BOOKS

  • Planet Earth - The Rain Forest - Billy Goodman
  • Usborne - Rainforest Wildlife - Antonia Cunningham
  • Animals of the Rain Forest - Stephen Savage
  • Water Hole - Kenneth Mallory
  • Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling
  • Mystery Creatures of the Jungle - Gardner Soule - this book explores the idea that a large dinosaur like creature could be living in the African jungle.  It also talks about the possibility of other animals existing that have been reported by natives and explorers.
  • Jungle Days - Jungle Nights - Martin Jordan
  • Here is the Tropical Rain Forest - Michael Rothman (poetry)
  • Rainforest Animals - Michael Chinery
  • Living Planet - Frans Lanting
  • Jungles - Frans Lanting -  We used these for pictures only...there are many references to evolution, but the photography is outstanding.
  • It's a Jungle Out There - Ron Snell
  • Life is a Jungle - Ron Snell

Be sure to include these very humorous books about the adventures and mishaps of 'Rani' (Ron Snell) as he grew up in the jungles of Peru.  Both of his parents were Bible translators for Wycliffe.  We read these aloud and learned about the native people, animals, jungle and Bible translation.  Our family laughed out loud at the many funny moments that 'Rani' enjoyed. 

  • David Livingstone - Sower Series
  • Nate Saint - Christian Heroes Then & Now Series
 
WRITING PROJECTS
 

Have your child pick a rainforest animal to research and write about.  My oldest child was very interested in anacondas.  He researched and wrote a paper entitled: The Giant Anaconda.  He wrote it in the first person from the perspective from the snake.

FIELD TRIPS

Visit the local zoo or rainforest exhibit if your area has one. We visited the Dallas World Aquarium & Rainforest.  If you live close enough to go, it is well worth the visit.

PROJECTS

 

 

 

Tropical Rainforest Collage:  Have each child cut out pictures (from old National Geographic magazines) of things that are in a rainforest.  Glue them on green (or white) posterboard to make a collage.

Rainforest Watercolors: Rainforests make great watercolor projects because of all the vivid colors.  Have each child find a picture in a book of a rainforest scene or animal.  Sketch the picture lightly on sketch paper.  Paint with watercolors.

Rainforest Chart:  Have each child draw each of the four levels of rainforest and label them.