KS2 - RAINFORESTS

 Sign up to the 'Prince's Rainforests project' accompany this with a visual contract for each class, all to sign. Discuss the significance and importance of signing up.  Ask chn to say what they already know about rainforest and write something they’d like to find out. Look at rainforest video: ideo/2009/may/06/prince-charles-frog

Respond to a newspaper article, build on this to develop a class debate.

Use a factual report of what life as a 13yr old in San Salvador is like and what part the rainforest plays in his life and community. (Non-fictional text – Good resource). This could be explored in several ways: Pen pal scenario, a recount, creating a diary entry, writing instructional texts based on information gathered in the story. This could also lend itself to hot seating – the 13yr old and his family or to role play as a day in the life of the child.

Creative writing – create and tell a story using rainforest sound effects. This activity could start with teacher introducing sound effects as ‘guess the sound’ game. Ask children what the sounds make them think of, progress to a story plan/board based on endangered species in a rainforest, followed by draft story. Following lessons could look at improving lines and performing the piece. Rainforest Sounds

A breakdown of the world: 70% of the earth is water 30% of the earth is land 2% of the Earth is rainforest 50% of the Earths animals live in rainforests 25% of the worlds medicines are derived from rainforest plants The following website has lots of facts and statistics that could be used for problem solving, data handling and graph production. Can the chn think of solutions /ideas that would help to improve negative stats?

Mapping out the worlds rainforests on a map, researching their communities & population. Mapping San Salvador creates link back to literacy. Opportunity for class quiz – Name and place the rainforests. Extension – where do specific species live? ICT link through internet research. Google images: rainforests of the world

Geography linked with numeracy & PE: Continue the mapping theme by asking chn what percentage of priory is woodland/green land? Map the school grounds to answer the question. Use symbols and a key, Yr5 & 6 could create a topographical map and explain its function. Use maps to carry out orienteering/treasure hunt, chn are to provide directions (left/right/south/west /ssw etc depending on ability). For more info on orienteering look at:

Create a factual rainforest calender, pamphlet/poster (to raise awareness), design a plant that would survive in a rainforest environment. All these activities can be located on the Princes trust website, where PDF’s are available to download: Pamphlet Rainforests And Their Importance – A Poster Biodiversity And Its Importance – A Poster Design A Plant Art Attack: Rainforest Calendar Page

frog Consolidate teacher and pupil knowledge with these factsheets: