Summer Homeschooling - Jungle Week

JUNGLE WEEK -

Monday:

• We will be focusing on the tropical jungles or "rainforests."
• Science: Rainforest  - rains 200 out of 365 days per year
• Strata Layers - only 2% of the sun hits the floor because the canopy is so dense (Strata Layers Video)
• Art: Strata Layer Diagram -
• Draw a picture/diagram of the strata layers
• Which jungle animals live in each strata layer? 
• Mark on the strata layer picture/diagram. We used scrapbooking stickers we found at the department store.

This Toucan can move back and forth between the Canopy and Emergent Layers

Tuesday: 

• P.E.: Jungle Exercise
• Science: Jungle Animals
• 3/4 of the world's plants and animals live in the jungle
• 1/3 of all the birds in the world live in the jungle
• 2,000 species of butterflies live in the jungle
• Reading/Writing: We did a "book report" on our favorite jungle animals using books we had around the house, but you can also pick up jungle books from the library. We used this opportunity for the kiddos to "teach the class" about their chosen animals. 
• The kids wanted to learn about tigers, pythons, macaws, black caimans, panthers, toucans, and piranhas
• Art: You can also print out macaw and toucan coloring sheets and/or make a chain link python!
• Media: Watch Rio

Wednesday:

• Science: Why is the Jungle important? - Rainforests 101
• It recycles and cleans most of the Earth's water for us to drink
• Takes the CO2 out of the atmosphere and turns it in to oxygen for us to breathe, combats the "greenhouse effect"
• Regulates the Earth's temperature and weather
• 25% of all new medicine comes from the plants of the jungle
• Deforestation for crops and cattle threatens this though; every second, a section as large as a football field is cut down; takes away the habitats of all these animals, like the parrot from Rio
• STEM: We took this opportunity to plant a banana tree in our backyard to support the health of the planet. It's like a Jungle Week souvenir! 

Thursday:

• History/Culture: Jungle Food - 
• How people live in Costa Rica; watch Netflix's Down to Earth with Zac Efron, Episode 3, "Costa Rica"
• They eat mostly fruits and nuts that they are able to gather, and they make much of their homes and clothing out of the materials of the jungle
• They live as one with nature; trying not to take anymore than they absolutely need

Friday:

• Activity/Party: Live like you're in the jungle!
• Make a traditional Jungle BBQ -
• Take marinated or dry-rubbed pork and wrap it in banana leaves
• Wrap in aluminum foil and place inside the bottom of a grill or smoker (or dig a hole/pit in the ground to make it even more traditional)
• Place unlit coals around the sides of the foiled meat
• Cover the top of the foiled meat with lit coals
• Slow roast until meat reaches 145 degrees internally; it's usually 2 hours per 1lb of meat
• For side dishes, think about what they would eat in the jungle: mango salsa, fried plantains, homemade tortillas, banana bread, pineapple rice, sweet rolls, nuts, be creative!
• Feel free to wear grass skirts, hang out in hammocks, play in the sprinkler/pool, and drink fruit punch from pineapple cups. Most of these items can be found at your local party or department store, and the kids will have so much fun picking them out. 
• Have fun!

Saturday: Field Trip

• Example - Field Trip to San Antonio Zoo to visit the jungle animals and aviary, as well as a stop at the spring-fed natural pool under the cypress trees in San Pedro Springs Park to cool off
• You could visit anywhere that houses jungle/rainforest animals, or take a dip in a natural river or pool surrounded by woods/trees...islands/protected coastal areas can also serve as great jungle habitats if you are close to one

Parrots are some of the smartest and most interesting little characters I've ever had the pleasure of meeting