Germantown Academy's Fifth Grade Studies

The Rainforests of

The World

During this unit, students gain skills and knowledge through...

A Forest Scavenger Hunt

Take a trip to the Tropical Rain Forest!

Explore an Old Growth Forest!

Earn points to become an expert explorer and naturalist! The following activities are to be completed by you individually if marked by an "I;" you may work with a partner on activities marked with a "P." Activities marked with an "R" are required and must be completed by everyone. All other activities are optional. Activities marked with a "C" begin on the camping trip and are required. Activities marked with "FF" take place around the Forest Fest, our grand culmination of the unit. Activities marked with a require the use of computer programs and/or the Internet. Check with a teacher before going online. All written assignments may be word processed. See how many points you can earn on the Forest Scavenger Hunt!!


I/R 1. Gather information!

• Read articles and books on Old Growth forests, forest animals, forest issues, or environmental problems.
• Read articles and books on Tropical forests, forest animals, forest issues, or environmental problems.
• Investigate rainforest websites to gather information. A good place to start is the WWW site of the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) at http://www.igc.apc.org/ran/ (See resources last year's fifth graders discovered, too!)
• Create as many fact cards as you can for each article/book.
• Keep your facts organized in your file box.
• Start a BIC (bibliographic information card) and remember to record the resource you used to get the facts on the BIC and on each fact card. Numbering the entries on your BIC can save you time, for you only have to place the number of the resource used on the back of each fact card (3 points per fact card)
  
  I/R 2. Create as many fact cards as you can for TV or radio news reports, for videos, and for guest speakers' presentations on Old Growth forests, Tropical forests, animals, forest issues, or environmental problems. (minimum of 15 fact cards)...... (3 points per fact card)
  
  I/R 3. Create as many trump cards (a summary of information on a specific topic) as you can. Use your fact cards. Make sure each trump card is on a specific topic and is written in paragraph form. Fill both sides of a 5"x8" index card with organized information from at least three different sources.......... (20 points per trump card)
  
  P 4. Create a fun, exciting and informative map game involving forest facts. You may use a World map or a map of the United States. Use the classroom CD-ROMs, US Atlas, World Atlas, GeoSafari, as well as other map resources and the Internet....... (30 points)
  
  P 5. Draw five pictures of trees (and close-ups of their leaves) that grow in the Tropical rainforest and five pictures of trees (and close-ups of their leaves) that grow in the Temperate forests. Be sure to label the trees, include the Latin name, and make your drawings detailed and colorful. Use a search engine to locate tree websites to help you....... (20 points)
  
  I 6. Add an environmental legislation fact to the timeline in the Hallway.
  Ensure that you have not duplicated one already on the timeline.
  The legislation may apply to either the Tropical or Temperate Rainforests. Use the Internet to find recent legislation regarding the environment.......... (10 points)
  
  R/P 7. Ecology Project. Complete the following project for Science Class.
  Research an endangered animal species. Create a filmstrip on you endangered species.. (30 pts)
  
  I/R 8. Find information on the WWW about your "Rainforest Animal" to enter on the class database. Use "My Special Creature" sheet to record the information as you find it. Then enter the data into the database to fill in the following data fields:
  
  Name of the animal -common name and scientific classification; Size in cm; Description of the animal; Behavior -what does it do?; Food - what does it eat?; Habitat - in what sort of environment does it live?; Range - where in the world does it live?; Trouble - what is causing it to be endangered?; What to do - what can you do to help?; Organizations and people - whom can you contact to help?; Other info - any other useful information? (15 points)
  
  R/P 9. Complete at least one of the following:
  i. explore the Rainforest Explorer CD Rom and write a promotional advertisement for this product
  ii. explore a Rainforest Website and write a Hotlist Abstract including at least 2 more URLs
  iii. establish a keypal relationship with a student in a rainforest locale; exchange at least 3 messages
  iv. explore A Field Trip to the Rainforest program and make a hidden picture mini-mural of the 4 layers of the forest. Each layershould contain at least two inhabitants....... (30 points)
  
  I/R 10. Write a poem that tells about deforestation or any other aspect of the forests. (20 points)
  Prepare your poem for the WWW by creating a PageMill page complete with color and icons or drawings. (40 points)
  
  C 11. Make up a rap or song that explains global warming, the greenhouse effect, the important role that forests play in reducing air pollution or any other aspect of the forests and their importance. Word process your song......... (30 points)
  
  I/R 12. Research a forest feature. Write a letter from the point of view of this feature, including at least 10 specific facts about your feature in your letter........ (25 points)
  Prepare your letter for the WWW by creating a PageMill page complete with color and icons or drawings. (40 points)
  
  C 13. Word process a skit that shows one problem facing the forests or their inhabitants, and also a possible solution. Perform this skit after rehearsing it. Remember the costumes, props, etc.......... (35 points)
  
  FF 14. Make a colorful invitation, using Works Wizards, ClarisWorks or other graphics programs, inviting your parents to Forest Fest. Include place, times and dates of performance. Make a second invitation as required by the teachers.
  Thursday, May 29th at 7:00 pm in the Germantown Academy Arts Center...... (15 points)
  
  
  FF 15. Plant Patrol......Help us decorate the Arts Center for Forest Fest '99!
  Find a plant in one of the classrooms, offices, or window ledges in the school. Label your plant with your name and the owner's name. Create an adoption certificate for the plant, and get the certificate signed by the plant owner. Arrange to collect the plant before the performances of Forest Fest. Take care of plant until you return it after the last show....... (15 points)
  
  FF 16. Positive Action........Initiate an action that will make a difference. You may set up a program in your home, school or community that will help to save our environment... (30 pts)
  
  P 17. Compose a letter to a Congressperson, environmental agency, or corporation containing the following:
  i. a brief statement describing your efforts and our class efforts in relation to the environment
  ii. questions about her/his record on environmental issues
  iii. a request for the details of legislation currently in Congress dealing with environmental issues
  iv. a request for suggestions that we can do in this area
  E-mail this letter to the office of the Congressperson, agency, or corporation.... (15 points)
  I/P 18. Use a spreadsheet to graph the rate of Tropical or Old Growth deforestation since the 50s......... (25 points)
  If you include estimates through the year 2050... (an extra 10 points)
  
  I 19. Design a bookmark that has a "forest flair."......... (5 points)
  
  I 20. Design a brochure that informs others about the problems facing the world's forests today. Check the current rates of deforestation on the Internet........ (30 points)
  
  I/P 21. Make a collage showing the global significance of the Tropical rainforests' products. For this to be a true collage, it must contain a variety of textures, not just words and pictures. Use paper no larger than 12" by 18".......... (10 points)
  

  P 22. Create a "Nothing But the Facts" chart on computer-sized paper that displays information about where forests are being cut down, why and how many are being destroyed, who is cutting them down and for what reasons........ (15 points)
  
  23. Draw a picture that illustrates the interdependent relationship of animals and plants in the Tropical rainforests. Why not take A Fieldtrip to The Rainforest in your classroom and look at Mammals CDROM or Multimedia Animals CDROM again before doing this? (15 pts)
  If you show what happens when a plant or animal is removed from the ecosystem..... (an extra 10 points)
  
  24. Create a display showing the medicinal products that can be obtained from the rainforest. Include the source of the medicine and its uses. Make it visually appealing!! (30 pts)
  

  25. Create a game which incorporates math and forest facts. Your game must include at least one of the following: decimals, percentages, fractions, probability, geometry, interpreting graphs, longitude, latitude, distance, scale...... (35 points)
  

  P 26. Design a word search, crossword puzzle or concentration game of at least 25 words about the forest. Use Worksheet Magic or other computer programs... (15 points)
  If you include definitions or clues, as you would for a crossword puzzle, you may add..... (an extra 10 points)
  

  C 27. Make 3 alliterative descriptions of creatures or features of the Rainforest - the longer the better....... (5 points each)
  Create a PageMill web page of your alliterations, complete with illustrations....(an extra 20 pts)
  

  P 28. Create a colorful Old Growth Forest or Tropical Rainforest alliterative Alphabet Book that tells about forest features or creatures....... (30 points)
  

  I 29. Find out about the indigenous people of the rainforests. Learn about their lifestyles and the ways they have learned to live in harmony with the forest. Search the Native Web site at http://nativeweb.org/ Write a "day in the life" diary entry from the point of view of a member of this group. Hide at least ten facts within your letter.
  (35 points)
  

  30. Make a montage showing the products that individuals can refuse to purchase to help the forests. up to 10 points
  

  31. Participate in the creation of forest scenery for Forest Fest. each session, 5 points
  Design and build a prop for Forest Fest.
  Design and create a costume for forest Fest....... (30 points each)

  32. Use the research data you have collected to create a game show to test knowledge of issues, facts, etc......... (25 points
  

  33. Interactive Bulletin Board Brigade
  Choose a theme for your bulletin board. Fill in the Sign-up Sheet. Gather articles on your theme from teachers, classmates and your own research. Display them effectively. Make your display interactive by requiring its viewers to participate in an activity such as a Treasure Hunt, Matching Game, Question Sheet to Answer, etc. Remove display at appropriate time.... (30 pts)
  

  34. Solve someone else's Interactive Bulletin Board......... (5 points)

  35. Make an inventory of plants, wild-flowers, trees, insects, animals, etc. around the GA campus. Record your information in a database......... (15 points)
  

  P 36. Create a Circle of Life slide show depicting the interdependence of life in the Tropical or Temperate Rainforest or the life cycle of a creature or feature in the Tropical or Temperate Rainforest......... (30 points)
  

  P 37. Write an interactive story using Imagination Express Destination: Rain Forest. Use at least ten facts in your story.........(30 points)
  

  R/P 38. Classroom Jungle.........Find, create, and display forest decorations for your classroom to turn it into a forest. Items must represent authentic and accurate information about the layers of the rainforest .... (5 points)

  
  39. Create a "Save the Forests" Website complete with ideas, activities, drawings, creative compositions, positive action announcements, preferred sites for research, reactions etc...... (50 points)
  41. Search at least four web sites that contain information on your animal. Design a unique web page of your group's animals. (40 points)

  41. Create a placemat for younger students which teaches them all about the rainforests through puzzles, games, websites, etc. (30 points)

  42. Preview New Software. Have a look at "Rainforest Researchers" with a group of classmates. Explore the worksheets and books. Learn how ethnobotanists, chemists, taxonomists, and ecologists work in the rainforest. Decide on the various points of view. Write a critique of this program which includes the issues and the facts presented in it, and your reaction to using the software. Include your quotes and rating for the software. .....(40 points)

   

  43. Design a Forest Lampshade! Plan a mini-mural of rainforest flora and fauna. Use paints/watercolors/fabric glue, etc. to create a rainforest mural on a lampshade. Be certain your pictures are accurate representations of what inhabits the forest!...(35 points)

   

  44. Issues and Answers Debate.....In a group of 4 or 6, select a forest issue that has 2 distinct opposing points of view. Decide which half of your group will investigate which perspective. Decide on the question you will debate. Write a position statement. Research your perspective, gathering facts and figures to support your "side's" argument. Plan your presentation for a debate, using visual aids, PowerPoint, etc. Debate your side of the issue before the entire fifth grade .......(45 points)

  I 45. Create a colorful butterfly. Make it with moveable wings, so it can "fly and flutter." Make it colorful. Take 3 digital photos of it, in three different "movement" positions. Animate your butterfly. Write a poem about your butterfly. Design a webpage for your fluttering butterfly and poem........(40 points)

   

Updated 5/18/99