2009 November SEE Program

IN THE JUNGLE

This month our "SEE" program gave your children a virtual Jungle experience. We navigated our way through trees, vines, plants and discovered the most beautiful flowers. We were all surprised to learn that the jungle is full of exotic and mysterious plant life.We also discovered the temperature and climate of the jungle; the rainy seasons and the long periods of drought. Unbelievably, life survives and grows through the worst of all weather conditions.

The best part of all was the animals. Tigers, Chameleons,Parrots, Gorillas, and the Lemur were the showcased animals. Here are some fun facts your children learned.

Q. How do gorillas scare off enemies?

A. They beat on their chest and roar to frighten off animals or humans which threaten them.

Q. Can Toucans fly?

A. Toucans can fly but often just hop from tree to tree in the jungle to reach fruit.

Q. Can Tigers swim?

A. Unlike most cats, tigers like water and are very good swimmers. They will swim out to catch fish or turtles if they are hungry.

Q. How do Chameleons catch insects?

A. Chameleons have very long tongues which they can flick out to catch flies. They can do this with such speed that insects don't even get a chance to see them.

Q. Why do Lemurs have long tails?

A. Lemurs raise their tails high in the air as a warning to their enemies. Their long tail also helps them to balance as they climb trees for fruit.

At the end of the animal kingdom lesson, the children had the opportunity to play a game on the Smart Board. Each child had a turn putting different animals in their natural habitat. How could we explore all that the jungle has to offer without exposing our children to Jane Goodall? Dr. Goodall was an experienced and dedicated scientist who devoted her life to Gorillas. We saw videos and actual footage of this famous woman who worked and lived with the gorillas. We marveled at how she slept in treetops with her gorilla family, ate their food and played with them. Extraordinary! The gorillas accepted her as part of their family. As you can see, our children have been offered a very interesting and fascinating experience. I have personally enjoyed planning this lesson and I will continue to educate and teach your children with the very best subjects that are fun, interesting, and valuable.

Sincerely,