Day 1: welcome to the amazon rainforest
The first day of this Amazon Rainforest Unit will focus on introducing the students about the Amazon Rainforest. This introduction day will server as a day to excite the students about their new adventure, demonstrate their knowledge, and explain to them the details of this unit.
In beginning the unit with a short introduction such as the following video. This video will serve as an introduction into the Amazon Rainforest to get the students excited and involved in the topic. After watching the video students will work individually with a "KWL" chart that will follow through with them through the unit. In this chart students will list what they know about the Amazon Rainforest, what they want to know, and what they learned after the unit. This chart will also serve as a piece for their Amazon Rainforest Lap Book that they will create throughout the unit. After students individually work on their "KWL" chart, come together as a class to make a class "KWL" chart. This allows other students to encourage one another and to demonstrate their knowledge to their peers. This chart will continue to serve as a backdrop for the remainder of the unit. After finishing the "KWL" chart as a class, I would suggest moving into the demographics and geography of the Amazon River. While introducing the Amazon Rainforest, I would present a map with demographics and give students a worksheet map of South America where they can identify the Amazon Rainforest and color as another addition to their Lap Book. Then next after finishing the topic with a variety of "Fun Facts" and photos for the students. The purpose of this as a conclusion is to continue the students curiosity about the topic and get them excited to dive into Day Two of the unit where they will begin their exploration.
In beginning the unit with a short introduction such as the following video. This video will serve as an introduction into the Amazon Rainforest to get the students excited and involved in the topic. After watching the video students will work individually with a "KWL" chart that will follow through with them through the unit. In this chart students will list what they know about the Amazon Rainforest, what they want to know, and what they learned after the unit. This chart will also serve as a piece for their Amazon Rainforest Lap Book that they will create throughout the unit. After students individually work on their "KWL" chart, come together as a class to make a class "KWL" chart. This allows other students to encourage one another and to demonstrate their knowledge to their peers. This chart will continue to serve as a backdrop for the remainder of the unit. After finishing the "KWL" chart as a class, I would suggest moving into the demographics and geography of the Amazon River. While introducing the Amazon Rainforest, I would present a map with demographics and give students a worksheet map of South America where they can identify the Amazon Rainforest and color as another addition to their Lap Book. Then next after finishing the topic with a variety of "Fun Facts" and photos for the students. The purpose of this as a conclusion is to continue the students curiosity about the topic and get them excited to dive into Day Two of the unit where they will begin their exploration.
activities:
- Introduction video
- "KWL" chart
- Introduction of the Amazon Rainforest Power Point including fun facts, demographics, and geography.
- Bring together the "KWL" chart with introduction of about the rainforest.
- Include geography in a Power Point Presentation.
- This geography will be an activity for students to do while being informed with the remainder of the presentation.
- Activity includes a map to label and color.
- End the presentation with interesting fun facts.
KWL TEMPLATE | |
File Size: | 452 kb |
File Type: |
South America Map Worksheet | |
File Size: | 49 kb |
File Type: | gif |
Learning objectives:
- Students will display what they know about the Amazon Rainforest.
- Students will display what they want to know about the Amazon Rainforest.
- Students will develop a basic understanding of information regarding the Amazon Rainforest including geography, demographics, and interesting facts.
- Students will be able to demonstrate the location of the Amazon Rainforest and list at least one thing they know about it and list at least five things they want to learn.
The Amazon Rainforest INtro:
- What is a tropical rainforest? They are very dense warm wet forests that receive a high amount of annual rainfall. The main areas of tropical rainforests are located near the equator in South East Asia, West Africa, and South and Central America. These tropical rainforests are home to more than thousands of different species of wildlife. However, the largest and most populated of these rainforests is the Amazon Rainforest.
- The Amazon Rainforest is located in South and Central America and covers Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
- Did you know that the Amazon Rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world?! It covers nearly 1.4 billion acres of land! thats the size of (blank) football fields.
- One of the most prominent natural features of the Amazon Rainforest is the Amazon River which runs 4,000 miles in length and during peak season can reach up to 120 miles wide.
Amazon rainforest "fun Facts" and Photos:
- The Amazon Rainforest is referred to as the 'Lungs of the Planet' because it produces 20% of the oxygen.
- Did you know that there are approximately more than 10 million species of plants, animals, and insects known to man and more than half of them live in the Amazon Rainforest?
- Did you know that there are approximately 3,000 different edible fruits that grow in the Amazon Rainforest?
- In 1500 there were between 6 and 9 million Amazon natives. Today there are only an estimated 250,000 left. There are approximately 170 different languages spoken by the Amazon natives.
- The Amazon River is considered to be the life force of the Amazon rainforest.
- Did you know that the Amazon Rainforest is home to many plants that have medical uses? Nearly 25% of pharmaceuticals are derived from ingredients from the Rainforest!
- The Amazon Rainforest is the hottest and the wettest place in the world!
- It is estimated that approximately the size of two football fields sized areas of the Rainforest are destroyed every minute.