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The Little ReadThe Great Kapok Tree
By Lynne Cherry
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The Little Read
• The Little Read is an elementary education community-wide reading initiative of L-R University’s Visiting Writers Series
“In Their Own Words.” • “It is designed to provide quality literature
for classroom use and to involve in meaningful ways parents and other
community members in the educational process.”
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Our Book Study for 2012….
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Meet Author Lynne Cherry
• Lynne Cherry is the author and/or illustrator of over 30 books for children.
• She uses books to teach children to respect the earth.
• She wants to show children they can make a difference, if they feel strongly about something, they can change the world!
http://www.lynnecherry.com/events.htm
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Her Education
• Lynne earned her Bachelors degree at Tyler School of Art in Pennsylvania and her Masters degree in History at Yale University in Connecticut.
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What She Enjoys
• Lynne is an environmental activist who wants to help save the land, clean up rivers, save the forests, and help migratory birds.
• Her books were inspired by her love of nature. • She enjoys canoeing and hiking.
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Other Interesting Facts• She wrote the first draft of The Great Kapok Tree on an
Amtrak train from New Haven, Connecticut to Washington, DC!
• Ever wonder how she creates her books?
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Let’s Learn More!
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Where is the Amazon Rain Forest?
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Rain Forest Facts• The Amazon Rain Forest is
the LARGEST Tropical Rain Forest in the world
• It covers 2 million square miles (3% of all land in the world and is about the size of Texas…..NINE TIMES)
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Rain Forest Facts
• Average Rainfall is 60-175 inches a year
• Average Temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit
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Rain Forest Facts
• The Amazon Rain Forest is home to about 2.5 million insect species, 40 thousand types of plants, and some 2,000 species of mammals.
• The Amazon Rain Forest is always hot so everything grows, and grows, and grows!
• 20% of the world’s oxygen is created in the Rain Forest giving it the nickname “The Lungs of the World”
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The Kapok Tree• This tree grows 200-230 feet tall
• Lets Measure it! Compare it! • It has a very substantial trunk up to
10 feet in diameter with “buttresses”.
• The leaves are in groups of 5 - 9, and are about 8 inches long.
• The trees produce several hundred 6 inch seed pods. The fiber inside is light and very resistant to water and can be used in lifejackets, stuffing of teddy bears, pillows, mattresses and insulation.
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Rain Forest Layers• Emergent – trees can reach 200+ feet and withstand tough weather• Canopy – two levels
– Upper» Trees grow from 100-150 feet and form a closed roof» Always sunny with lots of light, the top of the rain forest» Trees have smaller leaves
– Lower» Richest level of animals and plants» Trees have larger leaves » Lots of beautiful flowers» Nocturnal animals
• Understory – from forest floor to 80 feet» Darkness, Silent and humid» Hanging vines, shrubs and small trees » Leaves are long and thin with “drip tips”
• Forest Floor- » limited plant growth» 1-2% of sunlight reaches through» Poor soil with no deep roots» Molds and fungus grow
Middle Layer
Shrub Layer
Herb Layer
http://www.tigerhomes.org/animal/layers-rainforest.cfm
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Are you ready to read YOUR book??
Let’s enjoy great some literature!
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Want to know more about these Amazon Rain Forest Animals? Research them!
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Animals found in the Amazon Rain Forest
• Emerald Tree Boa• Tree Frog• Three-Toed Sloth• Urania Butterfly• Tree Porcupine• Tapir• Giant Anteater• Vindula Arsinoe Butterfuly• Hoatzin• Amazonian Katydid• Poison Arrow Frog• Chestnut-capped Puffbird• Parakeet• Blue Morpho Butterfly• Brazilian Tree Frog• Toucan• Scarlet Macaw• Bees• Scamander• Coati
• Ocelot• Hamadryas Arinome Butterfly• Red-legged Honey Creeper• Papilio Androgeus Butterfly• Violet-tailed Sylph• Kinkajou• Siproeta Stelenes Butterfly• Iguana• Woolly Monkey• Moustached Tamarin• Silky Anteater• Boa Constrictor• Anteater• Anteos Menippe Butterfly• Jaguar• Parrot• Squirrel Monkey• Golden Tanager• Red-necked Tanager
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Test Your Amazon Rain Forest Knowledge
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So what was the Author’s Purpose?
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How Can YOU Help the Amazon Rain Forest?
Art & Writing ContestDue: Friday March 16th
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The Little ReadWriting and Art ContestThe Great Kapok TreeWriting Contest*Each second grade student can submit one written piece based on Lynne Cherry’s book The Great Kapok Tree.*Pieces may be in the form of a poem, descriptive essay, log entry, or any other written genre of the author’s choice using nature as the theme. *The winning pieces should be in the student’s handwriting and may be cursive or print.
Illustration Contest*Second grade students can submit one piece of visual art based on the book The Great Kapok Tree. * All submissions should be the original work of the student and should address a nature theme.*All artwork should be no larger than an 8 ½ X 11 sheet of paper.*Students may use media of their choice. (For example, colored pencils, chalk, paint, crayons, etc.)