rain forest unit study - peanut butter fish lessons...where is the amazon rainforest located? in...

Rain ForestUnit Study

©2019 Randi Smith www.peanutbutterfishlessons.com

Subjects: Reading, Science, Following

Directions, Geography and Culture, History, Writing

Teacher InstructionsThank you for downloading our Rainforest Study! It was created to be used with the books: Magic Tree House Afternoon on the Amazon, Mystery in the Amazon Rainforest, and/or Where is the Amazon?. Here is what is included in the study:

Pages 3-8: Facts about the Amazon Rainforest: Notetaking sheets with answer key. (Use with any of the books.)

Pages 9-14: Facts about the History of the Amazon Rainforest: Notetaking sheets with answer key (Use with Where is the Amazon? Could also be used with Mystery in the Amazon Rainforest, but you will need to look up some information.)

Pages 15-16: Map Activity Learn the geography of South America while practicing listening skills

Pages 17-19: Listening Activity: Review facts about the rainforest with a hands on activity to practice listening skills.

0: Research Other Rainforests: Print one for each rainforest you want to study.

Page 21-23: Writing Prompts: Write persuasive essays with a graphic organizer.

Page 24: ‘Discover a New Plant’: Take notes on a plant just like scientific explorers did in the Amazon.

Also refer to our post: Rainforest FREE Unit Study for:1. Videos about rainforests.2. Directions to build your own rainforest terrarium.3. A video to learn more about rainbows.4. A link to our animal notebooking pages to further study animals in

rainforests.5. Video to teach you how to Samba6. Video to learn more about Machu Picchu

©2019 Randi Sm

ith ww

w.peanutbutterfishlessons.com

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Where is the Amazon Rainforest located? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

What does it feel like when you arrive? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

How much rain does it get each year? ___________________________________________________

What are the four layers of the rainforest? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

List some facts about the Amazon River: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name: ___________________ ©2019 Randi Smith www.peanutbutterfishlessons.com

Facts about the Amazon Rainforest

What are two ways to move through the rainforest? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

List some animals that you might find in the rainforest: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why are there so many different animals in the rainforest? ________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are some foods that grow in the rainforest?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are epiphytic plants?______________________________________________________________________________________________________


Facts about the Amazon Rainforest (cont.)

What did you learn about the native people that live in the rainforest?__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What challenges are rainforests facing right now?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What will happen if we lose our rainforests?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What can you do to help save the rainforests?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Facts about the Amazon Rainforest (cont.)

Where is the Amazon Rainforest located? In South America, in the Amazon River Basin, which is located in Peru and Brazil.

What does it feel like when you arrive? Hot and steamy, but cooler under the trees.

How much rain does it get each year? Typically over 100 inches a year.

What are the four layers of the rainforest? Emergent layer is the tallest layer. Gets the most sun.Canopy layer is below it. Trees are 100 to 150 feet high.Understory is below that. Dark and contains shrubs, shorter trees and vines.Forest floor is the bottom layer and receives almost no sunlight. Fungi, snakes and bugs and some other animals live there.

List some facts about the Amazon River: It is 4000 miles long and the-second longest river in the world. It starts in the mountains of Peru, travels through Brazil and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Over half of the rain forests in the world are along it. The water is brown because the current moves so fast it carries mud with it. It is 300 feet deep in some places.

What are two ways to move through the rainforest? Walk with a machete and hack your way through. Swing from vine to vine or tree to tree above the forest floor.


Facts about the Amazon RainforestAnswer Key

List some animals that you might find in the rainforest: 100s of correct answers. Here are a few: jaguars, caimans, howler monkeys, tapirs, toucans, anacondas, poison dart frog, ants, tarantulas, piranha, butterflies, etc.

Why are there so many different animals in the rainforest? Temperatures are warm, there is plenty of rain water, and there are many sources of food. There are also multiple ecosystems to support multiple types of animals.

What are some foods that grow in the rainforest?Mango (MTH), coconuts, cinnamon (CCM), bananas, cocoa beans (chocolate), pineapples, coffee

What are epiphytic plants?They are “air plants” and do not need have their roots in soil. They absorb water and nutrients from the air.

What did you learn about the native people that live in the There are still native tribes in the Amazon River Basin. Some are hunter-gatherers and some are farmers. They are also known for basket weaving and trading things they collect in the rainforest for items that come from cities. They don’t wear much clothing due to the heat and they often sleep in hammocks.


Facts about the Amazon Rainforest (cont.)Answer Key

What challenges are rainforests facing right now?The rainforests are being cut down for lumber and to make room for industries, farms, towns, and roads.

What will happen if we lose our rainforests?Species of animals and plants will become extinct, which means new medicines could be lost. The homes of native people will be destroyed. There will be an increase of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, in the air since the trees will not be there to absorb it.

What can you do to help save the rainforests?Only buy chocolate, bananas, and coffee that are labeled “fair trade”. Use recycled paper. Avoid products that use palm oil. Reduce use of wood products and beef. Invest money in the Protect an Acre program.


Facts about the Amazon Rainforest (cont.)Answer Key

Where did the first settlers to the Amazon River basin come from and when did they come? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

How did they get there?_________________________________________________________________________________

At first they were __________________________, meaning they did not grow and raise their food, but searched for it. Then, they became farmers along the Amazon River.

EXPLORATION

In the early 1500s, Europeans started to explore the Amazon. Name some of the explorers: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What were they looking for?___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Where did the name ‘Amazon’ come from?______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name: ___________________©2019 Randi Smith www.peanutbutterfishlessons.com

The History of the Amazon

Which two countries argued over the Amazon River Basin and which one ended up claiming it as theirs? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

MISSIONARIES

Missionaries also came to the Amazon River Basin. What was their goal?___________________________________________________________________________________

What were their big accomplishments? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY

Who were some of the scientific explorers who went into the rainforest?_________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did these explorers study? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


The History of the Amazon (cont.)

NATIVE TRIBES

How did the native tribes help the explorers?______________________________________________________________________________________________________

How were the natives negatively affected by the explorers? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did you learn about the native tribes of today?___________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

By the late 1800s, what ‘treasure’ were the Europeans looking for and why? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


The History of the Amazon (cont.)

Where did the first settlers to the Amazon River basin come from and when did they come? 25,000-30,000 years ago from Northern Asia

How did they get there? They walked across frozen water to North America and then made their way south over time.

At first they were hunter-gatherers, meaning they did not grow and raise their food, but searched for it. Then, they became farmers along the Amazon River.

EXPLORATION

In the early 1500s, Europeans started to explore the Amazon. Name some of the explorers: Vicente Yanez Pinzon and Francisco de Orellana. Pedro Teixeira came in the mid-1600s

What were they looking for?El Dorado, which was rumored to be a city filled with gold and jewels. They were also looking for spices, gemstones, and silver.

Where did the name Amazon come from?There were stories of women attacking Orellana’s group so the king of Spain named the river ‘Amazonas’ after a Greek myth of Amazon warrior women.


The History of the AmazonAnswer Key

Which two countries argued over the Amazon River Basin and which one ended up claiming it as theirs? Portugal and Spain, Portugal claimed most of the river basin in the end.

MISSIONARIES

Missionaries also came to the Amazon River Basin. What was their goal? To spread Christianity

What were their big accomplishments? They mapped a large part of the Amazon River Basin and created detailed records of the plants and animals they found there.

SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY

Who were some of the scientific explorers who went into the rainforest? Alexander von Humboldt and AimeBonpland, Johann Baptist von Spix and Carl Friedrich Philip von Martius, Henry Walter Bates and Alfred Russel Wallace

What did these explorers study? Plants, animals, and minerals both in the Amazon River Basin and the Andes mountains. There are lots of additional notes that could be made here about the explorers if you would like.


The History of the Amazon (cont.)Answer Key

NATIVE TRIBES

How did the native tribes help the explorers?Guided explorers, showed them how to sleep in hammocks to stay drier in rainstorms, and which plants to eat to keep them healthy.

How were the natives negatively affected by the explorers? They were not always treated well while guiding the explorers and sometimes died from extreme conditions, lack of food and water, and/or poor treatment. Many died from the new germs that the explorers brought with them.

What did you learn about the native tribes of today?Some native people live in cities and towns as modern people and some choose to live as hunter gatherers or farmers deep in the rainforest and away from other people. These people often live in together in large homes. The children do not attend formal school, but learn everything they need to know to survive from other tribe members.

By the late 1800s, what ‘treasure’ were the Europeans looking for and why? Rubber from rubber trees, which would be used to make waterproofing material, tires, telegraph wires, and many more things.


The History of the Amazon (cont.)Answer Key

Print one map for each person and then read the directions below. Colored pencils or crayons are needed.

1. The Amazon River starts in the mountains of Peru. Draw brown mountains down the length of Peru. These are called the Andes.

2. The river flows from northern Peru east through northern Brazil and ends in the Atlantic Ocean. Draw the river in blue.

3. We learned the Incas lived in southern Peru and built Machu Picchu there. Draw an orange trapezoid there to show the ancient building and label it Machu Picchu.

4. People in Peru speak Spanish. Write Spanish on the country and color it green.

5. People in Brazil speak Portuguese. Write Portuguese on Brazil and color the country yellow.

6. The capital of Brazil is Rio de Janeiro and is along the coast at about the same latitude as Paraguay. Draw a star there and write Rio de Janeiro next to it.

7. Carnival is a big celebration in Brazil. There are lots of dancers in brightly colored costumes putting on shows. Draw a colorful feather headdress on the country of Brazil.

8. People in Brazil eats lots of fish and rice. Draw a white fish and a blue bowl of rice next to Brazil.

9. Color the other countries south of the Amazon River Basin orange.10. Color the other countries north of the Amazon River Basin blue.


South America: Directions

South America

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Materials needed: Print 2 pages (scene and animals) for each person, scissors, glue, colored pencils or crayons. It is recommended children cut out all the animals first before starting. Simplify directions for children that need it.

Read: We are going to make a picture of a tropical rainforest today. Tropical rainforests exist near the equator.

1. They typically receive over 100 inches of rain a year. Draw six big, blue raindrops near the top of your picture.

2. The Amazon rainforest grows in the Amazon River Basin. Draw a brown river below the words “Tropical Rainforest”. Because the river moves so fast it takes mud along with it making it brown.

3. Many different plants and animals live in rainforests (up to 70% of the species on earth!), including lots and lots of bugs. Draw 10 little, black ants crawling above the words “tropical rainforest”.

4. Bananas are one of the fruits that grow there. Draw 5 yellow bananas in the tree at the top left.

5. Pineapples and mangoes also grow there. Draw 1 pineapple and 3 reddish-green mangoes in the trees at the top right.

6. One common animal in the rainforest is the howler monkey. Color the monkey brown and glue it up near the bananas.

7. Caimans are part of the alligator family. Color the caiman dark green and glue it to the right of the words Tropical Rainforest.

8. Piranhas are fish with very sharp teeth who eat many other fish as well as plants. They can be many different colors. Color this one red and glue it in the river toward the left side of the picture.

9. There are many colorful butterflies in the forest. Color yours blue and glue it on the left side of your picture.

10. There are also many colorful birds in the rainforest. This one is a toucan. Color it black and yellow with a yellow beak and glue it on the right side of your picture.


Rain Forest: Directions

Rainforest PicturesTo be used with following directions activity. Print one per person and have them cut out the pictures before starting.

©2019 Randi Sm

ith ww


Tropical Rain Forest


Research a RainforestName: _____________________________________________Location: __________________________________________

Type: Tropical OR Temperate

Describe the landscape:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Animals that live there:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Plants that live there: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other characteristics: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you need help knowing how to write a persuasive essay, fill in this organizer first.

Hook (This is a story, quote, or description that grabs your reader’s attention.): ___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Position Statement (This is where you choose your side and state it clearly.): _______________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Three Arguments (These three arguments will convince your readers of why they should take the same position as you.): 1. _________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Closing Sentence (Leave your readers with an encouraging sentence about choosing your position.): ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Persuasive Essay Organizer

What was the most interesting animal you learned about? Write a persuasive essay about that animal to convince other people they should learn about it. Include the reasons it is an interesting animal.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


The Most Interesting Animal

Research what you can do to help save the rainforests from destruction and write a persuasive essay convincing others to do the same.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


How to Save the Rainforests

Go outside and find a plant you never noticed before. Pretend that no one in this world has ever seen this plant and make notes about it to share it with the world.

DRAW THE PLANT NAME IT: ________________________________________

Describe the leaves (shape, edges, veins, etc.)____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Describe the stem (round or square, woody or not) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Describe the flowers (color, number, shape size of petals)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Describe the seeds (size, shape, what they are contained in)________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Describe the roots (tap or fibrous)____________________________________________________


“Discover a New Plant”

Credits

©2019 Randi Sm

ith ww


Frames and map by: Rainforest Pictures:

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rain forest unit study - peanut butter fish lessons...where is the amazon rainforest located? in...

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