Kindergarten Explores the Wonders of the Rainforest

This spring, Kate Moen’s Kindergarten class embarked on a vibrant, two-month exploration of the Rainforest, guided by a single, powerful question: “What Rainforest animal, plant, or topic do you want to learn about?”

This inquiry-based project allowed students to follow their natural curiosities. Each lesson was inspired by a student’s chosen subject—for example, “Today we’re learning about Cece’s animal... the parrot!” Together, the class would read about the topic, write about it, and create a representation to add to their growing, wall-sized Rainforest mural displayed in the hallway.

Students documented their learning in personal Rainforest Journals, capturing each subject with a scientific illustration and three structured sentences: one about what the animal or plant is, one about what it can do, and one about what it has. This process encouraged both scientific thinking and early literacy development.

Over the years, class favorites have included cassowaries, piranhas, and cocoa beans—especially when students discovered how cocoa is transformed into chocolate! The project naturally evolved into a deeper conversation about Rainforest conservation, leading to the Kindergarten Persuasive Writing unit. In this phase, students each wrote a letter to a company that uses palm oil, encouraging more environmentally friendly practices.

This year’s Rainforest mural featured an impressive variety of flora and fauna, including:

• Toucan
• Rafflesia (a carnivorous flower)
• Jaguar
• Macaw
• Pink River Dolphin
• Cassowary
• Cocoa Bean
• Green Tree Python
• Sloth
• Blue Morpho Butterfly
• Spider Monkey
• Caiman

First graders could be heard in the hallway exclaiming, “I remember doing this!” The Rainforest project remains a beloved Kindergarten tradition—one that blends curiosity, creativity, advocacy, and awe.