Students will demonstrate an understanding of the interdependence of animals, people and plants in the rainforest by participating in an ecosystem simulation.

Objectives:

Materials:

• ball of yarn
• one 4" x 6" note card for each student
• colored felt pens or crayons
• scissors

Plan:

1. Read The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry. Ask students to pay attention to the many animals that rely on the Kapok Tree for their needs. (Students will have already have a good understanding of most animals mentioned).
2. After reading, ask students:
   • How important was the Kapok tree?
   • To whom was it important?
   • How do you think the animals in the story felt, when they saw a human who was bigger and stronger than them came to chop down their tree?
   • In the end, who has the final say / power for what will happen? (humans do)
   • Think of some examples in our community where our ecosystem may be in danger. (i.e. pollution, littering, car exhaust.)
3. Make necktie-cards in advance or have students make the food web cards before the game is played. Reproduce the food web listed below.

   A Basic Rainforest Ecosystem

   • Kapok Tree
   • Tree Frogs
   • Boa Constrictor
   • Bee
   • Monkeys
   • Toucan, Macaw
   • Tree Porcupines
   • Jaguar
   • Anteaters
   • Sloths
   • Yanomamo Tribe Children

   Write a single web component on each card. When finished, punch a hole in the two top corners of each card and string a piece of yarn about two feet in length through the holes, tying a loop that can later be placed over the student's head. These cards will be worn by the students to identify their role clearly to the entire class while playing the game. (Use picture cues especially for youngest).

4. Have students draw role cards from a hat, and put them on so their roles are visible.
5. Students form a circle. The student that represents the Kapok Tree stands in the middle of the circle, holding a long dowel upright, with 30 strings attached. (*NB use as many strands as are children in the class). As the narrator (teacher) recites the story, each animal takes a strand of yarn from the "tree". This will form a "web of dependence" on the tree. Once all animals have been presented, the teacher (as a woodcutter) will cut the Kapok Tree down, cutting all "ties" from tree to animals. (See Appendix A for instructions and story retelling) This action will represent "deforestration" and how it harms our ecosystem by creating an imbalance.

1. How do you think the animals feel now that the Kapok Tree has been cut down?
2. What will happen to the animals?
3. What will happen to the people in the rainforest?
4. In a "community" - ecosystem such as the rainforest, all living things are dependent on one another, for food, shelter, and many other things. We share "resources" in our community to meet our needs, but we must be careful not to "use up" these resources - what will be left?

Students will create mobiles to reveal their understanding of the rainforest ecosystem. Using coat hanger wire and string, students will construct a three-dimensional "dependence web" utilizing the animal and people-characters in The Great Kapok Tree.

Students will also be evaluated informally during question time, when we wrap up the activity. While in group discussion, I will observe whether students understand the concept of interdependence. (Whether students are hesitant or hasty to answer question, when we wrap up the activity. While in group discussion, I will observe whether students understand the concept of interdependence. (Whether students are hesitant or hasty to answer question