our islands
· Create 3D animals to put on the islands
· Learn about Charles Darwin and the adaptation of the animals on the different islands
· Present research on animals
· Read books about the island
· Learn about and set up a Pirate Post Office
· Learn about conservation efforts on the islands
· Compare conservation efforts to those in the Chesapeake Bay
· Adopt a tortoise from the Charles Darwin Center. Have a party welcoming our tortoise.
· Research reports and products are displayed in elementary entrance and hallways.
· This long-time unit has become a rite of passage for 2nd graders and a source of pride and excitement. A former 2nd grader, now in 4th grade, will be visiting the Galapagos Islands in Spring 2014. His first-hand report will be incorporated into the lessons.
Resources/Partnerships: Team-taught with teacher and quest speaker who spent 5 weeks studying in the Galapagos Islands. In 2015-16, guest 5th-grade speaker.