Conservation+with+Google+Earth

__Lesson Title:__ Conservation with Google Earth __Grade Level:__ 4th __Subject:__ Social Studies & Literacy __Time Needed:__ 50 minutes __Materials__
 * Elmo
 * Computer
 * Google Earth
 * //The Lorax// by Dr. Seuss
 * The Lorax Graphic Organizer
 * Projector
 * Writing instruments
 * Paper
 * Two 30 second clips of classical music
 * One fast paced and upbeat
 * One slow and somber

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">__Essential Standards:__ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">4.G.1.2 Explain the impact that human activity has on the availability of natural resources in North Carolina. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">4.G.1.3 Exemplify the interactions of various peoples, places and cultures in terms of adaption and modification of the environment
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">__Social Studies:__

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">W.4.2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">W.4.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">SL.4.1. Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on //grade 4 topics and texts//, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">L.4.2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">L.4.3. Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Literacy (Common Core):


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Technology

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">4.TT.1.3Use technology tools to present data and information (multimedia, audio andvisual recording, online collaboration tools, etc.).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">K.ML.3.1 Select vocal and/or instrumental sounds to accompany readings, stories, or dramatizations
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Music

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">__Procedures__
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Tell the learners that while you are reading them the story of //The Lorax// by Dr. Seuss, they will need to pay close attention so they will be able to list the main events in the order in which they happened in the story.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Read through the story and distribute a copy of //The Lorax Graphic Organizer//. Tell learners to use the graphic organizer to create a list of events of the story in the order in which they happened, in other words, learners will sequence the events of the story.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Ask the learners, “What happened first?” (The story actually started with a look at the result.) Have them start the sequence with the events that took place in chronological order rather than in the “backwards” order at the beginning of the story and then answer the questions at the bottom of this sheet.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Once the students have completed the work review the answers.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Inform the students that while //The Lorax// is a fictional story, many of the issues addressed in the book can be seen right here in North Carolina.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Pull up the Google Earth program on the computer (with projector attached). Prior to this lesson, the teacher should have configured Google Earth to show an animation of the state of North Carolina from the years 1990-2011.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">As the animation plays, be sure to point out the decline of forests or green spaces to the students.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Discuss the following questions as a group:
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Why do you think there is a decline of forests in North Carolina from the years 1990-2011?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Is this a good thing or bad thing?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">What are some steps that can be taken to reduce the rate of deforestation?
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Once the above questions are discussed explain to the students that you would like them to take a moment and silently think about how the information they have just learned makes them feel. After about one minute, tell the students that you will be playing two songs and that they should pick the song that best represents their feeling.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">After each student has picked their song, inform them that they are to write no more than two paragraphs explaining which song they chose (number one or number two) and why that song represents their feelings.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">__Assessment:__

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Student written work will be assessed using the Rubric for Written Work <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">__Differentiation:__ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">__Resources:__ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Larkin, Cheryl. (n.d.). //The impact//. Retrievedfrom http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit380/lesson3.html
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Students will be working with shoulder buddies; this will provide support for those students who need it.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">If a student needs to, he or she may type up their response.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">ELL students can be provided with acopy of //The Lorax// in their own language to follow along.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Should a student have auditory impairments he or she can simply describe how the information makes them feel and why.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Information is presented both visually and through the spoken word. This will benefit all students.