Deforestation Writing Activity

This writing activity can be a companion to learning about the important role trees play in the carbon cycle, how trees provide homes for animals, and even city green spaces. Students should think about how deforestation affects not only animals but people as well.

Before writing, students should learn about trees and deforestation. Use any of the following to help build students’ background knowledge:

• Trees (video)

• The Nature of Our Stuff (video)

• Deforestation: Causes, Effects & Solutions (video)

• Zonia’s Rainforest by Juana Martinez Neal

• A Forest by Marc Martin

• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

• The concept of deforestation may stir up worry and negative feelings in children. It is important to provide time and space for students to express their concerns. Ask students to share how they might feel if the trees around them were gone.

• This activity may spark a larger conversation about tree inequity. Some questions to guide the discussion might include: Where do you see trees? Why are there more trees in some places, and less in others? Why do you think it is important for a community to have trees? How would you feel if there were no trees in your community?

Students can investigate how deforestation affects their community and discover strategies for preserving the biodiversity of forests. The scientific legitimacy of this learning activity was carefully examined.

Primary Standards

• Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
  • Writing (K-12)
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.2 Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.8 With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.8 With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.8 Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

Supporting Standard

• Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
  • ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
    • K-ESS3-3 Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.