Objectives:

• Students will learn about different products that come from Costa Rica rainforests.
• Students will learn how the destruction of rainforest affects Costa Rica economy.
• Students will learn about the purpose and ways of deforestation of Costa Rica rainforests.
• Students will know how the deforestation negatively affects the economy of United States.
• Students will write letters to the Children's Rainforest.

Materials:

• Teacher will need:

Bananas, Mangos, and Guava Juice
Napkins, Plates, Knife, Dixie Cups
Fernando's Gift
Rainforest Music and Cd Player
Students will need:
Handbooks

1. When students are at music, get ready food by slicing mangos and pouring the guava juice.

Place a banana, slice of mango, and cup of guava juice on each desk. Also handout napkins.
2. Students will already know to expect food on their desks when they return from class morning meeting. Students will know to not eat it right away.
3. Ask students why they think I might have chose those foods to put on their desks, where they think they came from, where in Costa Rica they came from.
4. If not suggested, explain to students that these foods come from rainforests in Costa Rica. We are going to find out just how important the forest are after I read Fernando's Gift.
5. Explain to students that they will listen to me read Fernando's Gift.

1. Read the Fernando's Gift to students.
2. Ask the following questions: Why were the children upset about the loss of trees? Are the rainforest trees important to the people of Costa Rica?
3. Tell students the products that come from rainforests/ Explain the rate of deforestation and what it could mean for the country.
4. Ask students how they think the Costa Rican economy is affected by deforestation. Ask how the United States economy is also affected by deforestation in Costa Rica.
5. Ask what do you think will happen to Costa Rica is the loggers keep chopping away in Costa Rica.
6. What are ways we can help the further destruction of rainforests?

1. Have students take out handbooks and go over deforestation book with them.
2. Explain to students that they are going to have a chance to write to the Children's Rainforest in order to express their concerns and ways they believe the deforestation may be stopped.
3. Have students take out a piece of paper. Explain that they should start off by telling the Children's Rainforest that they are a class studying Costa Rica. Ask what else they should include in their letter and write their suggestions on the chalkboard.

1. Allow the remainder of time to write their letters.
2. When they are finished, they are to switch papers for proof reading with at least 2 people.
3. Give your letter to me and I will mail them as soon as possible.

1. After class discussion and listening to the story, students will be able to identify products that originate from Costa Rica. I will listen for responses of guava, pineapples, mango, bananas, coffee, wood, and rubber as answers to what are the products of Costa Rica. I will collect handbooks at the conclusion of the lesson. Students have to identify at least three products that come from Costa Rica in their books.
2. After class discussion, students will know how the deforestation affects Costa Rica economy. In student handbooks, teacher will look for answers that identify that the economy will be negatively affected. Accepted answers will be: loss of money, loss of food, loss of homes, loss of tourism, and loss of international trade.
3. After listening to story and discussion, students will know the reasons for deforestation and how the rainforest are being destructed. I will look for the different ways and purposes the rainforests are being destructed in their itinerary books.
4. After class discussion, students will know that the deforestation affects the US economy because we will lose our source of fruits, coffee, rubber, and wood. As a result, prices will rise on these items because there will not be enough. In itinerary books, teacher will look for these results as an answer to the questions of how our economy is affected by deforestation.
5. After students have discussed ways the deforestation can be prevented and their concerns, they will write letters to the Children's Rainforest.

1. Take lower achieving students out in the hall and help them write their letters to the Children's Rainforest.

1. Did students enjoy activity?
2. Did students learn about the deforestation of forests?
3. Do students understand the severity of domino effects caused by the deforestation of forests?
4. Can students generate ideas to help prevent further destruction?