4th Grade Amazon

Rainforest Unit

Unit Goals1. To familiarize you with maps and locations of

rainforests and specifically the Amazon Rainforest.

2. To help you identify the different animals that live in the Amazon Rainforest.

3. To help you identify the different climates and locations of various growing plants of the Amazon Rainforest.

4. To help you understand that the Rainforest has different layers.

5. To help you understand how to research the using the Internet for information.

 

Student ObjectivesYou will be able to identify the many animals that live in the rainforest.

You will have an understanding of the geographic location of rain forests, specifically the Amazon Rainforest in South America.

You will be able to describe the climate of tropical rainforests.

You will understand why rainforests are endangered.

Objectives continuedThe student will understand the interdependence of animals, people, and plants in the rainforest.

The student will accurately answer comprehension questions related to the book, The Great Kapok Tree.

The student will construct a persuasion letter addressed to the tree-cutter from the book asking him not to cut the Kapok Tree and why.

The student groups will present group findings of importance to them from their research.

Summary of UnitIn the technology-connected lesson, you will actively participate in differentiated learning experiences to learn about endangered animals and their habitats in the far away jungles of the Amazon Rainforest. You will identify the various layers of the rainforest and the animals that call each level home .

VocabularyCanopy

Forest FloorEndangeredEmergentsMedicinal

PlantsStrata

UnderstoryTemperatur

e

What is a Rainforest:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS2VrgRFCzc&feature=related

Layers of the Rainforest

Rainforest Animals?

This YouTube video shows 14 animals. You will pick one and research it for your project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojTS22t9bbY

Amazon Rainforest Plants

Curare is a large poisonous vine rich in alkaloids. The alkaloids relax muscles and are used as an arrow poison. In South America, it is used to treat bruises, fever, edema, and kidney stones. It is also used as an anesthesia.

Clavillia is a perennial herb mainly used to kill viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. This plant has many active compounds like triterpenes, proteins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and steroids. A group of amino acid-based proteins called MAPs protect against plant viruses.

Annatto/Lipstick tree has a wide variety of uses. For centuries, rainforest peoples have used the plant for things from insect repellant to lowering blood pressure to love potions. Its traditional uses are backed by recent research. Colombians have used extracts from the plant to treat snakebites. A study in 2000 confirmed this use in mice. Oil from the plant contains carotenoids (plant pigments), one of which, Bixin, protects against UV rays. Annatto is still used today in South America to treat heartburn.

The cocoa tree produces more than 150 chemicals in its leaves, seeds, fruit, and bark. The Olmecs, Mayans, and Aztecs used parts from the tree to treat anxiety, fever, fatigue, and coughs. Five hundred years ago the plant was brought to Europe, where it was used to treat kidney stones and cuts and burns, among other things. Recent research shows that chocolate contains polyphenols, which prevent heart disease.

Listen for these questions

⚜ What is in danger in the story?

⚜How will chopping down the tree affect the rainforest animals in the different layers of the rainforest?

⚜ What method did the animals use to convince the man to save the tree?

⚜ If you were the man what would you choose to do?

⚜ Why do you think Lynn Cherry wrote about this topic?

The Great Kapok TreeBy: Lynne Cherry

Click on the link to listen to the story again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-j9RRSWS1U

Let’s Have a Scavenger Hunt

http://www.iss.k12.nc.us/schools/scavenger/rainforest.htm

Click on the link above to view the scavenger hunt worksheet. Be sure to include your name. This will be a quiz grade.

Wrapping Up… On your own, you will research an animal, a plant, and The Amazon Rainforest, keep a journal so you have reference notes. The journals will be a daily grade.

Once your research is done, you will get into your groups and create a presentation of your groups animals, plants, and facts about the Amazon Rainforest. Use your imagination with the presentation. If you need to confirm that what your group is doing is okay, see me.

The group project is a major test grade. Each of you will be graded on individual work as well as group participation.

Referenceshttp://amazonrainforestanimalsfacts.blogspot.com/

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=amazon+rainforest+map&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/01873/amaz.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-j9RRSWS1U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS2VrgRFCzc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojTS22t9bbY