Introduce information to students on how the Amazonian biome produces a healthy planet. Elementary and middle school students can study how the snow melt in the Peruvian Andes affects the salinity of the Atlantic oceans and how annual flooding maintains a fertile environment for plants and animals. Have students explore what scientists believe will result if current levels of slash and burn continue to deplete the rainforest. Focus on the number of plant and animal species that will become extinct and how global weather could change.
Indigenous rainforest people have harvested plants that sustain their culture. Have middle school students explore what crops these societies harvest and how they live in harmony with the rainforest. Examine how agriculturists from other parts of the world can help improve the fertility of the rainforest floor to allow indigenous people to improve their harvests. Create a terrarium or greenhouse environment with rainforest conditions to test agricultural improvements. Target plants for the terrarium or greenhouse that could adapt to other biomes, and examine their value to the market. Explore what plants can only live in rainforest conditions and need preservation.
Indigenous tribal healers use many plants in the rainforest to treat illnesses and health conditions. Medical research has explored a small percentage of the plants used by the healers to determine which plants could hold cures for many of the illnesses that plague humanity. Have elementary and middle school students explore the culture of the native healer and the traditions they pass down through apprenticeship-type learning. Groups of students can take known healing plants and examine how native healers use them.
Provide students with the names of government officials and rainforest preservation groups. Encourage elementary students to participate in letter-writing campaigns to support preservation of the rainforest. Students could engage in preservation and recycling fundraisers and contribute the funds to organizations making a difference in the rainforest. Students could publish articles about their rainforest projects to encourage others to champion reforesting the rainforest lands and halt further destruction. Invite local newspaper columnists or area television or radio personnel to interview the students about their projects and raise awareness.