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Curriculum
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Watch the Rainforest Alliance Curricula in Action
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Kindergarten -- Explore the land that conservationists call "the Land of Heaven" -- Colombia's Cachalú Biological Reserve. Nestled in the tropical Andes, Cachalú is a small park occupying an environment that is not only critically endangered but highly valued by scientists for its wealth of unique species. With help from Fundación Natura, the Rainforest Alliance's partner group in Colombia, kindergarteners will learn about this special ecosystem, its interesting inhabitants and the connection between South American rainforests and their very own supermarkets. |
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First Grade -- Learn about the mystical forests of the Mayas and the second largest barrier reef in the world! The Rainforest Alliance's partner in Belize, TIDE, is working with communities in southern Belize to protect a huge swath of the Selva Maya (or Maya forest) as well as the coastal ecosystems downstream. Students will learn about the many species of wildlife -- including jaguars, manatees, howler monkeys and loggerhead turtles -- that call this amazing place home. |
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Second Grade -- Nowhere on Earth do you find a rainforest that captures the imagination of children more than the Amazon. In this unit students will explore the rich culture of the indigenous Yanomami who despite the technological advances of the modern world, have maintained their traditional lifestyle for centuries. In stark contrast to the Yanomami, students will learn about the Amazon's most recent arrivals -- settlers in search of a better life. They will be introduced to the work of IMAFLORA, and find out what this dedicated Brazilian conservation organization is doing to help the community of Boa Vista do Ramos improve the lives of its residents without compromising the long-term integrity of the forest. |
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Third Grade -- What is the single most heavenly food to come from rainforests? Why chocolate, of course! In four unique units children will explore cacao, the food of the gods, native to Latin American rainforests. Students will learn about the Chachi of Ecuador, a small indigenous group that is protecting the forest, and who is using chocolate to do it. But cacao isn't the only intriguing species found beneath the great, green canopy of these wonderful forests. Students will learn about an enormous wealth of biodiversity that lurks within the misty forests of the Chocó.
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Fourth Grade -- Go into almost any backpack in your school and you will find empty chocolate wrappers or chocolate treats waiting to be eaten. Chocolate is a favorite candy of children all over the world. What effect does chocolate farming have on the landscape, the people and the different animals that live around those farms? Students will research sustainable practices of cocoa farming that help protect the quality of environments while producing essential ingredients for food products. The unit focuses on the Chachi people, who protect their forest from destruction by using sustainable farming techniques that conserve the rainforest while providing the local people with a means for earning an income. |
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Fifth Grade -- Fantastically enough, each autumn thousands of migratory birds flap their way from our North American forests, parks and backyards to the warm rainforests of Central and South America. Many of these birds land in the traditional shaded coffee farms of Central America because those forest homes have not been cleared to make way for cattle pastures or the new sun and chemical-intensive coffee farms. Learn about the important work of SalvaNATURA, our partner group in El Salvador, and what it is doing to save the southern roosts of thousands of migratory songbirds. |
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Sixth Grade -- Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world. The beans are typically grown in areas of tropical rainforest, which can be damaging to migratory bird habitats. How can a forest supply Americans with 350 million cups of coffee each day and keep the birds singing at the same time? This unit guides students in an exploration of sustainable agriculture and how the work of SalvaNATURA, our partner group in El Salvador, is helping to protect the habitat of migratory songbirds. |
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Seventh Grade -- Bananas, the world’s most popular fruit, can only be grown commercially in the tropical regions of the world where rainforests also thrive. Many of these bananas are sustainably grown on banana farms certified by the Rainforest Alliance. Students will learn about the origin of the banana, how bananas are grown, and how their bananas travel from Honduras to their local grocery store. They will discover the biodiversity of Honduras and how people in their own neighborhoods enjoy eating their highly nutritious bananas. By tracing the journey of bananas from tropical farms in Honduras to their breakfast tables, students will learn about the origin of one of their favorite foods and how they are connected to ecosystems and cultures that may seem very distant. |
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Eighth Grade -- In Honduras, the Rainforest Alliance is working both with large and small businesses to achieve banana certification, ensuring that the rainforests are conserved and that the land and people are treated well. The certification of banana production is an important way to help conserve the tropical rainforest ecosystem and protect the livelihood of people who live there. In this unit, students will learn more about banana production in Honduras, how bananas are used and consumed in their own community, and will create their own banana certification standards. While exploring the origins and uses of this favorite fruit, students will also discover the cultures and unique biodiversity of Honduras. |
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Great Resources -- The Rainforest Alliance's education materials for each grade level contain wonderful supplemental resources to help engage children and provide educators with the tools needed to effectively teach conservation . While you can access these materials directly from the grade-specific pages, check out this page for easy access to the many resources that make up this curriculum. |
Illustrations by Deirdre Hyde, www.deirdre-hyde.com Are you using our curriculum? Click here: Yes or No. Just press send! Read comments from people using the curriculum.
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