CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

The goal of the activities that follow is to educate students about the rainforest and its endangered state and to also empower them so that they may be active participants in saving the rainforests.

A word about the objectives of these activities: Because the needs and ideas that arise from different classrooms and teachers are so diverse, the objectives serve as more of a general guide with allowance for flexibility and expansion.

OBJECTIVES:

• Students will learn about the plants, trees, and animals found within the rainforest of Manuel Antonio.

• Children will present their knowledge of the rainforest through a variety of works. (Students could create artwork, poems, essays, songs, maps, collages, etc.)

• Students will raise money for the rainforests of Manuel Antonio by incorporating their acquired knowledge and their works.

Options for carrying out the objectives:

#1. Students will compile their work and create a calendar, featuring all that they have learned.

Calendars will then be sold to people in the community to raise money for the rainforests.

The benefits of this option arise from the many possibilities that it presents. Students will have a chance to feature their work and hopefully, they may be featured as well. Calendars are very practical and useful, everyone needs one!!! Calendars also allow for a very flexible budget, you may wish to make them in your classroom or work on the finishing touches with the help of a professional. With the access to technology that many schools now have, your calendars may even be created with the help of a color copier or scanner. Selling the calendars could be done within the school, in the community, or at a local business that would be interested in donating services for a tax deductible donation receipt.

# 2. Students will gather artwork to sell at an art gallery to raise money for saving the rainforest.

Hosting an art gallery allows students to show off their work and to sell their work for the purpose of helping the rainforest. The gallery itself draws positive attention to the students, the teachers, and the schools that are participating in a good cause. An art gallery can be hosted in the school, shopping mall, grocery store, at a church, or at any place that draws in a lot of people.

#3. Students will write to local businesses asking them to make a donation to sponsor a tree or donate toward a KSTR project.

When students interact with local businesses, they will learn the value of interacting with the local community. It is our hope that through this interaction, students will realize the impact that one voice can have.

#4. Students will contact local media (newspapers, radio stations, television stations, etc.) so that through publicity, the community may be made aware of their efforts in raising money for the rainforests of Manuel Antonio. Writing a letter to the editor of the local paper is one way to do this.

Involving the media brings increased awareness and support from your local community. Your classroom's involvement and efforts will be amplified, drawing respect and appreciation for all that your students have done.

The founders of the Kids Saving the Rainforest are excited about interacting with schools from around the world.  We can save the rainforest of Manuel Antonio with the help of teachers and students like you who have discovered our mission. We see this as an opportunity for the rainforest and for the school children who are involved. The activities that we suggest, provide an excellent opportunity for students to not only learn, but to make a real difference!