Disciplines

Content Activities

Process Training Lessons

Internet Based Independant Projects/Studies

Language Arts

1. Book talk - book related to tropical ecology
2. Non fiction content reading
3. "Lost in Jungle" (Nature Scope)
4. Letter/email writing
5. Write a newscast

1. Jigsaw/SQ3R for reading strategies
2. Use Bloom's Tax. and QAR for writing questions
3. Cause and effect
4. Compare and contrast
5. Draw conclusions
6. Write persuasively

• Research the environment, present in a tropical forest and create a mural of the habitat
• Create a children's book about tropical studies
• Produce a video tape about tropical deforestation

Math

1. Calculate distance between BCI (Panama) and New Jersey
2. Compare size (area) of tropical forests in Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America
3. Routes and distance traveled by neotropical migratory birds

1. Use map key to calculate distances
2. Research size of tropical rainforest regions and make comparisons

• Design a tropical forest animal habitat an "dwelling". Write a real estate ad to advertise the animal's house
• Create a booklet of interesting number facts about tropical forests

Social Studies

1. Locate tropical forests around the world
2. Locate Panama in a variety of resources. Describe its location in relation to the U.S. and Costa Rica
3. "Tropical Trivia Trek" - (Nature Scope)
4. Why save the rainforests?
5. "Are we part of the problem?"

1. Research specific tropical forests
2. Research specific plant and animal species found on BCI (Panama)
3. Use geography terms
4. Map skills
5. Evaluate tropical issues and solutions

• Produce a photographic essay about tropical forests and inhabitants
• Debate issues related to tropical ecology
• Write letters to U.N. ambassadors of tropical countries, requesting information

Science

1. Make comparisons between NJ forests and forest on BCI
2. Design a plant that might be able to live in a tropical rainforest
3. Formulate hypothesis about tropical critters ("Jungle Sleuth")
4. Design a method for exploring the canopy
5. Plot study of Hillside school yard. Make comparisons to rainforest

1. Compare/contrast forests
2. Describe characteristics of tropical forests
3. Investigate plant adaptations
4. Analyze cause and effect relationships between species
5. Design a plan/method for investigation
6. Journal writing

• Research items in your home that come from the rainforest. Create a graph to illustrate data by category.
• Write letters to the editor and persuasive letters about a tropical issue