La Selva: The Lungs of The Earth virtual activity will aid in the awareness of socially relevant causes that occur in Latin American Rainforests. This activity will offer an understanding of the environmental perspectives of the Amazon, aid in the understanding of the dangers of deforestation through a Sloth Craftivity, and teach the ways planting trees can heal the environment.
La Selva (The Rainforest)
Step One: La Selva Introduction
Let's Warm-Up!
As a group warm-up by introducing the student(s) to the Amazon via “25 Fun Facts about the Amazon” video (Make sure to have the student(s) repeat the Spanish term La Selva for The Rainforest when introducing the rainforest).
Vocabulary List
La Selva: Rainforest
El Perezoso: The Sloth
25 Amazon Facts Video!
Step Two: Discuss La Selva (The Rainforest)
Class is in session! Please join us for Climate 101, by watching this informative video.
Next, engage with your student(s), and talk about real-world solutions that are taking place.
Finally, have fun engaging with your students(s) through these La Selva questions!
- The 3 toed sloth would live in what kind of rainforest? a Tropical rainforest (where it is hot and rains year long) or a Temperate rainforest (where it is cooler)? Ans: Tropical
- The Rainforests floor tends to be dark, why? Ans: The constant shade from the canopy’s leaves
- Why do they call the Amazon rainforest “The lungs of the Earth”? Ans: The rainforest produces 20% of the earth’s oxygen
- What is at stake globally if the deforestation in the Amazon significantly increases? Ans: The loss of oxygen and preservation of the rainforest.
- Why should we worry about the Amazon forest fire? Ans: The fires are set illegally and they are affecting the air we breath.
- Once a species of plant or animal is destroyed it becomes? Ans: Extinct
- What would you do to save the rainforest from being polluted or destroyed? Ans: Plant a tree, Recycle, Plant a tree, Help Spread awareness.
- Why are creating conservation areas and indigenous parks important as strategies to reduceAmazonian deforestation? Ans: Because it helps preserve and save the rainforest
Step Three: La Selva Sloth Craftivity
- Print the sloth templates and use scissors to cut out (bottom of page). Trace the templates onto construction paper and cut out.
- Glue the claws onto the hands and feet. Allow to dry.
- Glue on the face, then the nose and eyes. Allow to dry.
- Add colour around the face to blend the edges. Then using a black marker or pastel add facial features to your sloth. (Eyes, nose, mouth).
- Carefully insert paper fasteners into the arms of the sloth. (hole-puncher may be useful for this step) Then add each arm to either side of the body.
- Secure the arms to the body by splitting the paper fastener at the back.
- Using green construction paper, draw and cut out an assortment of leaves (4 minimum) to hang on the green yarn at the sides of the sloth.
- Create a hole at the base of the leaves using a paper fastener. (2 leaves per paper fastener).
- Finally cut a long piece of green yarn (12-18 inches) for your sloth and leaves to hang on.
- Your sloth is now ready to hang around!
Need help with the lesson, watch Mr. Arthur explain how to complete La Selvas Craftivity!
Supplies List
- Paper (For the Warm-Up Activity)
- Chalk/Dry-Erase Marker/Marker
- Markers/Colored pencils/Oil pastels
- Sloth Template (Printable pdf below)
- Paper Fasteners
- Scissors
- Glue (Preferably Glue Stick)
- Brown and Green Construction paper
- Googly Eyes (Optional)
- Hole-Puncher (Optional)
Supplemental Reading: Online scanned format of “The Great Kapok Tree” by Lynee Cherry
Make an Origami Paper Frog!
Supplemental La Selva Videos!
Curriculum Created by Arthur Moreno, ESB-MACC Arts Instructor