Goal: Students use a vocabulary cube to reinforce environmental climate change and energy terminology.

Objectives: Students will:

• Apply vocabulary words using a variety of tools
• Understand language arts concepts of simile, metaphor, depiction, sentence formation, antonym, and synonym

Materials: (For class of 30 students)

• 15 cube templates
• 15 scissors
• 30 copies of the vocabulary list
• Tape
• Totally Cubular Student Rubric
   

Time: 45-60 minute period

Standards: LA1, LA3, LA4, LA12

Procedure:

• Review the vocabulary list with students.
• Explain that students will be using a cube to help reinforce and understand the definitions.
• Show students a sample cube, ask one student to choose a word from the list, roll your cube, whatever side comes up, give students an example.  Roll the cube again, but allow each student time to come up with an example and share answers with the class.
• Split class into pairs
• Give each pair a cube template, tape, and scissors
• Students should build the cube by following the directions on the cube template.
• Call out a vocabulary word.  Students should roll their cube and complete whatever task comes up.  Randomly have students share.
• Repeat this process.
   

Evaluation:

• Use rubric provided to evaluate each student's performance
   

Extension:

• Students can use the cube at home and bring in their work for each roll they complete
• Students can create a new cube with different tasks on each side
   

Totally Cubular Vocabulary List

Adaptation
The responsive adjustment of a sense organ (as the eye) to varying conditions; the process of adapting to something (such as environmental conditions).

Atmosphere
The area in which all air exists; this sphere contains all of the gases that surround the earth.

Biome
Major division of the ecological communities on earth characterized by the plant and animal life of that region.

Biosphere
The area in which all living things exist; this sphere includes all of the microorganisms, plants, and animals of the earth, even humans.

Carbon Sink
A place where carbon accumulates and is stored. For Example, plants and trees are carbon sinks; they accumulate carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis and store it in their tissues as carbohydrates and other organic compounds.

Climate
Long-term pattern of weather that characterizes a region.

Ecosystems
Communities of plants, animals and bacteria, generally composed of producers, consumers and decomposers, that share a common physical and chemical environment.

Emission
Substance that is released or discharged, usually into the air; emit (verb).

Environment
The circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded.

Fossil Fuels
Deposits of organic matter that have been altered over geologic time (since the Earth's formation) and can be burned for energy; for example, coal, crude oil, and natural gas.

Global Climate Change
A change in the long-term weather patterns that are characteristic of regions of the world

Mitigation
To act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious. Related to climate change, mitigation refers to actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions at their source or actions that remove greenhouses gases from the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis
The process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce their food.

Weather
Short-term (daily) changes in temperature, wind and/or precipitation in a region
 

Back to Top

Totally Cubular - Vocabulary Cube Template

Directions: Build your vocabulary cube by cutting out the template along the solid lines and folding along the dotted lines. Tape or glue the flaps.  Add examples of each literary term and decorate appropriately!
 

Totally Cubular - Grading Rubric

Grading Scale:

4 = 93-100
3 = 92-82
2 = 81-70
1 = 69-0

back to top