Unit 1: Rain Forest.(Brief Article)

Background Information

One of the newest rain forest exhibits is "Amazonia," staged at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Visitors are invited into the scientific domain of Dr. Brasil, a fictitious Amazonian biologist, who leaves parts of his journal along the paths for visitors to read. Feeling the heat and humidity, sensing the sounds and smells of a rain forest, and sometimes even dodging the birds flitting by, visitors become part of the jungle environment. Amazonia includes more than 100 different kinds of trees; 358 plant species; and countless fish, birds, and other wildlife.Staff biologists answer questions and conduct hands-on activities in Dr. Brasil's laboratory. Another artificial rain forest is the glass-enclosed tropical rain forest at the Metropark Zoo in Cleveland, Ohio. More than 600 animals live in open-air exhibits. For mutual protection, moats separate visitors and animals. Visitors can view a 25-foot waterfall, a spiral staircase in the center of a tree, interactive exhibits, and a research hut where people can use computers to learn more about a rain forest ecosystem.

 
                  Unit Concepts: Students learn that plants and 
                  animals interact in a tropical rain forest; 
                  different species live in each of the four 
                  layers of a rain forest; drawing a flow 
                  chart can demonstrate a food chain; 
                  medicines come from rain forest plants. 
 
                  The activities listed below suggest ways of 
                  presenting and enriching the content and 
                  skills in Unit 1. The activities correspond 
                  to days 1 through 6 on the page 2 calendar 
                  matrix. 
 
                  NEW DISCOVERY IN WORLD'S LARGEST RAIN FOREST 
 
                  Have students read and discuss pages 2 and 3. 
                  Show photographs of a rain forest, and ask 
                  students to describe what they see. 
 
                  LAYERS OF LIFE 
 
                  Have students read and discuss pages 4 and 5. 
                  (Encourage students to draw the animals' 
                  pictures in the rain forest if they feel 
                  comfortable doing so. Otherwise, have them 
                  just write the names of the animals in the 
                  appropriate levels) 
Researching       Enrichment. Ask students ...