First grade students are learning all about the rainforest and amphibians as we have moved on to our second habitat and animal classification. Students are discovering that rainforest are warm, dense, and wet forests that are home to millions of plants and animals. They have learned that the rainforest is comprised of four layers: the forest floor, the understory, the canopy, and the emergents. Puzzles, habitat mats, memory matching, and artwork activities will each provide students with the opportunity to discover the plants and animals present in the various layers.
Learning about amphibians, in conjunction with the rainforest, each student has selected one frog to research. Students are being asked to find where their frog lives, who their frog’s enemies are, where the frog lays its eggs, what the frog looks like, and at least three other interesting facts about their frog. Among those selected are the red eyed tree frog, the tomato frog, the blue poison dart frog, Wallace’s flying frog, and the golden leaf folding frog. Prior to beginning our individual research, students worked in pairs to read Awesome Amphibians, learning characteristics of amphibians, and Frog Life Cycle, reviewing animal life cycles. Corresponding reading comprehension activities focused on distinguishing and writing facts and opinions.
