1. The Great Kapok Tree By Lynne Cherry
The Little Read
The Great Kapok Tree
By Lynne Cherry
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2. The Little Read
The Little Read is an elementary education community-wide reading initiative of L-R University’s Visiting Writers Series “In Their Own Words.”
“It is designed to provide quality literature for classroom use and to involve in meaningful ways parents and other community members in the educational process.”
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3. Our Book Study for 2012….
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4. Meet Author Lynne Cherry
Lynne Cherry is the author and/or illustrator of over 30 books for children.
She uses books to teach children to respect the earth.
She wants to show children they can make a difference, if they feel strongly about something, they can change the world!
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5. Her Education
Lynne earned her Bachelors degree at Tyler School of Art in Pennsylvania and her Masters degree in History at Yale University in Connecticut.
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6. What She Enjoys
Lynne is an environmental activist who wants to help save the land, clean up rivers, save the forests, and help migratory birds.
Her books were inspired by her love of nature.
She enjoys canoeing and hiking.
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7. Other Interesting Facts
She wrote the first draft of The Great Kapok Tree on an Amtrak train from New Haven, Connecticut to Washington, DC!
Ever wonder how she creates her books?
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8. Let’s Learn More!
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9. Where is the Amazon Rain Forest?
Setting
Where is the Amazon Rain Forest?
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10. Rain Forest Facts
The Amazon Rain Forest is the LARGEST Tropical Rain Forest in the world
It covers 2 million square miles (3% of all land in the world and is about the size of Texas…..NINE TIMES)
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11. Rain Forest Facts Average Rainfall is 60-175 inches a year
Average Temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit
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12. Rain Forest Facts
The Amazon Rain Forest is home to about 2.5 million insect species, 40 thousand types of plants, and some 2,000 species of mammals.
The Amazon Rain Forest is always hot so everything grows, and grows, and grows!
20% of the world’s oxygen is created in the Rain Forest giving it the nickname “The Lungs of the World”
20%
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13. The Kapok Tree This tree grows 200-230 feet tall
Lets Measure it! Compare it!
It has a very substantial trunk up to 10 feet in diameter with “buttresses”.
The leaves are in groups of 5 - 9, and are about 8 inches long.
The trees produce several hundred 6 inch seed pods. The fiber inside is light and very resistant to water and can be used in lifejackets, stuffing of teddy bears, pillows, mattresses and insulation.
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14. Rain Forest Layers
Emergent – trees can reach 200+ feet and withstand tough weather
Canopy – two levels
Upper
Trees grow from feet and form a closed roof
Always sunny with lots of light, the top of the rain forest
Trees have smaller leaves
Lower
Richest level of animals and plants
Trees have larger leaves
Lots of beautiful flowers
Nocturnal animals
Understory – from forest floor to 80 feet
Darkness, Silent and humid
Hanging vines, shrubs and small trees
Leaves are long and thin with “drip tips”
Forest Floor-
limited plant growth
1-2% of sunlight reaches through
Poor soil with no deep roots
Molds and fungus grow
Middle Layer
Shrub Layer
Herb Layer
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15. Are you ready to read YOUR book??
Let’s enjoy great some literature!
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16. A Moose 2012

17. Want to know more about these Amazon Rain Forest Animals? Research them!
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18. Animals found in the Amazon Rain Forest
Emerald Tree Boa
Tree Frog
Three-Toed Sloth
Urania Butterfly
Tree Porcupine
Tapir
Giant Anteater
Vindula Arsinoe Butterfuly
Hoatzin
Amazonian Katydid
Poison Arrow Frog
Chestnut-capped Puffbird
Parakeet
Blue Morpho Butterfly
Brazilian Tree Frog
Toucan
Scarlet Macaw
Bees
Scamander
Coati
Ocelot
Hamadryas Arinome Butterfly
Red-legged Honey Creeper
Papilio Androgeus Butterfly
Violet-tailed Sylph
Kinkajou
Siproeta Stelenes Butterfly
Iguana
Woolly Monkey
Moustached Tamarin
Silky Anteater
Boa Constrictor
Anteater
Anteos Menippe Butterfly
Jaguar
Parrot
Squirrel Monkey
Golden Tanager
Red-necked Tanager
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19. Test Your Amazon Rain Forest Knowledge
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20. So what was the Author’s Purpose?
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21. How Can YOU Help the Amazon Rain Forest?
Art & Writing Contest
Due: Friday March 16th
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22. The Little Read Writing and Art Contest The Great Kapok Tree
Writing Contest
*Each second grade student can submit one written piece based on Lynne Cherry’s book The Great Kapok Tree.
*Pieces may be in the form of a poem, descriptive essay, log entry, or any other written genre of the author’s choice using nature as the theme.
*The winning pieces should be in the student’s handwriting and may be cursive or print.
Illustration Contest
*Second grade students can submit one piece of visual art based on the book The Great Kapok Tree. * All submissions should be the original work of the student and should address a nature theme.
*All artwork should be no larger than an 8 ½ X 11 sheet of paper.
*Students may use media of their choice. (For example, colored pencils, chalk, paint, crayons, etc.)
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