Birds of the Rain Forest
Lesson Content Objective(s):
Instructional Plan:
Engage: Tropical rain forests cover only 7% of the world’s surface, yet nearly one-half of the world’s species of plants and animals are found there. They are unique because of their biodiversity (variety of plant and animal life). Scientists are still discovering new plants, animals, and insects there. These lush green jungles circle the equator in a 3,000-mile-wide belt running through parts of South America, Central America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. About 27 million acres of tropical rain forests disappear each year. In the last 30 years, more than 40% of the world’s rain forests have been destroyed.
Currently the world’s richest bird life, over 1,000 species, is found in the Amazon rain forest. Many have exotic plumage in many bright colors. These include parrots, parakeets, toucans, hummingbirds, macaws, and many others.
Explore: This project helps to enlighten students to the dilemma of this valuable and fragile resource as well as engage their imagination in creating their own exotic endangered bird that is found only in the deepest part of the rain forest. A collage of overlapping leaves in the foreground of the picture represents the dense jungle where this fantastic bird makes his home.
Explain: Discuss lines, outline, and lines in motion. Students will identify movement in the Henri Rousseau’s painting and movement. Review watercolor techniques and how to make salt form stars and patterns on their paper.
Elaborate:
Evaluate: Students discuss their bird by explaining the patterns and rhythm that they created for their rain forest.
- I can draw thin, thick, slanted, curved and zigzag lines.
- I can place paper overlapping and create a collage.
- I can use watercolor techniques and review salt subtractive watercolor techniques.
- I will learn about patterns and rhythm by creating repeating shapes and lines on the birds.
Instructional Plan:
Engage: Tropical rain forests cover only 7% of the world’s surface, yet nearly one-half of the world’s species of plants and animals are found there. They are unique because of their biodiversity (variety of plant and animal life). Scientists are still discovering new plants, animals, and insects there. These lush green jungles circle the equator in a 3,000-mile-wide belt running through parts of South America, Central America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. About 27 million acres of tropical rain forests disappear each year. In the last 30 years, more than 40% of the world’s rain forests have been destroyed.
Currently the world’s richest bird life, over 1,000 species, is found in the Amazon rain forest. Many have exotic plumage in many bright colors. These include parrots, parakeets, toucans, hummingbirds, macaws, and many others.
Explore: This project helps to enlighten students to the dilemma of this valuable and fragile resource as well as engage their imagination in creating their own exotic endangered bird that is found only in the deepest part of the rain forest. A collage of overlapping leaves in the foreground of the picture represents the dense jungle where this fantastic bird makes his home.
Explain: Discuss lines, outline, and lines in motion. Students will identify movement in the Henri Rousseau’s painting and movement. Review watercolor techniques and how to make salt form stars and patterns on their paper.
Elaborate:
- Draw a bird
- Draw a vine or tree branch under the bird’s feet.
- Add designs inside the bird adding patterns.
- Color the bird drawing.
- Draw the jungle leaves.
- Paint the leaves.
- Outline the bird and leaf paintings.
- Cut out jungle leaves.
- Arrange leaves around the bird glue in place.
Evaluate: Students discuss their bird by explaining the patterns and rhythm that they created for their rain forest.