Nayatt School , Barrington RI
Learn how members of the Costa Rican community collaborate to protect trees, as well as the habitats the rainforest provides for amphibians and the unique adaptations for survival in this environment, to empower K-3 students with information to inform the town’s new Tree Warden and Commissioner on the best placement of trees for the local ecosystem.
This is a picture of a tree frog that I captured in Arenal Oasis in Arenal, Costa Rica. Christiana and I went on a rainforest / frog tour night tour and it was my first time in the rainforest! Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable.
Another picture from the Arenal Rainforest Tour! A moth enjoying a lemon that the guides have placed out for them throughout.
Horseback riding through the rainforest. Truly remarkable, our horses even ran through the rivers.
One example on how Costa Rica reduces their plastic. Nothing goes to waste, everything is reused!
A photograph of a glass tree frog! An actual picture of the frog that we research in our third grade classroom!
Walking throughout the rainforest canopy, on a hanging bridge tour. We learned a lot about various trees and their purposes in their environment.
As we were touring the rainforest and canopy, we shared that a local woman saving an Oak Tree inspired us to get more involved with nature in the community. We asked the tour guide how people attempt to save trees in Costa Rica and she said they don't. The entire forest is protected so even the rotting trees that fall provide nourishment and purpose for the animals and vegetation surrounding it. There are countless ecosystems surviving from one another constantly even when one dies.
I learned that humans, animals, and plants are all connected in ways we don't even recognize. A language barrier should have prevented us from communicating with locals but we were able to spend over an hour talking and laughing with a local child who was waiting for his father to finish his work. As teachers we learned that we can reach our multilingual learners through body language, tone of voice, and proximity. Multiple conversations can be had without even one common word.
Originally we had planned to simply gain a deeper understanding of best places to plant trees and how they benefit animal ecosystems. While our canopy tour was postponed due to rainy season storms, we noticed a program for collecting plastic bottle tops to be used for zipline platforms and local school desks. This inspired us to work with our community as well and we are planning to start a school-wide recycling program.
While third grade students connect their understanding of animal adaptations around the world (including Costa Rica) to those locally, they will receive a map of local trees from the Tree Warden to locate areas ideal for animal habitats. They will use this research to inform Kindergarten students throughout the school of what animals and trees are most common in our neighborhood. Kindergartners will then vote on which tree species will be planted publicly for animals to benefit.
Through this year long plan, third graders will collaborate with the Tree Commision, school librarian, and Kindergarten students to implement a course of action that will eventually support the protection and appreciation of both trees and animals within their community.
This opportunity for deeper learning will activate their critical thinking skills, character, and creativity to allow them to become aligned with something bigger than themselves. They will be provided with a purpose within their community and will feel the impact of their research and collaboration with Kindergarten students for years to come. The decisions to plant specific trees will also be appreciated by animals, residents, and visitors.