Exploring Rainforests: Geography Teaching Toolkit

1. Planning for Geography and Global Learning Satellite image: NASA

2. How do we inform ourselves about this area of learning? What actions can we take? What learning activities will our children engage with?

3. Have a definite concluding activity for the project that can be shared with others. Involve children in evaluation What is it like here? (Use, story, picture books, sense impressions, drama to explore) [PLACE] TEACHING TOOLKIT Sense impressions 5 W’s Making pairs Most Likely to ... Living Graphs Start with a photo Using Artefacts Google Maps (Earth) Quikmaps/ Scribble Maps Ask & answer questions such as: What would it be like to live here/ visit? Decide on your personal actions Know that you are not alone in taking action – hundreds/ thousands of other people worldwide are trying to do something about this issue (MDG’s). What focus? Environmental Impact & Sustainability Interdependence & Connectedness People , Culture & Diversity Research Explore & map (SPACE), use Google Earth Further research & new enquiry Use P4C/ Community of enquiry to explore this issue Explore through picture books/ video etc What will we do? What will the children do?

4. How do we inform ourselves about this area of learning?

5. The Rainforest How will I inform my thinking and find teaching resources about: Photos: Simon Collis http://geographychampions.ning.com/photo/albums/costa-rica

6. Draw on Personal & Prior Experience • In 1994 I visited the Peruvian rainforest (part of a longer Peru trip) • Amazon rainforest catchment area. Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata Lodge. • http://www.tambopatalodge.com/ Photo Wendy North

7. Visit a rainforest environment in the UK or share the experience of someone who's been there Among others: • Tropical World – Roundhay Park Leeds http://www.roundhaypark.org.uk/tropical-world-leeds/index.html • Birmingham Botanical Garden • The Living Rainforest (near J13 of M4) - http://www.livingrainforest.org/ • The Eden Project

8. Use the work of an influential NGO/ Charity • http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/working_with_schools/ World Wildlife Fund

9. http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/penan the film is about logging and oil palm cultivation which is destroying the lands of the people of Sarawak – it links to the Borneo newspaper article.

10. Explore the news http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/24/borneo-indonesia-rainforest-illegal-logging

11. Find Picture Books & Story

12. Access Video – search rainforest • Searching for video clips is a very time consuming activity. • WHAT YOU WANT THE VIDEO FOR? (What will it help children to feel/think?) • Look for recommendations from other people.

13. Access Video – search rainforest BBC Class Clips http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/images-of-a-tropical-rainforest-biome/3205.html

14. Access Video – search rainforest • Videos from the BBC are also available on Vimeo and You Tube • Search BBC rainforest • http://vimeo.com/4103904 Rainforest Animals and Plant life in the Amazon jungle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xN7bPTz7gw

15. Access Video on Vimeo http://vimeo.com/12765487 http://vimeo.com/14339525 The opening minute is particularly useful for younger children

16. Locate Images Locate Images Search for Creative Commons licensed content: http://search.creativecommons.org/

17. View the Earth Spatially USE A MAP • Google Earth – needs downloading onto your computer • Google Maps – online Resource • Bing Maps CREATE A MAP • Quikmaps • Scribble Maps

18. Maps – Google Earth Download from: http://www.google.com/earth/index.html

19. Maps - Google Maps http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Manaus&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=12.970501,29.970703&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Manaus+-+Amazonas,+Brazil&t=h&z=8

20. BING Maps http://www.bing.com/maps/ Sue Waters Cairns Set : http://www.flickr.com/photos/suewaters/sets/72157622663070770/with/4047436751/

21. Search the Internet

22. Search the Internet Guided tour through the rainforest • www.rainforestconcern.org/education_resources • http://www.rainforestconcern.org/tour/rfc_guide.htm Photographs of the world’s rainforests – Nature Conservancy • www.nature.org/rainforests/explore/photos.html Rainforest sounds • www.christiananswers.net/kids/sounds.html#Christian%20Answers%20Sounds An interactive site from the Rainforest Alliance - match animals and plants to the layers of the rainforest. • http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/education/treehouse/jewelsoftheearth/index.html Living in the Guatemalan Rainforest – feels a little dated • http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/education/treehouse/myworld/index.html Stories from the Rainforest • http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/education.cfm?id=rainforest_stories

23. Internet Search Free resources from world Land Trust (sponsored by Mall) • http://www.free-teaching-resources.co.uk/article45440820042009.shtml • http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/Teacher%20resources ARKive • www.arkive.org • Videos, images and fact files of the world’s plant and animal species. Tropical rainforest animals • www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/rainforest/animals/Rfbiomeanimals.shtml

24. Internet Slideshare • http://www.slideshare.net/ search Rain forest • Lots of very similar slideshows available – some by children. Generally very fact based presentations – possibly useful for images. Not the kinds of things I’d want to share with years 3 & 4 – at least initially – though you might ADAPT TES Resources website http://www.tes.co.uk/ SEARCH for `Rainforest’ then primary • Very popular as fellow teachers often provides ready made resources. But be prepared to ADAPT • Ask yourself: Is it clear what the teacher wants the children to learn? Is this what I’m looking for? • Hamilton Trust planning on the TES website – cross-curricular