How to Use This Teacher's Guide

This teacher's guide is meant to be used in conjunction with the Tropical Deforestation, Uncovering the Story video. Use the video as an introduction to the topic for your students. Then use this guide to reinforce concepts and extend their learning.

The activities found here were written using the Minnesota K-12 Science Framework, which connects the National Research Council's National Science Education Standards and the Minnesota Graduation Standards. Age-appropriate concepts also were incorporated from the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Benchmarks for Science Literacy. We think this provides an excellent framework, not only for Minnesota teachers, but for teachers in other parts of the country as well.

This teacher's guide assumes an interdisciplinary approach. Activities draw upon science, social studies, math, reading, and language. You can partner with other teachers, if necessary, to provide a full experience for students.

Each chapter contains background information for teachers. Read this material before you teach the activities. You can supplement your knowledge by using the resources listed in the appendices.

Activities are experientially focused, centering on inquiry and development of critical thinking skills among learners. Because this teacher's guide was written using university-level teaching materials developed by Dr. Jim Bowyer at the University of Minnesota, we've incorporated some of the same overheads and handouts, albeit rewritten for the appropriate grade level. You'll find that some activities specify the use of overheads to introduce a topic.

Each activity also contains how-to information, such as materials and time needed, and subjects addressed. Activity sheets immediately follow activity instructions. Some activities contain the following enhancements:

• Overheads. Written information to display and share with students.
• Extension. Additional ideas for extending learning within the activity.
• Values and Issues. Background information and discussion questions about an issue or personal value; can be used to generate group discussion.