Devastating Deforestation Triarama

The continuing destruction of the world’s rainforests has enormous effects on life. What can you do to help stop the devastation?

• 1.

  Not long ago, 14% of the Earth’s surface was covered with rainforest. Today it is about 6%. Because of clearing trees (deforestation), scientists estimate that timber and cattle farming will destroy the remaining forests within 40 years.

• 2.

  It’s hard to imagine that 137 species of organisms are lost each day. Research some endangered or already extinct plant and animal species such as the jaguar and pygmy marmoset monkey. How will loss of these species and their habitats affect humans? What can be done to stop the destruction of rainforests?

• 3.

  <STRONG>What’s endangered?</STRONG> On a recycled file folder, draw endangered rainforest animals and plants with Crayola® Markers. Leave a small tab to attach each picture to your triarama. Cut them out with Crayola Scissors.

• 4.

  <STRONG> Assemble your triarama</STRONG>. Cut another file folder into a square. Fold in half, point to point, making a triangle. Cut one fold from a point to the center. Lay flat. Decorate two sides and one of the triangles with a rainforest background. Slide the undecorated triangle under the other one. Glue with Crayola School Glue. Air-dry the triarama.

• 5.

  <STRONG>Display endangered flora and fauna</STRONG>. Glue flora and fauna tabs to the triarama. If you like, add labels to show names of endangered or extinct species. Air-dry the glue. Explain your findings and solutions to others.

Benefits

• Students become familiar with the process of deforestation and its impact upon rainforests and people who depend on them.
• Students research endangered and already-extinct species of rainforest animals and plants.
• Students fabricate a 3D exhibit to show which rainforest flora and fauna are extinct or endangered.

Adaptations

• Identify how people in your community can help reduce deforestation (recycle and reuse, conserve water and electricity, carpool). Start a campaign to help save rainforests.
• The Amazon rainforest has been called the Lungs of Our Planet, producing 20% of the world’s oxygen. About 20% of the Earth’s fresh water supply comes from the Amazon Basin. Examine the planet’s ecology in light of these statistics.
• Pursue the economics of the rainforest, where the value of an acre is $60 if its used for cattle grazing, $400 for timber, and $2,400 if filled with renewable resources.
• There are human costs in the loss of South American rainforests. About 10 million indigenous people called the rainforest home 500 years ago; now there are fewer than 200,000. Identify similar regions of the world. Are they facing the same destruction?
• Assessment: Verify accuracy of the rainforest habitat and identities of endangered flora and fauna. How detailed and colorful is the triarama?