Rainforest Explorer Sensory Details Infographic

Created byStacie Winge

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Rainforest Explorer Sensory Details Infographic

Grade 5English1 days

In this project, fifth-grade students become 'rainforest explorers' who utilize sensory details from various texts to create an engaging infographic that captures the essence of the rainforest environment. Through research using multiple sources, students gather, identify, and contextualize sensory information, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of literary elements. Activities such as a Virtual Reality Rainforest Immersion and a Sensory Detail Scavenger Hunt help anchor students' experiences, while the creation of a digital infographic challenges them to organize and present their findings in a visually compelling format, promoting skills in both language arts and digital design.

Sensory DetailsRainforestInfographicResearch SkillsVisual CommunicationDigital DesignLiterature

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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we, as rainforest explorers, gather and use sensory details from texts to create an informative and engaging infographic that enhances understanding about the rainforest's environment and its storytelling elements?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.

What are sensory details and how do they enhance our understanding of a text?
How can we effectively gather information from multiple sources to understand a topic in depth?
In what ways can infographics be used to communicate information clearly and effectively?
Why is it important to understand sensory details when exploring the rainforest or similar environments through literature?
How does the use of sensory details impact the reader's experience and visualization of a story or topic?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:

Students will understand and identify sensory details in texts about the rainforest.
Students will conduct research using multiple sources to gather information on the rainforest and its environment.
Students will learn how to organize and present information effectively using an infographic tool like Canva.
Students will analyze and interpret the impact of sensory details on reader understanding and engagement in texts.
Students will enhance their skills in using graphics and visual elements to communicate information clearly and effectively.

Common Core Standards

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.7

Primary

Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.Reason: This standard focuses on conducting research using multiple sources to build knowledge, which aligns with the project's task of gathering sensory details from texts to create an infographic.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.7

Secondary

Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.Reason: This standard is about using information from various sources to solve problems or answer questions, which is relevant to the task of creating an infographic based on sensory detail exploration.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.5

Secondary

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.Reason: Understanding figurative language and nuances enhances students' ability to identify and explain sensory details in texts.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.5

Supporting

Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.Reason: Creating an infographic is a multimedia task that aligns with this standard, emphasizing the use of visual displays to enhance understanding of main ideas.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Sensory Detail Scavenger Hunt

Organize a scavenger hunt where students find and collect items or clues related to rainforest sensory details around the school or classroom. As they collect these elements, they form connections with the descriptions found in texts, inspiring deeper inquiry into how sensory language enhances storytelling and understanding.

Virtual Reality Rainforest Immersion

Kick off the project by immersing students in a virtual reality tour of a rainforest. As they explore, they'll jot down sensory details they notice and are intrigued by, which will pique their curiosity about the sights, sounds, and other sensory experiences detailed in rainforest-related texts. This authentic experience serves as a sensory anchor for their upcoming research and infograph creation.

Rainforest Sounds Mystery Box

Present students with a mystery box containing various audio clips of rainforest sounds—waterfalls, animal calls, rustling leaves—and challenge them to match these sounds to potential sources found in rainforest texts. This engages students' curiosity and initiates an authentic exploration of sensory details in a format that blends mystery and learning.

Create a Mini Rainforest "Experience Zone"

Transform a corner of the classroom into a mini rainforest with plants, ambient sounds, and tactile experiences for students to explore. This hands-on, immersive setup encourages students to engage directly with sensory details, fostering curiosity about how such elements are captured and described in their readings and projects.

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Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.

Activity 1

Source Seekers Mission

Students will extend their detective work by conducting research across multiple sources, including digital resources, to gather more information about rainforest sensory details. They'll synthesize this information to deepen their understanding and prepare for the infographic creation process.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Provide instruction on how to perform research effectively using both print and digital sources.

2. Assign students to find additional sensory details about the rainforest using at least two different sources.

3. Have students record the information gathered and continue categorizing and noting similarities or differences with previous data.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn expanded research portfolio containing cited sources and categorized sensory details.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.7 for conducting research projects and CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.7 for drawing information from various sources.

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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Rainforest Sensory Details Infographic Rubric

Category 1

Research Skills

Assessment of the student's ability to effectively conduct research using multiple sources and organize information appropriately.

Criterion 1

Use of Multiple Sources

Evaluates the degree to which students draw information from various print and digital sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of rainforest sensory details.

Exemplary

4 Points

Effectively uses a diverse range of sources beyond the minimum required, showcasing a sophisticated understanding of the content.

Proficient

3 Points

Uses a minimum of two types of sources effectively to gather relevant information for the project.

Developing

2 Points

Relies mostly on a single source type with limited exploration of additional sources.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to utilize multiple sources and relies heavily on one type of source with incomplete information collection.

Criterion 2

Information Synthesis and Organization

Measures the student's ability to categorize, compare, and synthesize information from research findings.

Exemplary

4 Points

Demonstrates exceptional ability to organize and synthesize information from multiple sources, highlighting insightful comparisons and contrasts.

Proficient

3 Points

Effectively organizes information from research to identify common themes and differences.

Developing

2 Points

Attempts to organize information but shows inconsistent ability to categorize and compare details across sources.

Beginning

1 Points

Shows minimal organization or synthesis of information, with isolated facts and little comparison across sources.

Category 2

Understanding and Application of Sensory Details

Evaluates the student's ability to identify, understand, and contextualize sensory details in texts related to the rainforest.

Criterion 1

Identification of Sensory Details

Assesses how well the student can recognize and document sensory details within informational texts.

Exemplary

4 Points

Consistently identifies a wide range of sensory details, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of their use in texts.

Proficient

3 Points

Identifies key sensory details with a clear understanding of their function in enhancing text.

Developing

2 Points

Identifies some sensory details but lacks clear recognition of their purpose in text.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to identify sensory details, missing key information and context.

Criterion 2

Contextualization of Sensory Details

Judges the ability to place sensory details within the broader context of enhancing reader engagement and understanding.

Exemplary

4 Points

Skillfully contextualizes sensory details to explain and enhance the reader's understanding and immersion in the rainforest environment.

Proficient

3 Points

Contextualizes sensory details to improve reader comprehension, showing effective use in the text's narrative.

Developing

2 Points

Attempts to contextualize details but lacks consistency in linking them to reader engagement or text enhancement.

Beginning

1 Points

Rarely contextualizes sensory details; fails to connect them with the purpose of enhancing engagement.

Category 3

Infographic Design and Presentation

Assesses the student's ability to create an informative and visually appealing infographic utilizing the gathered sensory details.

Criterion 1

Visual and Graphic Elements

Measures the aesthetic quality and informative value of graphical elements used in the infographic.

Exemplary

4 Points

Creates a highly engaging and visually stunning infographic that integrates graphic elements seamlessly to enhance content understanding.

Proficient

3 Points

Designs a clear and visually appealing infographic with effective use of graphics to support main ideas.

Developing

2 Points

Creates an infographic with basic design and some graphical elements, which only partially support the content.

Beginning

1 Points

Produces an infographic with minimal visual elements, failing to enhance or support the informational content.

Criterion 2

Clarity and Communication

Evaluates the clear and effective communication of information through the infographic layout and text.

Exemplary

4 Points

Communicates complex information clearly and concisely with a logical layout that guides the reader smoothly through content.

Proficient

3 Points

Effectively communicates information with a logical structure that enhances reader comprehension.

Developing

2 Points

Presents information with some clarity but may include disorganized elements that hinder comprehension.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to communicate information clearly, with a disorganized layout that confuses the reader.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning

Question 1

Reflect on the process of gathering sensory details from multiple sources. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

Text

Required

Question 2

On a scale from 1 to 5, how confident do you feel about using sensory details to enhance storytelling based on your learning?

Scale

Required

Question 3

Which entry event (e.g., Sensory Detail Scavenger Hunt, Virtual Reality Rainforest Immersion) was most impactful for your understanding of sensory details and why?

Multiple choice

Required

Options

Sensory Detail Scavenger Hunt

Virtual Reality Rainforest Immersion

Rainforest Sounds Mystery Box

Create a Mini Rainforest 'Experience Zone'

Question 4

How did creating an infographic help you organize and present information about the rainforest effectively?

Text

Required

Question 5

Why is understanding sensory details important when exploring environments through literature?

Text

Required