AMAZING AMAZON

CREATE YOUR OWN NON FICTION BOOK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OFTHE RAINFOREST

CONTENTSActivity 1: Book Review Activity 2: Create your own non-fiction bookActivity 3: Take it further Curriculum linksAbout WWFResource sheet 1: My favourite non-fiction bookResource sheets 2: Discover the Amazon Resource sheet 3: Mind Map Amazing Amazon fact-files

ACTIVITY 1: BOOK REVIEW Objectives• Toreviewnon-fictionbooksandidentifythekeyelementsofasuccessfulbook

CurriculumEnglish

Resources• Aselectionofnon-fictionbooks

• Resourcesheet:‘Myfavouritenon-fictionbook’

Procedure• Discussthedifferencebetweenastorybookandanon-fictionbook.

• Ask young people to select and review theirfavourite non-fiction book, using the resourcesheet.What is itabout?What issogoodaboutthisbook?Howistheinformationpresented?Isitfunnyorserious?Isthetexteasytoread?Arethereanyawesomefacts?

• Inviteyoung peopletomakeaone-minutepitchabout theirbook,asiftheyweresellingitpeopletheir age.

A RESOURCE FORKEY STAGE 2

ACTIVITY 2: CREATE YOUR OWN NON-FICTION BOOKObjectives• To raise awareness of the rich variety of life in therainforestandexploretheimpactofhumanactivity

• Tocreatea non-fiction bookabouttheimportanceofthe rainforest• To encourage pupils to take action to protect the

natural world

Key skillsCreativity, communication and problemsolving

CurriculumEnglish, science, geography and computing

Resources• Access to the internet

• Amazing Amazon fact-files • Pencils and paper

• Resource sheets 2 & 3

• Film:

ProcedureIn this creative and engaging activity, young peoplelearnaboutthefascinatinganimalsthatlivein the Amazon rainforest.Pupilsthentakeontheroleof intrepidexplorersandcreatetheirownbookabouttheimportanceoftherainforest.

Introduction to the AmazonWhere do rainforests grow? Ask young people to locatethe equator on a world map or globe. Here, the climateis hot and humid and it is where rainforests grow. Now,research where the Amazon rainforest is located. Itcovers 9 countries and is the world’s biggest rainforest.

Why are rainforests important?A healthy Amazon is a good thing for wildlife - half of allspecies on Earth are found in tropical rainforests. The Amazoncontains a third of those forests. A healthy Amazon is alsogood for people - valuable natural resources and crucial forcontrolling climate change. Ask young people to researchsome of the natural resources and products we get from theAmazon.

The Amazon in DangerWhy do the young people think rainforests are threatened?Think about the size of a football pitch and multiply that bythree. That’s how much Amazon rainforest is being cut downevery minute of every day. Read the fact-file, 'The Amazonin Danger' to find out why this is happening.

FILMWhat can we do to help?Show the short film about the Amazon to highlight howlocal people and organisations such as WWF are takingaction to help protect the rainforest.

Resource sheet 2Now ask young people to fill in Resource sheet 2 toconsolidate what they have learnt. They can also use theinternet to add to their research.

ACTIVITY 2 CONTINUED

Alfred Russell Wallace was anexplorer who travelled to the Amazon rainforest 300 years ago,discovered many species new toscience and observed how theanimals were so well adapted tolife in the forest. He shared hisdiscoveries by collecting specimensfor museums and collectors,writing notes in his journal anddrawing sketches.

Now ask young people to imagine they are ascientific explorer and have just come back from anexpedition in the Amazon rainforest. They have beeninvited by WWF to share their experience andproduce a book about the Amazon rainforest to tell othersabout their discoveries.

How do you create a good non-fiction book?

• Create a draft first and ask someone to proofread it foryou• Think about your audience; what will they enjoy?• Use good questions• Use your imagination and think of lots of differentways to describe your discoveries• Include photos and sketches• Include fun riddles• Include Amazing facts• Include pop-ups• If you're making an e-book, add sounds or film footage• Think about your use of font and colour• Be inventive: write a diary, an article or a letter toanother scientist.

Will you climb up to the tree tops where some treesare taller than a 25 storey building? Maybe you'llstay in the leafy canopy to find out more aboutsloths, monkeys and other animals that live there.There are lots of fruit and flowers to eat whichmeans lots of animals live here. Maybe you'll crawlon the dark forest floor where there is hardly anysunlight to follow jaguars and tapirs or to investigatemicroscopic creatures hiding under dead leaves.

Use the Amazing Amazon fact-files to discover someof the species found in the Amazonrainforest.

Download the fact-files

Choose your animal• Ask young people to choose to focus on one animalto create a double page spread for a non-fiction book• Using everything they have learnt so far and theirchosen fact-file ask young people to fill out resourcesheet 3 to help them decide what information they'dlike to include on their page.

Get creativeNow that young people have completed theirresearch and their plan they can create the book.Young people can create their double page spread onrecycled paper or if you have a tablet available theycould use an app such as Book Creator to create ane-book.

Hear from author Christiane Dorion about her non-fiction book, "Darwin's rival: Alfred Russell Wallace".

Watch the webinar

LINKS TO THE NATIONAL CURRICULUMThis resource aims to encourage pupilstoexplorethenaturalworld,developtheirunderstandingofsustainabilityissuesandconsideractionstheycantaketomakeadifference.Theworkshop also provides opportunities to help themmeetcorelearningobjectivesforEnglish,science,geography and computing.

English• Spoken language

• Comprehension

• Composition

Science• Animals

• Livingthingsandtheirhabitat

• Evolutionandinheritance(adaptation)

Geography• Locational knowledge

• Place knowledge

• Humanandphysicalgeography

Computing• Effectiveuseof

technology topresent information

ABOUT WWFWWF is the world’s leading independent conservationorganisation.Withover50years’experienceofworkingacrosstheglobe,ouraimistobuildafutureinwhichpeopleliveinharmonywithnature.

ACTIVITY 3: TAKE IT FURTHERObjectives• To reinforce acquired knowledge and understanding of

the impact of human activity on the environment

• To reinforce acquired knowledge and understanding ofthe importance of protecting the environment

• To share their learning with the wider community

CurriculumEnglish, science and geography

Procedure• Discuss what young people have learned fromtheirexperienceof creating a non-fiction book aboutthe rainforest. Why arerainforestsimportant?Whyaretheybeingcut down?Whatactionscanwetaketohelpprotectthem?

• Young people can further develop their non-fictionbookto include more animals orcreateanew one on wildlife in their local wood or park.

• Encourage young people to share their book withfriends and family or on social media.

Please share yourwork on Twitteror Facebook usingthe hashtag#LearnToLoveNature

RESOURCE SHEET 1 MY FAVOURITE NON-FICTION BOOK

Our names:

Our favourite non-fictionbookis:

Author:

Illustrator:

Publisher:

Date:

Whatisthebookabout?:

Whyisitourfavourite? Howcoulditbeimproved?

Overall score:

Amount of information included:

Quality of the information:

Howwellitis written:

Layout and presentation:

Quality of the pictures:

Overall score:

RESOURCE SHEET 1MY FAVOURITE NON-FICTION BOOK

Where is the Amazon rainforest?

RESOURCE SHEET 2DISCOVER THE AMAZON

Why is the Amazon important?

What do we get from therainforest?

What is the climate like there?(circle the correct answers)

Hot

ColdHumid

SnowyRainy

WindySunny What are the main threats

to the Amazon?

What can we do to protect the

Amazon?

Where does it live?

Emergent

Canopy

Understorey

Forest floor

Our animal

The Amazing Amazon How? What?

Where?Why? What else?

How does it get its food?How does it climb trees?How does it hide?

Why is it in danger?

What does it eat?What useful features does it have to live in the forest?

e.g.

RESOURCE SHEET 3