RAINFORESTS

            The RAINFORESTS kit is designed to help students learn about the importance of these life-giving, fragile environments.  From the enclosed specimens to the abundance of books, each learner will find something that captures the imagination, encourages further study, and perhaps, promotes conservation as well.

Contents include:
Preserved specimens, most in sealed containers:  Dart frog, green python mounted on a branch, a box of 15 assorted insects and arthropods
Video, Jungle, Eyewitness, 35 minutes.  Fast-paced with jungle sound effects, the video explores the rainforest from the soil bed to the canopy. Students will recognize the significance of the rainforest to the maintenance of Earth’s ecological balance.
Video, Tropical Rainforest, Imax, 40 minutes.  With beautiful photography, this full-screen copy illustrates the diversity and beauty of the forests and explores the challenges caused by the forests’ disappearance.
Rainforest Animals, playful nature card game about animals and their lives

Books include:
Tropical Rainforest, an activity guide for teachers, 35 pgs.  Information, activities, maps, games, investigations and math activities
Exploring the Rainforest, Science Activities for Kids, 116 pgs.  The activities are arranged according to layers of the rainforest and include information, activities, maps, games, investigations and math activities.  There is a chapter devoted to rainforest preservation with suggestions for children.
Rainforests: Tropical Treasures, National Wildlife Federation, 87 pgs. The activities center on life, people, problems and solutions, and include crafts. Consequences of deforestation are thoroughly explained.  Math activities include graphing exercises.
Rainforest, Biomes of the World, 64 pgs. Information book for middle students; full-color photographs.
Rain Forest, Look Closer, 29 pgs.  Read-to, or read alone.  Beautiful photographs.
Tropical Rain Forest, One Small Square, 47 pgs.  Read-to book with lovely drawings in full color.
Tropical Rain Forests, Our Endangered Planet, 64 pgs. Easily readable, this book discusses the benefits from the forests and the losses when forests are destroyed.

LEARNING STYLES ADDRESSED IN THE RAINFORESTS KIT INCLUDE:

Visual-spatial – The kit contains many visual features including highly illustrated books and specimens.  Students may draw the specimens. 
Verbal-linguistic – Shared orally or in written format, background information provides much detail regarding the environment and the species found within. 
Physical-kinesthetic – When learning centers are utilized, student movement will direct their attention to the contents. 
Logical-mathematical – Math-based skills are found in the activity books.  Further research of rain forests will appeal to this learning group.  Web sites are available in many of the books.
Auditory-musical – The jungle sounds found in the videos may focus these learners.
Interpersonal –  Learners can share knowledge with members of their groups
Solitary – Especially when used in learning centers, the intrapersonal learner can gain knowledge through self-study.

CONTENT STANDARDS (CA, 2008) ADDRESSED BY THE RAINFORESTS KIT