Thematic Unit: Rainforest

Lynsey Fultz
School of Education Geneva College
EDU 251 Integrating the Arts
October 10, 2022
Name: Lynsey Fultz
Date: 10/10/2022

Unit Title: Rainforest

Grade level: 1st grade

Broad Unit Understandings/ Goals

Students will understand that a rainforest is a habit for animals, diverse types of animals that live in the
rainforest, and the rainforest can provide many different resources for us.

1) Unit Questions:
- What do you think about the rainforest?
- What types of animals live in the rainforests?
- Have you ever seen or watched a movie that had a rainforest in them?
- Have you ever seen any animals that live in a rainforest, in a zoo or in the wild?
2) State/ Common Core Standards (obtained from PDESAS):
Standard- 16.1.1.D1: describe the effect of goal setting on self and others
Standard- 16.2.1.B1: recognize and tolerate the uniqueness of all people in all situations.
Standard- AL 2.1.A1: complete a task, despite interruptions or classroom disruptions
3) Learning Objectives:
1. To teach the students that there is more to the world than just what is right here.
2. To teach the students about unfamiliar cultures and how they vary from our own.
3. To instruct students about different animals that they might not ever have seen before.
4) Description of Unit: The thematic unit which I chose to use in my 1 st grade class will go over
what a rainforest is, what kind of animals live there, and how the people that live in the
rainforest and what the culture for them is like. The three Common Core Standard listed above
will be able to demonstrate how the students will act in the classroom. Also, with these
standards the students should be able to show that they can treat each other fairly.
5) Introduction: The rainforest is something important for 1 st grade to know because it can teach
them about different plants that in American the students would not get see not. Also, they can
learn about different animals that they might not get to see in the wild. This thematic unit will
instruct the students about a different culture that they might not get to experience any other
time.

Some activities that the students will have to demonstrate fine motor skills with coloring and cutting
but also there will be gross motor skills that are more of a play-base activities like dancing or like a
physical education class. There will be activities that can develop their imagination. For example, with
the ABC flip book which they have the choice of what color they wanted to color the animals and the
letters of the ABCs which works on the kids' fine motor.

The theme of rainforest helps kids see the world without having to leave the classroom because
seeing the world is important in many ways. For example, it will give the students a chance to explore
another culture and see different things than what they might ever get to see again.

You must choose three items from the categories listed below:

Visual Art idea: Students can listen to the teacher read a book about butterflies. Once done with
reading the book about butterflies the students can ask a question they might have about
butterflies. I can have the kids go through the life cycle of a butterfly by drawing it and using varied
materials to make the life cycle of the butterflies. Another activity I can have them do is cut up
construction paper and have the butterflies premade, so all the kids must do is glue the pieces of
paper onto the wings of the butterflies.

Field trip: For a day I can take the class to the zoo so the kids can relate what they are learning
about in class to real life and see the animals we are talking about in class. This can help the
students relate something they learn in class to something that they can see in real life.

Timeline: I can have the kids make a timeline of how the rainforest came to be and events that
happened in the rainforest like deforestation and how we must be cautious about the rainforest
because if people keep cutting down trees there will be no rainforest for their children to learn
about.

Additional Standards and Assessment:

9.1 V 1.A: Know and use basic elements of visual arts.

This standard can be used for students to participate in making a visual to then connect it to the
lesson that is being learned by the class to show the teacher that they have a good grasp on the
material that is being taught to them. The students should also be able to demonstrate an
understanding of different shapes and varied materials used to create that visual aid for them.

2.1 1. B.1: extend the counting sequence to read and write numerals to represent objects.

As a teacher I can use this standard to make sure that my students have a clear understanding of
counting to higher numbers with the math lessons but also being able to write those numbers
correctly as well. To go along with my students showing me how to count to higher numbers but
also be able to show me that the students can read the numbers as well.

1.5 1. A: participate in collaborative conversations with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

This is a standard that my students should be able to demonstrate if they cannot demonstrate
working well in groups then I would not be able to assign them group projects, but they will need to
learn how to work in group projects because they will have to be able to work in groups all
throughout life so it is a skill they will need to learn now to be able to demonstrate that they
understand what it means to work as a team.
Thematic Graphic Plan
Reading:
A Color of His Own by Leo
Leonni.
The Rainforest ABC by
Lasharra Figueroa
If I ran the Rainforest: Dr.
Suess
Social Studies:
History of the rainforest
Timeline of animals and
ones that are becoming
extinct.
P.E./ Movement:
Salamander Yoga
Rescue the rainforest
animal
Writing:
Stories about rainforests
Stories about rainforest
areas
Would you rather question
and then write a few
sentences or draw a picture
Theme: Rainforest
Art:
Stain glass butterflies
Tin Foil Toucan
Make Binoculars
Science:
Layers of the rainforest
The weather and climate of
the rainforest.
Math:
Monkey Math
Block Pattern Snake
Music:
10 silly monkeys
Layers of the rainforest
 Reference Page

Early learning standards. Department of Education. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2022, from
https://www.education.pa.gov/Early%20Learning/Early%20Learning%20Standards/Pages/default.aspx

Leonni, L. (1975). Seine eigene Farbe (color of his own, Deutsch). Leo Leonni. dt. Von Ernst Jandl.
Amazon. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://www.amazon.com/Color-His-Own-Leo-
Lionni/dp/0375810919

Amazon.com: The Rainforest ABC eBook: Figueroa, Lasharra: Kindle Store. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24,
2022, from https://www.amazon.com/Rainforest-ABC-LaSharra-Figueroa-ebook/dp/B094G8S2JH

Worth, B., & Ruiz, A. (2003). The cat in the Hat's learning library: If I ran the rain forest. Amazon.
Retrieved October 24, 2022, from
https://www.amazon.com/If-Ran-Rain-Forest-Tropical/dp/0375810978/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?
crid=1U98Z9IKVOFR8&keywords=if%2Bi%2Bran%2Bthe%2Brainforest%2Bdr
%2Bseuss&qid=1666622713&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjIwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4yMSIsInFzcCI6IjAuMzUifQ%3D
%3D&sprefix=if%2Bi%2Bran%2Bthe%2Brain%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Kaitlen. (2021, September 20). Easy and fun DIY Spring butterfly suncatcher craft. Simple Mom Project.
Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://simplemomproject.com/butterfly-suncatcher/

YouTube. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/results?

search_query=salamander%2Byoga

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