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JUNGLE / RAINFOREST
STORY:
Everyone’s heard the lion called “The King of the Jungle.” Did you know that’s not an accurate name for the lion? Lions live on the
Teacher Tip:
To keep the children's interest; this story is designed with related questions at the end. Make it fun! Turn it into a trivia game with prizes. Perhaps even jungle themed prizes.
Savannas of Africa. Savannas are large grass lands, not jungles. The real king of the jungle is the jaguar. He is the most powerful cat in the jungle. It’s said the jaguar is so strong he has carried a full grown cow for more than a mile. His jaw can pierce an animal's skull. A jaguar can grow up to seven feet long and weigh anywhere from 250 to 400 pounds. Deep in the heart of Brazil you will find a tropical rainforest known as the Amazon. The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest. It is called a rainforest because it is wet, very wet. It rains an average of 160 to 400 inches each year there. (Wow! 400 inches, that’s about as long as a school bus!) The majority of the world's jaguars live here. They roam among animals such as monkeys, three toed sloth, toucans, capybaras, poison dart frogs and macaws. Jaguars are often confused with leopards. Their coloring is very much alike. They both are golden in color with dark rosettes. However, if you look closely, you will see jaguars have spots in the center of the rosettes. Jaguars will hunt just about any kind of animal. One of it's favorite meals it the capybara. (The world's largest rodent.) Another favorite delicacy is the crocodile. The jaguar is the crocodile's only enemy other than man. The jaguar, being one of only a few cats that’s fond of water; searches the banks of the Amazon River for a tree branch that stretches over a shallow place in the river. He lies quietly awaiting a crocodile to swim below. He pounces on the crocodiles head, pinning it to the bottom of the river till it drowns. The jaguar then drags the crocodile ashore for its dinner!
TRIVIA:
There are two types of rainforests, name one. Tropical Temperate
What is the true “king of the jungle?” Jaguar
How can you tell the difference between a jaguar and a leopard? Jaguars have spots in the center of their rosettes.
How much rainfall does a tropical rainforest receive in one year? 160-400 inches a year.
Name a river in Brazil? Amazon
What kind of rainforest is the Amazon? A tropical rainforest
What is the world's largest rainforest? The Amazon Rainforest
What is the world's largest rodent? Capybara
What are the Jaguar's two favorite meals? Crocodile and Capybara
Name other animals that live in the Amazon rainforest? Three toed sloth Monkeys Toucans Poison Dart Frogs
ART ACTIVITIES:
Jaguar Masks
Using a paper plate, have the children cut holes for their eyes.
With paint, crayons or markers let the children decorate the plate. (Remember the difference between the jaguar and the Leopard.)
Cut triangles from construction paper and glue to the top of the plate for ears.
Glue several pipe cleaners on each side for whiskers.
Punch a hole on each side of the plate, tie a string or yarn through the holes and around the child's head to strap the mask on.
Crocodile Hats
Cut a two inch strip of construction paper that will fit around the child's head.
Using an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of construction paper, have the children cut out an isosceles triangle and cut off the tip to make the crocodiles nose blunt.
Glue to the bottom of the head band.
Cut small white triangles to glue on the edges for teeth.
Cut out eyes and glue on head band. (For 3-D eyes, have the children glue on pom-poms instead!)
Decorate and enjoy!
Rainforest Window Clings
You will need a thick piece of plastic such as a transparency or left over used scraps of laminating film.
Place a coloring sheet of any rainforest animal or picture under the plastic to serve as a template. (Butterflies and flowers work great!)
Using fabric paint, have the children "color" the image. (The paint should be thick.)
After the paint dries (can take up to 24 hours) peel the image from the plastic.
You now have a window cling that can peel on and off almost any surface!
Butterfly Magnets:
You will need a wooden clothes pin for the butterfly's body.
You may have the children paint or color with marker if desired.
There are two types of wings. The easiest:
Using an 8x11 sheet of tissue paper any color, pinch both edges together in the center of the sheet and place inside the clothes pin to form wings. The most creative:
Let the children color a coffee filter with markers. This creates a water color look.
Once again, pinch the center edges together to create wings and place in the clothes pin.
COOKING CORNER:
Monkey Milkshakes:
Fill blender with: Vanilla ice cream 1 cup milk 1 banana 1 small can of frozen lemonade
Blend together Fruit Kabobs:
On wooden kabob sticks, have the children thread pieces of tropical fruit on each stick. Possible fruit choices: Strawberries Pineapple Mango Papaya Kiwi Star fruit grapes bananas
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