The Key To Saving the Rainforests

 

When STEP gives a presentation at a school we use a mixture of well-known games with a rainforest twist or ones we've created ourselves. Keep in mind that before you can teach, you must understand the intricacies of the subject you're teaching. During STEP's presentation we cover a broad spectrum of topics and touch on such subjects as English, art, biology physics, environmental sciences social studies, humanities, and currently we are adding mathematics and Spanish. Topics that relate to rainforest destruction such as species loss, cultural genocide, etc. are covered as well as studying deeply the plants, animals, and products derived from the rainforest.

In order to have an understanding of the above topics one needs to do some research and our attached reading list is a good place to start. Don't he discouraged if you aren't an expert on the rainforest overnight; you don't need to be. If you have the necessary enthusiasm and drive to help save the rainforest, you can give a powerful presentation. The key is to emotionally involve your audience; this can he accomplished by leading them on an exploration through beautiful world of the rainforest using their senses:  sight, sound, touch, tasting, and smell. How to Use

This Curriculum

Included are activity sheets explaining the games that STEP uses during its presentations. You should not feel limited to the activity sheets, however. Create your own! Please share your powerful ideas with us. Most of the activity sheets are for students (elementary and junior high) because that is where STEP's is most experienced.  We found that it was easy however to adapt our presentations to an older age group.

 

How to Get Started

So, you've done the research and you're ready to start teaching. First you'll need to collect appropriate teaching materials. Unfortunately that requires a little bit of seed money. It may be possible to organize and give a presentation without buying any curriculum materials, but we don't recommend it. In order for the students to understand what the rain- forest and its plants and animals look like it is necessary to use either a video or slide show during your presentation. (For a list of addresses where you can purchase curriculum materials see the resource list) No matter what medium you use, you need to teach the students about such basic concepts as: inter- dependent relationships, animal and plant behavior, the structure of the rainforest, photosynthesis the geography of the tropical rainforest, the different types of rainforest water and CO2 cycles, the global effect of rainforest destruction the role of indigenous peoples, the economic reasons for its destruction and always, always mention ways to help prevent its destruction. Giving the students Information on how they can be involved in saving the rainforest is essential In order to prevent them developing a feeling of hopelessness. The purpose of The Rainforest Challenge presentations is to empower students and prevent them from feeling helpless where environmental problems are concerned. (For projects students can he involve in which have a positive effect of the rainforest see "The Day After" section.) Regarding the above list, don't worry if you can't fit all those concepts into a presentation. (STEP hasn't been able to yet!) But they are a concepts that need to he understood by the students. If our activity sheets do not cover those areas (and they may not) feet free to invent your own unique way to teach the concepts. And, as always, if you invent a new activity please contact us so STEP and others may use your ideas. Certain videos are a positive curriculum material to use. (See the resource section for a list of useful videos.) But be careful to not use only visual activities in your presentation. Keep the students moving utilizing different senses, and you'll never have a student fall asleep. (Well at least not too often).

The Activity Sheets

The other activities will be explained on the activity sheets. They're all basically simple concepts and many were created by STEP members. The activities we use the most in our presentations are as follows:

1.           And the Little One Said Move Over (for all ages)

This activity teaches about species extinction and economic reasons for   rainforest destruction. This activity is both interactive and multi-sensory.

2.           Birds of a Feather Flock Together (grades 3 and up)

This activity demonstrates the different species in the rainforest and their different behavioral patterns.

3.           The Chainsaw Game (grades 4 and up)

This game demonstrates species extinction and animal diversity.

4.           The Simulation Game (grades 4 and up)

This game is very good at helping students understand exactly all the forces behind rain- forest destruction an what are some sustainable ways to use the rainforest.

5.           Express Yourself

In order to have the student express their feeling about the rainforest and its destruction, we encourage them to draw and write stories or poems about the rainforest.

6.           From the Kitchen to the Medicine Cabinet the Rainforest is Everywhere (grades K through 4) This is a way to incorporate the sense of smell and touch while the students discover exactly how connected we are to the rainforest especially through the products we have In our kitchen and medicine cabinet.

7.           A Plate full of Tropical Morsels

In order to have the students use their sense of taste, we usually (depending on our budget) prepare a snack made from rainforest products.

8.           Special Places    

Part of our mission is to show how the rainforest affects us at home and how everything in the world is interconnected. By having the students visit their "Special Place" in nature they understand it's their responsibility to start saving the environmental at home by keeping their "Special Place" and home environment clean.

9.           Interpretive Dance

Because we felt there existed a need to introduce student to the arts and somehow emotionally involve them in the plight of the rainforest STEP performs and interpretive dance about the rainforest. This can be a great motivational tool if it's appropriate for your audience.

10.      Brainstorming Session

Lastly, the students should be led through a brainstorming session where, instead of being told what they can do to save their environment, they are encouraged to discover new (or old) ways to think globally but act locally.

 

After Your Presentation

 

 It is very important that those running the presentation (or teaching it) sit down and evaluate their feelings about how the presentation went (what went well and what didn't).

This evaluation process should happen within a 1/2 hour of wrapping up of the presentation.

Also, you should ask the teachers (if your presentation is at a school) to complete an evaluation also.

 

Questions You Need to Ask Before You Get There

This is a very simple description of what it's like to give a presentation. In order to organize one at a school or community group, there are many questions you should ask (besides what time they want you there, what age group and how many students you're teaching).

Questions such as:

Is the space big enough for what you want to do? Do you have transportation there?

Are lights and electricity easily assessable?

If you're showing slides, do you have a slide projector and screen? *Make sure you check the slide projector before you get there! *

Do you need extension cords?

If needed, are a TV, radio, and VCR available?

 Basically, just make sure you have all the material you need.

 

We found that we needed at least a 1/2 hour to set up, so get there early.

And remember, Have Fun! Don't get discouraged if the presentation doesn't come our as you expected. Ours never do. No matter what you do during the presentation the most important thing is to snake the student realize that the rainforest needs our help and they can do something about it.