Trees Do Trees make your life better? A Technology Learning Area project for Grade 8 Picture from Flickr.com

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.