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.