At-Home Activities: Into the Jungle - Find New Creatures

Week 4, September 28 – October 2

Workshop Activities

Materials

“Who is Jane Goodall?”
various fiction and non-fiction books that relate to jungle animals
journal or writing paper
ruler
tape measure
sidewalk chalk
playing cards
large paper
paint and/or markers
this wallpaper pattern, printed: https://cdn.webshopapp.com/shops/71467/files/322087740/wrapping-paper-jungle-animals.jpg
“The Jungle Book” book or movie – here is the free original text of the story: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/236/236-h/236-h.htm

Reading

Writing

Copywork

“The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” - Jane Goodall
“Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don't believe is right.” - Jane Goodall

Language arts lesson

Writing Activity

Create a jungle animals dictionary. Make a page for each of your favorite jungle animals. Staple these pages together in alphabetical order inside a book cover. Instead of using their favorite jungle animals, older students may use this list: Turtle, Tambaqui, Tucan, Tiger Fish, Tapir, Tarantula, Termites, Tortoise, Tamarin, Tree Snake, Tucanare, Tamandua, Weasel, Tailless Whip Scorpion.

Journaling

What if you were raised by animals in the jungle? What animal would you want to raise you? Why did you choose that animal?

Math

Math Concept

Math Project

Find out what the longest and shortest snakes are. Measure out these lengths and use sidewalk chalk to draw these snakes on a sidewalk.

Math Concept

Since ancient times, people have had a need to measure things, but they didn’t use measuring tools like we do today. They used their own bodies. A thumb, a foot, an arm, etc. But each person is a different size. How can you make sure that everyone is measuring fairly? Communities would use a rod or bar, of an exact length, kept in a central public place. From this 'standard' other identical rods can be copied and distributed through the community.

Math Project

How long is your table? Use your shoe as a measuring tool. How many shoes long is your table? Now use an adult’s shoe to measure the table. Why are the results different? What is the difference in length when you measure with your shoe and an adult’s shoe? Which shoe do you think makes a better measuring tool?

Mental math

Math games

Use a deck of cards with the face cards removed. The red cards are negative and the black are positive. Each player starts with 6 cards, drawing one at the beginning of their turn and discarding one at the end. The goal is to play pairs that equal 6 or -6. The person playing 3 pairs first wins. The other players add the absolute value of their cards to get a score. The goal is to have the lowest score at the end of the game.

Projects

Research and Report

People say that the lion is the king of the jungle, but lions don't actually live in the jungle. Their real habitat is the open savanna where they hunt mammals such as gazelles, antelope, and zebra. Several of the animals we traditionally call jungle animals are actually animals that live in the African savanna. How many of the animals (and plants) on this “jungle” wrapping paper can you identify? https://cdn.webshopapp.com/shops/71467/files/322087740/wrapping-paper-jungle-animals.jpg
How many of the animals on the wrapping paper actually live on the savanna? Divide a large paper in half. Create a jungle background on one side and a savanna background on the other side. Print the wallpaper, then cut out the animals (and the plants?). Glue the pictures of the animals on the biomes that they live in. You may also want to label the animals.

Themed Fireworks Project

Read “The Jungle Book” or watch one of the movies of the story. Perhaps do both and compare the two! Identify what type of animal each of the characters are. Are they all actual jungle animals? Write your observations in your Adventure Journal. You can read the original version of the story here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/236/236-h/236-h.htm

6-week project

Using the outline or mind map you made last week, write the first draft of your written report.
Work on your display.

Outings

Other Ideas

Act out a Just So story by Rudyard Kipling.
Which story is better: Jungle Book or Tarzan? Find someone that favors the opposite of you and debate the differences.
Choose your favorite character from Jungle Book. Make a display about him or her.
Make finger puppets from the movie Up: https://family.disney.com/craft/up-printable-finger-puppets/
List 5-15 jungle animals. Make a chart that shows which jungle(s) each of the animals live in.
Make a python diorama: https://www.crayola.com/for-educators/lesson-plans/lesson-plan/pythons-in-the-wild.aspx
Find out what you should do if you get bitten by a poisonous snake.
Create a book about endangered species that live in jungles.
Observe the birds that live around you. What types of beaks do they have? What do they use their beaks for? Write your observations in your Adventure Book.
Create a jungle obstacle course in your home or back yard. Challenge all family members to try it out. Who can do the course fastest?
Find out about five different jungle species that are endangered. How many of each animal exists? What has caused their decline? What should be done to make sure these animals do not become extinct? Write your thoughts in your Adventure Book.