Good Ideas! - FALL 1994 - Buying a piece of the rain forest: George C. Marshall Elementary School

Stimulated by efforts of the Nature Conservancy to raise funds for the preservation of the rain forest, a schoolwide rain forest project was designed last year at Marshall School. The project was cooperatively planned by all teachers, with the library media teacher taking responsibility for coordination, provision of materials, implementation of the research segment, and introduction of related literature. Jane Snibbe, who is a mentor teacher as well as the library media teacher, .used her own photographs and artifacts from trips to Central and South America, together with the book Rain Forest, by Barbara Taylor. Themes of systems and interactions suggested by the California Science Framework were guiding ideas for the unit.

The rain forest bulletin board captures studetn interest at Marshall Elementary
In simple research lessons, groups of second and third graders learned about animals living in various layers of the rain forest. "Reports" took the form of either drawings or written paragraphs and a huge class bulletin board. Resources used included CD-RUM encyclopedias and reference and nonfiction materials (plus a pop-up book!). As the need for additional materials on the rain forest became apparent, new hooks (some in Spanish) were purchased. Teachers also were treated to a workshop by Jane, who provided written plans and a complete bibliography

Marshall is located on Fort Ord and, as can be expected, transiency rates are high. Focus on the rain forest as a school project has helped to unify students and staff and has increased student awareness of this major world issue. It has also been the vehicle for the purchase of 10 acres of rain forest!

Marshall Elementary School (Grades K-3; enrollment 600)
P.O. Box 1031, Monterey 93940
Ray Steven, Principal
Jan Snibbe, Library Media Teacher
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District

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