Design a Rainforest Postcard

Students research a specific rainforest and create a series of postcards from a fictional visit. Students share their experiences with the rest of the class and compare similarities and differences between rainforests around the world.

Engage

Divide the students into five equal teams. Let them know they will be working together to "explore" and learn more about one of five tropical rainforests around the world:

1. Central American
2. Amazon
3. Congo River Basin
4. Madagascar
5. Southeast Asia

Have student teams complete research about their rainforest region. Students should be able to answer:

1. What types of plants are found in this rainforest region? Are these plants unique to this region?
2. What types of animals are found in this rainforest region? Are these animals unique to this region?
3. What is the weather in this rainforest region?
4. Who lives in this rainforest region?

Let students know that after they complete research, they will create a series of postcards that reflect what they see in the rainforest in their specific region.

Create

As a team, have students review their research and decide what information should be covered so that the entire group's postcards are a summary of their rainforest region. Students can use a storyboard to organize and decide which content will be shared on each separate postcard.

Storyboard Template

As a set, the postcards should contain information about the following:

1. Plants and animals found in the rainforest.
2. Weather in the rainforest.
3. People who live in the rainforest.
4. Things that make the rainforest unique.

Each postcard should be a synopsis of what they saw on a given day. The front of the postcard should include original artwork or photographs, and the back will include engaging text describing what they saw, heard, smelled, and touched that day.

Team members can then choose which postcard they will design and work individually on their own postcard or use the collaboration options to work together.

Postcard Template

Share

Students should print their postcards to share with their classmates. You can also display their finished postcards on a classroom website and even combine them all into one file using the Project Wizard.

As a whole class, compare the rainforests. Use a Venn diagram to determine the similarities and differences between the rainforests.

Venn Diagram

Resources

Lynne Cherry. The Great Kapok Tree. ISBN: 0152018182

Mongabay Kids: Tropical Rainforests

National Geographic: 15 Fantastic facts about rainforests

Rainforest Facts

Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

Earth and Space Science: Earth's Systems
3-ESS2-2. Obtain and combine information to describe climates in different regions of the world.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.4
With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.5
With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.7
Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.