Grade: all
Subject: Science

#950. Rainforest

Science, level: all
Posted Tue Apr 6 19:49:13 PDT 1999 by Sandy/K/MO (Angel893@aol.com).
Amazon interactive
Missouri
Materials Required: varies

I have so many site, so many snack recipes, and other kinds of ooey gooey things, email me if you want more.

I decorate my room, starting out with crepe paper twisted and hanging from the ceiling. As we study, we start adding things to the room, snakes, flowers, vines, etc. These are all kid made.

I have a string across the room, they cut out a t-shrt and then do some kind of slogan/picture to protect the rainforest.

I get a small tree from the conservation dept to give to each k & 1 grade child and they take it home to plant so they can have a tree that grows with them. I also tell them this helps replace trees that are cut down everyday.

There are so many cool books, Great Kapock tree, The Greenhouse Room, Salamander's Home, Sorry, not sure of the authors. Can get them at school. I also have them take a list of things from the rainforest and go through the house with their parents. There are things like choc., spices, gum, avocado, cucmbers, jackfruit, orange, banana, lemon papaya, grapefruit, lemon, passion fruilt nuts, paprika, cloves, as you can see EVERYTHING.

I can't remember the age of your class.. but more activities
make jungle ooze
newspaper (lots), a large mixing bowl, spoon water, small bottle of food coloring (yellow or green) 1 box cornstarch, 2 alum. pie plates, chart paper for results,

let ooze set for 45 min. for proper consistency, then in 2 cups of water, add 4 drops of food coloring. Then cornstartch. Swirl and tip bowl to level contents. put aside to settle. After 15 min. mix the ooze by hand, let it slip through your fingers.

Spread paper out, divide class and give each group some to investigate.
How does it behave when you press on it?
When does it behave like a solid? liquid?

This ooze is what you found under leaves, when exploring,... NOW each group writes a story.

Sensory Writing.... what it is like in the rainforest. Have some music on.

Make a rainforest in a jar...

This is a song that came through on the loop. :-)
The Rainforest Song

Remember, it's to the tune of "If You're Happy and You know It"

There are layers in the forest, yes indeed
Yes indeed (kids love to shout this part!)
There are layers in the forest, yes indeed
Yes indeed
Emergent, canopy and the understory
There are layers in the forest.
Yes indeed!

The emergent's home to birds and butterflies
Butterflies!
The emergent's home to birds and butterflies
Butterflies!
The trees are so high that they almost touch the sky
The emergent's home to birds and butterflies.
Butterflies!
......


The canopy is like a big umbrella
Big Umbrella
The canopy is like a big umbrella
Big Umbrella
Monkeys, sloths, orangutan
Eat all the fruit they can
The canopy is like a big umbrella
Big Umbrella!

The Understory's home to many snakes
Many snakes!
The understory's home to many snakes
Many snakes!
They eat cats and rats and bats
And they like the gnats for snacks
The understory's home to many snakes!
Many Snakes!

The Forest Floor is dim and dark and wet
Dark and wet
The forest floor is dim and dark and wet
Dark and wet
The ants go marching by as they watch the birds up high,
The forest floor is dim and dark and wet.
Dark and wet!
.....
www.puzzlemaker.com can make puzzles using rainforest terms
Butterflies are awesome, and I like to make bromolides and put little frogs on them. These are little ecosystems within themselves.

Amazon interactive