HOW IT WORKS
Our Beautiful Rain Forest is presented over a period of one month. It is conducted in a cooperative learning atmosphere and involves the use of technology, art, science, language arts, and mathematics. The children plant seeds, learn how plants survive in the atmosphere, nurture their plants, and then take them home. They study trees and how they are beneficial to people and the environment. A National Geographic CD about the rain forest is introduced as whole class instruction. Later, the students pair off to work together. They are assigned computer time to access the Internet and research relevant topics. The class also works in groups to create posters that are placed in the hallways of their school. In one activity, the class creates a diorama of the rain forest using shoeboxes and recycled cardboard from paper towel rolls. They also use old magazine to cut out things that belong and live in the rain forest. This material is used to make a collage. They are also shown articles about people in California who helped save the redwood trees. The children choose an animal of the rainforest that he/she likes, perform research, and do book reports. The students also present a play that is adapted from a story concerning the saving of the rain forest. 

THE STUDENTS
This program was designed for a third grade class with 25 students who range from struggling to above-average intelligence. Many of these children have moved here from other countries. This study of the rainforest can very easily be adapted to fourth and fifth grade studies by permitting more extensive research on people who have tried to save the rainforest, and on animals that are or may become extinct.

THE STAFF
Clemencia Saleeby is an elementary school teacher and has been teaching for six years. She has been doing this program for two years.

WHAT YOU NEED
Required materials include one computer that has Internet access and is located in an area of the classroom where everyone can see the monitor. This is necessary when introducing the National Geographic CD to the students. Also required is a social studies book, The Greek Kapok Tree, paper supplies for creating projects, and materials for experiments on runoff.

OVERALL VALUE
Our Beautiful Rain Forest is a fun program. Children love to play the National Geographic CD and are very excited about doing research on the Internet. They also love to create dioramas and experiment. They work cooperatively and learn to share and listen to one another. Performing a play and inviting their peers and parents also contributes to their feelings of self-worth.