Activity 12 - Rainforest Guided Walk

Focus
Students create a multimedia interpretative guide for a short rainforest walk.

Background
Students use their knowledge of rainforest features, food webs and other plant/animal relationships to produce an interpretive guide for rainforest walk. There are many suitable walks within easy access of the Environmental Education Centres at Paluma (near Townsville); Daradgee (near Innisfail); Holloway’s Beach (near Cairns) and Tinaroo (on the Atherton Tableland). There are many local parks such as Botanic Gardens, National Parks and Conservation Parks that may be suitable venues. Permits may be necessary in some instances.

You may wish to review the following video segments which highlight rainforest features and cycles before the field trip:

• Our Tropical Rainforest
• Rainforest Features
• The Water Cycle
• Photosynthesis: the Energy Cycle

The following fact sheets may also provide useful reading for students:
• Canopy Fact Sheet
• Climbing Strategies
• Climax and Pioneer Plants
• Leaf Shapes.

Pedagogy/teaching strategies
Class Excursion

Activity sequence
1. Students develop a code of behaviour before the field trip:
• How should I move around the study area to protect animal homes and plant life?
• How should I work with my classmates?
• How should I care for my own and other’s property?
2. Review information from previous activities such as rainforest features, food webs and plant-animal relationships.
3. On the field trip, each group of three students is designated a 20 metre section of rainforest track. Students select about six interpretive features and mark with numbered signs. Students use video or still digital cameras to record.htmlects of their interpretative features.
4. Back at school, edit photo material and interpretative notes to create an electronic presentation of the rainforest guided walk.

Assessment opportunities
See Multimedia Presentation Assessment Unit 1 for suggested guidelines.