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Exploring the Animals of

the Amazon Rainforest

A lesson plan by Kristin Allen
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Basic Information:
! Subject: Science
! Grade: 1
st

! Class Size: 30 students

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Objective:
! After completing this lesson students will be able to describe
different characteristics of some of the animals that live in the
Amazon Rain Forest and will be able to act out the different
animals using their bodies.
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Materials:
! Computer with internet access
! Projector with screen and speakers
! Pictures of the different animals that live in the Amazon Rain
Forest to share on projector
! Link to YouTube video of The Great Kapok Tree by Lynee Cherry
(hard copy of book if available)use speakers to listen to story
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-j9RRSWS1U)
! Globe to show where the Amazon rain forest is
! Link to rainforest noises use speakers for noises (https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=foZbv9IjEkg)
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Introduction:
! Explain to the students that today they are going to be learning
about the animals that live in the Amazon Rain Forest.
! Briefly go over some basic facts about the Amazon Rain Forest
o The Amazon Rain Forest is located in the tropical zone near the
equator in South America
o The Amazon always has very warm and humid temperatures
o The Amazon Rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest in the world
o Rainforests are home to more than half the worlds total plant and
animal species
! Show the students a picture of the Amazon Rainforest over the
projector
! Show students where Amazon rainforest is on globe (inflatable
beach ball globe)

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Introduction Cont.
! Go over the some of the animals that live in the Amazon Rain
Forest and their characteristics
! As you explain these animals show pictures of them over the
projector
! *Note: the animals being studied were chosen from the book The
Great Kapok Tree that will be read to the students later in the
lesson
! Note: pictures attached at the end of lesson plan
! Note: summarize definitions of animals as needed

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Definitions of Animals:
! The Howler Monkey: Howler monkeys are named and
known for the loud, guttural howls that they routinely use at
the beginning and end of the day. They are the loudest
animal in the New World and while their howl is not a
piercing sound, it can travel for three miles through dense
forest. They are the largest monkey in Latin American
rainforests; they grow to be about two to four feet tall and
weigh from eight to twenty-two pounds. They have big necks
and lower jaws, where their super-sized vocal cords are
housed.
! Boa constrictor: The Boa constrictor is a species of large,
heavy-bodied snake. They can be commonly found in or
along rivers and streams throughout the rain forest, as they
are very capable swimmers. Young boas can climb trees
however; as they get older and heavier they tend to slither
along the rainforest floor. When they feel threatened they hiss
loudly.
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Definitions of Animals:
! Bees: The bees of the Rain forest fly from tree to tree and flower to
flower pollinating the trees and flowers of the rainforest.
! Toucan: Toucans swallow whole fruit and then spit out the seeds
unharmed. They feed and then fly off, often dropping seeds at great
distances from the plant where they found them. This spreads the seeds
and increases the chances that the seeds will find a good place to grow.
! Macaw Macaws are beautiful, brilliantly colored members of the parrot
family. The birds boast large, powerful beaks that easily crack nuts and
seeds, while their dry, scaly tongues have a bone inside them that
makes them an effective tool for tapping into fruits. Macaws also have
gripping toes that they use to latch onto branches and to grab, hold, and
examine items. The birds sport graceful tails that are typically very long.
! Tree frog: The tree frogs diet consists of most insects. They grow to be
2- 4cin length. The Red-Eyed Tree Frog is well known for its bulging red
eyes and beautiful blue streaks and orange toes. During the day these
frogs mostly sleep, keeping their eyes closed to help camouflage
themselves. If disturbed, a frog will abruptly reveal his red eyes,
startling potential predators. This often gives the frog just enough time
to jump away to safety. Red-eyed tree frogs have very strong suction
cup toe pads that make them agile climbers.
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Definitions of Animals:
! Jaguar: Jaguars are large, powerful animals with very strong jaws that can
even bite through turtle shells. They range in weight from of 124 211
pounds kg (5696 kg) to length 4 feet to 6.5 feet (1.2 to 1.95 m). They have
the shortest tails of any big cat. They are usually tawny-colored with spots all
over and a white belly. They can live up to 20 years in the wild and nearly 30
in captivity.
! Tree porcupine: Porcupines rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills,
that defend them from predators. Weighing 1235 lb (5.415.9 kg), they are
rounded, large and slow. The two subfamilies of New World porcupines are
mostly smaller (although the North American Porcupine reaches about
85 cm or 33 in in length and 18 kg or 40 lb), have their quills attached singly
rather than grouped in clusters, and are excellent climbers, spending much
of their time in trees.
! Ant eaters: Ant eaters are very well camouflaged animals. These amazing
creatures live on the forest floor, feeding on ants and termites. They walk
across the rainforest floor using their knuckles to avoid damaging their
clawswhich they use to protect themselves against predators. Their claws
also help them dig through termite nests and dig burrows to sleep in at
night. Ant eaters also have an amazing sense of smell (40 times stronger than
humans). They have extraordinary long and sticky tongues which allow them
the eat up to 30,000 ants a day.
! Sloth The sloth is the slowest mammal on Earth. It takes a month for a sloth to
move 1 kilometer! Sloths are arboreal animals, which mean that they spend
most of their lives hanging upside-down from tree branches. They eat, sleep,
mate, and give birth upside-down in the trees. They hold onto tree branches
with strong, curved claws that are on each of their four feet.
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Assessment:
! What are three different kinds of animals that live in the
Amazon Rain Forest?
! What is an animal that lives in the Amazon Rain Forest that
walks on all fours?
! What is a type of animal that lives in the rain forest and has
gripping toes?
! What are the slowest mammals on Earth?
! What animal that lives in the rainforest climbs tress when it is
young and then slithers across the rainforest floor as it gets
bigger?
! What Amazon Rain forest animal do you find the most
interesting and why?
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Sharing:
! Split students up into groups of about five or 6
! Assign each group a few of the different Amazon Rain Forest animals they
just learned about
! Have the students work together in their groups to come up with different
body movements they could use to act out the different Amazon Rainforest
animals they were assigned
! Give the groups the pictures cards of the animals they were assigned. ( the
back of each card will also have some dance vocabulary that the students
can use to help them in case they get stuck trying to act out their animals)
! Walk around room to keep students on task and help them as necessary
also make sure all the students in the groups are participating
! Play soft rainforest noises while students are working over the speakers on
the projector or the computer
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Sharing Cont.
! Have each group quickly share with the class the movements they used
to act out the different animals their group was assigned
! Also have them explain a few characteristics of the animals they were
assigned and why they choose to do the movements they chose
! Play the audio of the book The Great Kapok Tree over projector
speakers or computer speakers
! While the audio is playing explain to students they need to act out the
animals their group was assigned as they hear them in the story (so it is
very important that they pay attention and a quiet during the story)
! The teacher may also act out the motions of the human character in the
book
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Notes
! Throughout the explanation of the lesson constantly ask students if they
understand or if they have any questions
! Constantly encourage your students to keep trying new movements
when creating their animals
! Give correction and feedback when needed
! Give positive feedback and reinforcement throughout the activity
! Remember to always TELL students what it is they need to be doing
! Do not use the term you guys
! If students seem to be struggling be prepared to make changes to
better fit their needs
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Pictures to Share Over the
Projector:
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Howler Monkey:
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Boa Constrictor:

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Bees:
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Toucan:
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Macaw:

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Tree Frog:
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Jaguar:
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Tree Porcupine:

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Ant Eater:
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Sloth: