How Cloud Forest Plants Survive and Thrive

Grade Level: 5

Introduction: Students will determine what resources are required to support plant life and how plants acquire these resources. They will evaluate and expand their prior knowledge by investigating interactive panoramic photographs and video from the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica.  Time is provided for students to familiarize themselves with the media so that they can utilize the technology in future lessons.

Objectives: Students will be able to 1) identify resources that support plant life, 2)  describe how plants acquire necessary resources and 3) demonstrate independent use of interactive panoramic photographs and video in order to collect data.

National Science Standards: Populations and Ecosystems: The number of organisms an ecosystem can support depends on the resources available and abiotic factors, such as quantity of light and water, range of temperatures, and soil composition.  Given adequate biotic and abiotic resources and no disease or predators, populations (including humans) increase at rapid rates. Lack of resources and other factors, such as predation and climate, limit the growth of populations in specific niches in the ecosystem. Scientific Inquiry: Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.

Time: 1-2 hours

Related Plans

1. How Cloud Forest Plants Survive and Thrive
2. Light and Shadows in the Cloud Forest