Rainforest

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Home : 2003 : March : 23

Rainforest
By Tina

I turn my whole classroom into a rainforest. I begin by introducing the rainforest by reading the Great Kapok Tree. Each day I introduce a part of the rainforest, ex: layers, animals trees, plants, people, resources. After
students have a lot of background info. they choose a part of rainforest they want to do a report on. We research in computer lab for each topic (I make a simple outline of questions to answer)students write facts, rough draft, edit, final copy, type in computer lab. All reports done in class. I send home a time line for parents to know when to expect things are happening. Parents help

students make replica of what they did their reports on. I have two days before replica's are due that I ask for parent help to turn the room into a rainforest. I have students in groups that want to make things in the rainforest, ex. vines (twisted paper, large sheets on roll),trees, flowers, grass, bushes, water fall, snakes, anything the students want to make. A parent is with each group to help. The vines are what makes it look really neat. During Art class the students make something to add to the rainforest. Students bring in animals, trees, whatever they researched and place in the proper place in the rainforest(actual size). Student give individual reports durig class. I invite parents to come for a tour of the rainforest one afternoon. Students take friends and family for a tour telling them all about the rainforest, you will be amazed at the info. they have learned. This is a huge process, but very worth it! I have now talked the other first grades into doing it this year.Try it you will be amazed at the results!