Kids in the Jungle

Kids in the Rainforest

By: Maureen Stanton and Tiffany Fascianella

Introduction

Task

The Rainforest is full of unique and exciting species. Here is your opportunity to explore and become an expert on the rainforest. We will take a deeper look into this mysterious habitat by researching different aspects of the rainforest in groups, and then present our findings to each other. So let’s grab onto the nearest vine, and get swingin’…

Task:

There will be five different groups, all assigned to research something different about the rainforest. Below are the tasks for each group.

Group #1: What is the Rainforest and Where are they located?

*Why are rainforests called rainforests?

*What does a rainforest look like?

*Where can rainforests be found?

*What is the average monthly temperature and precipitation?

Group #2: Animals

*Pick ten animals that can be found in the rainforest.

*Write the proper name of each animal

*Describe individual characteristics of the animals

*Describe their eating habits

*Tell us where they can be found in the rainforest

Group #3: Foods found in the Rainforest

*What foods can you find in your kitchen that can also be found in the rainforest?

*What is a major cause of rainforest destruction, which in turn destroys these foods?

*Name five edible plants from the rainforest

*Give characteristics of these edible plants, and how one could consume them

Group #4: Layers of the Rainforest

*How many layers make up the rainforest, and what are their names?

*Describe the types of trees and/or animals found on each level.

*How much sunlight does each layer receive and why?

*What type of seasons do the rainforests experience?

Group #5: Native people of the Rainforest

*By living in the Rainforest, do native people endanger the animals around them from going extinct? Why or why not?

*What are some characteristics of the native people?

*How long have people lived in the rainforest?

*What are boats used for? How is this similar to how we use cars?

Process:

*Students will break off into groups of five.

*The teacher will assign each group a different part of the rainforest. The group needs to research their assigned part, and answer the appropriate questions above.

*After the questions are answered, and the information is compiled, each group needs to come up with a creative way to present their part of the rainforest to the class. Some ideas include a poster, a power point, maps, charts, graphic organizers, a diorama, and a shadow box. If any group comes up with another idea, please approve the idea with the teacher before beginning.

*The questions need to be answered a week after they are assigned, and the projects need to be completed two weeks after they are assigned.

*Class time will be allotted for each group to meet and work on their projects. Keep in mind that the class time given may not be enough to get the projects completed. Please be prepared to work outside of class to complete each project thoroughly.

Resources:

*Use the following links to find the answers to the questions above:

Links for every group to use

http://kids.ran.org/kidscorner/rainforests/factsheets.html

http://kids.ran.org/kidscorner/rainforests/slideshow/

http://www.redjellyfish.com/rain-forest/rainforest-pictures.html

What is the rainforest and where are they located?

http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/rforest/explore/special.htm

http://t3.preservice.org/T0300207/topic2.html

http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/where.html

http://www.tropicriverwoods.org/rainforestcharacteristics.htm

Animals of the rainforest

http://t3.preservice.org/T0300207/topic2.html

http://www.pbs.org/tal/costa_rica/monkeysandapes.html

http://www.pbs.org/tal/costa_rica/night.html

http://www.pbs.org/tal/costa_rica/birds.html

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/5798/ani.html

http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/rforest/animals/

http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/animals.html

Foods found in the rainforest

http://www.ran.org/info_center/factsheets/s11.html

http://www.pbs.org/tal/costa_rica/plants.html

http://www.caske2000.org/survival/jungleplants.htm

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/resources/tflives.html

Layers of the rainforest

http://t3.preservice.org/T0300207/topic2.html

http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/rforest/explore/layers.htm

http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/=whlayers.html

http://www.amaisd.net/woodlands/2_3_webquest/pro===duct/html/levels.htm

http://www.geocities.com/_RainForest/5798/_levels.html

Native people of the rainforest

http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/rforest/explore/people.htm

Evaluation:

Scoring Rubric	Points possible	Points earned
Questions handed in on time	5
Questions answered completely and thoroughly	10
Project completed on time	5
Project is creative, and informative	10
Group work was equally distributed	5
Reflection completed	10
Total	45

Conclusion:

*Each group will present their part of the rainforest to the class.

*After presentations are completed, we will come together and discuss what we learned.

*We will discuss any problems or questions anyone came upon while they researched.

*When we are done discussing, each student will write a reflection about working with their group, compiling the research, presenting their project and anything new that they learned, or found interesting.

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