Literature Focus Unit:

Reaching the Rainforest

through Reading

Unit Goals:

I. Students will describe rainforest ecosystem and biome.

II. Students will be able to locate Rainforests on a map.

III. Students will explain the importance of Rainforest preservation.

Great Rainforest

Reads

Click the book to view online trailer from youtube.com

Explore the rainforest with

colorful pictures and beautiful rains as the story of a tiny seed grows into a

wealth of knowledge and

facts about the rain forest.

Learn about the many

animals that live in the rain

forest and depend on the Kapok tree for

shelter and food.

Move to the rhythm of the rainforest with

this poetic book that introduces students to

many different animals that

live in the rainforest.

Follow the adventure of a young boy in his attempt to

save the rainforest after

visiting and seeing all the

wonderful wildlife that lives there.

Visit the rainforest as it rains and learn

fun facts as they make their

way down through the

canopy.

Discover the different

habitats of animals around the world and see how the rainforest is similar or

different to other habitats.

Wonderful Websites

Rain Forest Facts:

http://kids.mongabay.com/

http://www.pbs.org/journeyintoamazonia/

http://www.kidskonnect.com/subject-index/15-science/96-rainforest.html

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

where.html

Rain Forest Resources for Teachers:

http://www.pbs.org/journeyintoamazonia/

http://www.kathimitchell.com/rainfor.html

Rain Forest Web Tours and Videos:

http://www.field-trips.org/tours/sci/ rainforest/_tourlaunch1.htm

https://www.msu.edu/user/urquhart/tour/

http://www.hulu.com/watch/63303/tropic al-rainforest

Fun Activities:

I. Color and label all the rainforests on the map.(http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/rainforest/Mapbw.shtml)

II. Create a Rain Forest Scavenger Hunt by having students find facts about the rainforest during their web tours and research. Use the Picture books for the search too!

~ How much rain falls in the rainforest each year?~ How many different rainforest are there?~ Where are the rain forest located?~ Name five animals that live in the rainforest. ~ What types of plants grow in the rainforest?

III. Use a puppet during the unit that children can take home. When they take the puppet home have them write a journal entry about something they have learned about the rainforest then compile all the students entries into one book.

IV. Plan a field trip. If possible have the kids take a trip to the local zoo. If this is beyond reach have the children decorate the classroom with pictures and facts about the rainforest and have other classes visit as the students present information about what they have learned to other students.

Remember to have fun during any unit and use the literature as a guide

and inspiration for activities.