Topic

Afternoon projects - ROCKIN’ RAINFORESTS!

Our new topic is ‘Rockin’ Rainforests’!
 Over the coming weeks, we will be learning all about Earth's rainforests, including what you might find there, the threats they face and why they are known as ‘the Earth’s lungs’.  

1. What do we already know and what do we want to find out? 

We would like you to start the topic by showing us what you already know about rainforests!

You can use the sheet provided below or draw your own mind map in your book. 

When you have finished, think of two questions you would really like to know the answer to. What would you like to find out during this topic? 

Your mind map could include; key words, interesting facts, illustrations, diagrams, labels - anything you like! 
Please remember to keep handwriting neat and an appropriate size and use a ruler where you need to. 

2. Weather and climate

L.I: Know the difference between weather and climate

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z849q6f/articles/z7dkhbk 

Watch the clip about climate and weather. There is a quiz at the bottom so you can test your knowledge! 

Open the map of the world PDF below and print it out. You do not have to complete the activities on the first page of the document. Please complete the activities below.

If you cannot print at home, ask an adult to help you draw a basic map of the world on plain paper using the PDF as a guide. 

Challenge 1:  

Locate and label the Equator on your map 

Colour in the locations of the tropical rainforests using the reference map PDF 

Challenge 2: (Complete C1 and the following) 

Label the 7 continents and 5 oceans on your map – Use an atlas at home or a map of the world on the internet https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/continents_map.htm 

Challenge 3: (Complete all 3 challenges) 

Label the main tropical rainforests using a map of the world to help you. 

https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/world_map2.htm 

• Amazon Rainforest 

• Congo River Basin Rainforest 

• Daintree Rainforest (Australia) 

• Madagascar Rainforest 

• South East Asian Rainforest (Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Thailand, Borneo, The Philippines and Papua New Guinea) 
   

Extra challenge: 

Can you label the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn on your map? 

Please supervise children on the internet 

3. Requirements for plant growth – science

Y3 national curriculum: explore the requirements of plants for life and growth (air, light, water, nutrients from soil, and room to grow) and how they vary from plant to plant

Amazingly, two thirds of the world’s plant species are found in tropical rainforests!

The vegetation is so thick; plants have to adapt to survive!
“Plants need sunlight to survive; the thick vegetation of the upper layers of the forest allows little sunlight to reach the rainforest floor. Rainforest plants must either adapt to living with little sunlight under the forest canopy or grow quickly and find ways of reaching the sunlight above the canopy.” Tropical-rainforest-facts.com. 

 

What do most plants need to survive?

Activity 1: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zy66fg8/articles/z98jpbk
Follow the link above to the BBC Bitesize website. Watch the video, read through the short paragraph and see if you can answer the quiz questions at the end!

Activity 2: Look at the 3 photographs and discuss the questions below with someone at home.

All of these plants live with Mrs Jarvis.

- Do you think she treats all the plants the same?

- Do you think certain plants need more or less of one thing than the others?

- What do you think would happen to Mrs J’s plants if she treated them all the same!?

- Why do you think these plants have different needs?

- The cactus lives in the conservatory. Do you think Mrs Jarvis could plant it in the pond? What do you think would happen if she did!? How are the two environments different?

Activity 3 (main activity): Use 1-2 pages in your home learning book to demonstrate your understanding of plant growth – LEARNING LOG STYLE!

Try and include:
- A main heading
- Subheadings
- Illustrations/diagrams
- Captions/Labels
- Key information - Name and explain the 6 things that most plants need to be healthy
                            - Explain to the reader that different plants need to be treated

                              differently – give examples if you can. Use your discussion with an
                              adult to help you!

Please make this work as colourful and as creative as possible! 

Optional extra reading:
‘Facts about How Plants Adapt to Survival in the Rainforest’

This page explains how rainforest plants are specially adapted to life in the forest: https://tropical-rainforest-facts.com/Tropical-Rainforest-Plant-Facts/Tropical-Rainforest-Plant-Facts.shtml
 

Please supervise children on the internet

4 + 5. Rainforest artwork (2 days)

L.I: Create a rainforest inspired artwork

In English you have looked at ‘A River’ by Marc Martin. 

https://www.marcmartin.com/#/ariver/ 

We would really like you to create a piece of art inspired by Marc’s book! 

You could use paint, collage, colouring pencil or any other materials you have at home. 

Day 1 

In your work book or on plain paper stuck into your work book: 

• Look at Marc’s website and have a go at sketching some of his illustrations from ‘A River’.  

• Try to match some of the colours he uses if you have paint at home. 

• Sketch out your own rainforest picture inspired by Marc’s book (we would call this a ‘rough’ design in illustration! You need to make sure you are happy with the layout before drawing up a final image and painting/colouring it.) 

Please supervise children on the internet. 

Day 2  

Create your artwork! 

Think about the colours used in ‘A River’ and have a look at some photos of the rainforest to inspire you. Take your time to create something amazing. Most importantly, enjoy being creative! You could do your artwork outside (the closest to the rainforest you can probably get!) or listen to some rainforest sounds on youtube (ask an adult to help you find some). 

We would really love to see your finished artwork so make sure you take a photo and send it in to school! 

Miss J might even try to contact Marc Martin to share how his book has inspired us! 

If you have time, have a look at some of the other brilliant illustrations on his website.  

___________________________