KS2 - RAINFORESTS

Sign up to the 'Prince's Rainforests project' accompany this with a visual contract for each class, all to sign. Discuss the significance and importance of signing up.

http://schools.rainforestsos.org/Ask chn to say what they already know about rainforest and write something they’d like to find out.Look at rainforest video:http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2009/may/06/prince-charles-frog

Respond to a newspaper article, build on this to develop a class debate.

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/education/story/romel/index.cfm

Use a factual report of what life as a 13yr old in San Salvador is like and what part the rainforest plays in his life and community. (Non-fictional text – Good resource).

This could be explored in several ways: Pen pal scenario, a recount , creating a diary entry, writing instructional texts based on information gathered in the story.

This could also lend itself to hot seating – the 13yr old and his family or to role play as a day in the life of the child.

Creative writing – create and tell a story using rainforest sound effects.

This activity could start with teacher introducing sound effects as ‘guess the sound’ game. Ask children what the sounds make them think of, progress to a story plan/board based on endangered species in a rainforest, followed by draft story. Following lessons could look at improving lines and performing the piece.

Rainforest Sounds

A breakdown of the world:70% of the earth is water30% of the earth is land

2% of the Earth is rainforest50% of the Earths animals live in rainforests25% of the worlds medicines are derived from rainforest plants

The following website has lots of facts and statistics that could be used for problem solving, data handling and graph production.http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm

Can the chn think of solutions /ideas that would help to improve negative stats?

Mapping out the worlds rainforests on a map, researching their communities & population. Mapping San Salvador creates link back to literacy.

Opportunity for class quiz – Name and place the rainforests. Extension – where do specific species live?

ICT link through internet research.

Google images: rainforests of the world

Geography linked with numeracy & PE:

Continue the mapping theme by asking chn what percentage of priory is woodland/green land? Map the school grounds to answer the question. Use symbols and a key, Yr5 & 6 could create a topographical map and explain its function.Use maps to carry out orienteering/treasure hunt, chn are to provide directions (left/right/south/west /ssw etc depending on ability).

For more info on orienteering look at:http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/ozone/

Create a factual rainforest calender, pamphlet/poster (to raise awareness), design a plant that would survive in a rainforest environment.

All these activities can be located on the Princes trust website, where PDF’s are available to download:

PamphletRainforests And Their Importance – A PosterBiodiversity And Its Importance – A PosterDesign A PlantArt Attack: Rainforest Calendar Page

http://www.nature.org/rainforests/

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/resources.cfm?id=species_profiles

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2009/may/06/prince-charles-frog

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/Grainforest.html

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

Consolidate teacher and pupil knowledge with these factsheets:http://schools.rainforestsos.org/free-resources/other-resources/rainforest-factsheets