A Journey Through the Rainforest

1. A Journey Through the Rainforest February 10th, 2012 MNEAYC Conference Laura Reuter and Katie Xiong

2. Tropical Rainforest - Definitions • Defined by 68-78 inches of rain annually • Layers: Emergent, Canopy, Understory, Forest Floor • Majority of world’s animal and plant species live in the rainforest

3. Tropical Rainforests - Importance • Provides over 25% of the world’s natural medicines • Responsible for 28% of the world’s oxygen turnover • Provides many different kinds of food to the world

4. Tropical Rainforests - Importance to the Children of MN • Direct correlation to the forests of MN • Learn about the world around them • Produce responsible global children • Understand where their food originates

5. Teaching the Rainforest - Learning Theories • Eric Erickson’s Theory of Development • Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt -activities are hands on allowing children to learn by doing; promoting autonomy • Intiative vs. Guilt - activities are open ended allowing children be creative and produce their own ideas • Industry vs. Inferiority - activities are adaptable for a broad range of ages and skill levels allowing children to refine their skills

6. Teaching the Rainforest - Learning Theories • Piaget’s Cognitive Stages • Preoperational - because the rainforest can not be visited, activities are hands on and use concrete object to manipulate, helping children to learn in this stage • Concrete - Because children in this age are better able to think abstractly, information and facts about the rainforest are easier to understand

7. Teaching the Rainforest - Learning Theories • Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences • Provide a variety of activities to ensure you reach all children with different intelligences • Intelligences include: existential, verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, visual/spatial, naturalist, bodily/kinesthetic, musical/rythmic

8. Teaching the Rainforest - Learning Theories • Children learn through play and developmentally appropriate practice • Activities follow NAEYC standards

9. Artistic Exploration Paint with Twigs Use branches, twigs, any part of the tree to paint pictures.

10. Artistic Exploration - Rainforest Animals Have children create different rainforest animals. Use patterns or have them create their own.

11. Artistic Exploration - Fruit Prints Cut apart rainforest fruits such as pineapple, kiwi, or coconut. Have the children dip them in paint and make prints on paper.

12. Artistic Exploration -Handprint Tree Tops

13. Artistic Exploration - Earth Friendly Art Provide children with boxes, containers, other “recyclables” and allow them to create art.

14. Artistic Exploration -Recycled Rainbow

15. Math, Science, and Social Studies -Rain Gauge Mark a two liter bottle with inch marks. Place outside and collect rain. Record how much it has rained. Compare with how much it rains in the rainforest.

16. Math, Science, and Social Studies - Rain Forest and Farm Animal Sort • Sort the animals in two groups; farm animals and rainforest animals

17. Math, Science, and Social Studies - Feed the Monkey Number Activity Draw a monkey on a cardboard box. Cut out the mouth portion. Roll a dice and feed the monkey that many bananas (bean bags).

18. Math, Science, and Social Studies - Terrariums Cut the bottom off of a two liter soda bottle. Plant a flower or other plant in the bottom of the soda bottle. Replace the top of the soda bottle. The plant will water itself as condensation forms on the top and drips down on the plant.

19. Math, Science, and Social Studies - Frog Count Supplies: paper ponds with number, paper or plastic frogs Children place the correct number of frogs on the numbered ponds.

20. Math, Science, and Social Studies - Milk Carton Air Pollution • Cut a milk carton into desired shape • Cover milk carton with Vaseline and hang • Observe the pollution collected on the milk carton

21. Math, Science, and Social Studies - Compost Collect paper from the classroom and leaves and twigs from outside and put them in a container outside for composting.

22. Math, Science, and Social Studies - Pet Worms Place worms in a jar filled three quarters full with dirt. Cover the outside of the jar with black paper, so the worms have a dark home. Feed the worms shredded newspaper.

23. Math, Science, and Social Studies - Five Senses of the Rainforest • Sight - pictures • Hearing - recording of the rainforest • Smell - cinnamon, vanilla, etc • Touch - leaves, branches, animal fur • Taste - Vanilla, chicle, etc.

24. Math, Science, and Social Studies -Sunflower House Plant giant sunflowers in a square outside. As the sunflowers grow taller they will become the four walls of the house.

25. Language Enrichment - Tropical Fruit Tasting Party • Children taste different fruits from the rainforest • Graph likes, dislikes, favorites, etc.

26. Language Enrichment - Rainforest Songs • “Little Leaf, Little Leaf” • “We’re going through the Rainforest” • “The Rainforest Animals” • “Animals on a Spider Web” • www.katieandcompany.net

27. Language Enrichment -Rainforest Foods • Coconut • Cinnamon and Vanilla • Rainforest Trail Mix • Pinapple

28. Language Enrichment - Rainforest vs. Forest • Discuss similarities and differences • Create a Venn Diagram

29. Language Enrichment -Books, Stories, and Poems • I Stink • “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout” • For a full list of books see rainforest curriculum

30. Large Group Activities -“Monkey Dance” Game • Write numbers, letter, sight words, addition facts, etc. on Popsicle Sticks • On three or four popsicle sticks place monkey stickers • Children sit in a circle and take turns pulling out popsicle sticks naming the letter, word, etc. • If a child pulls a stick with a monkey on everyone stands up and dances like a monkey

31. Sensory Activities - Snake

32. Sensory Activities - Tree Rubbings

33. Sensory Activities -Sensory Table Ideas • Leaves and twigs • Rainforest animals • Sand and bugs • Plastic or real rainforest fruits

34. Sensory Activities - What is the Rainforest Smell? • Soak cotton balls in rainforest smells such as lemon, lime, cinnamon, vanilla, etc. • Place cotton balls in film canisters with holes poked in the top • Children guess the smell

35. Music and Movement • “One Elephant” • Rain Sticks • Tropical Fruit Jump • See Language Enrichment for other songs

36. Discovery • What’s inside a coconut? Hypothesize different tools to open a coconut and what’s inside. Experiment what tools worked and discover what’s inside. • Vanilla Beans - Place vanilla beans at the discovery table for children to explore • Cinnamon Sticks - Place cinnamon sticks and sandpaper at the discovery table for children to explore

37. Family Involvement - Rainforest Tea Party • Host a Rainforest Tea Party for families. • Make foods with ingredients from the rainforest and serve tea or smoothies. • Display items from the rainforest and what children have learned.

38. Family Involvement - Rainforest Class Quilt • Create a quilt with your class • Auction the quilt and donate proceeds to a charity of your choice.

39. Family Involvement - Penny Banks • Send penny banks home with families. • Families collect pennies and coins to donate to a charity of your choice. • www.earthsbirthdayproject.org

40. The Great Kapok Tree Play - Skills Learned • Respect • Self-Confidence • Self Control • Cooperation • Roles of Production • Commitment

41. The Great Kapok Tree Play • Children are involved in every aspect from costumes to scenery • Practices are held during class time daily • Dress rehearsals are held for other classes in the school • Final performance is for families

42. The Great Kapok Tree PlayAdaptations • Older children could narrate the story • Children could have speaking parts • Rewrite the story to present a play on Minnesota Forests

43. The Great Kapok Tree PlayDonation of Proceeds • Pictures are sold and donations are accepted to be donated to Earth’s Birthday Project • Other Donation possibilities are: WWF, Sierra Club, Carlos Avery, MN Zoo, Como Zoo, Library, etc.

44. Going Green - In the Classroom • Reuse items • Trash Trunk • Farm to Fork • Class / School Garden • Take Home Bags

45. Going Green - At home • Reduce Ecological Footprint • Stop Unwanted Junk Mail www.cataloguechoice.org • Improve Air Quality • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

46. Contact Information • Laura Reuter kbh_preschoola@yahoo.com • Katie Xiong mskatieladc@gmail.com