Trees Do Trees make your life better

1
Trees Do Trees make your life better?

• A Technology Learning Area project for Grade 8

Picture from Flickr.com
2
Learning outcomes

• In this project you are going to practice some
  research and thinking skills.
• You will be reading a poem and finding meanings
  of difficult words.
• You will learn how to present what you have
  learned in a brochure on the computer.

3
Background

• We will start by reading the poem, Tree by Brian
  McCabe.
• The poem is written as if the tree is speaking.
• We will look at some of the things the tree talks
  about and find more information for ourselves.

4
Project Tasks

• Once you have read the poem you will spend some
  time finding out the meaning of difficult words.
• You will then research ways trees help humans and
  the environment.
• You will also suggest other things we can use
  instead of tree products.
• You will make your brochure to show what you have
  learnt about trees.

5
Assessment

• Your group will be assessed on their shared
  reading.
• I will also observe your group work and your
  ability to organise your tasks.
• You will keep a journal which will be assessed to
  see how you gather and sort information.
• Your brochure and a comprehension on the poem
  will also form part of your assesement.

6
How long will this take?

• The whole project should take two weeks.
• We will take two lessons to prepare the poem and
  do the shared reading.
• You will spend two lessons on research.
• You will spend two lessons making your brochure
  on the computer.
• We will spend one lesson reporting back to the
  class and displaying our brochures.

7
What will we use?

• You will receive a copy of the poem,Tree.
• We will use Microsoft Paint Encarta Publisher
  and Inspiration on the computer, as well as some
  websites I have saved for research.
• Each group will have a turn to use the digital
  camera to take photos of some trees for
  brochures.
• Each of you will keep your personal learning
  journals.
• I will give you worksheets to help you record
  your research.