UFT Teacher Parent Connection

Integrating the Internet,
Science and Reading

"Which Internet sites can best support our children's learning?" This question is often asked by both parents and educators.

One right answer is the Rainforest Alliance Web site (www.rainforest-alliance.org). When using this site children can:

Read and view.
Learn more about science, society and the global environment.
Conduct searches for additional information, including Web sites.

For Kids and Teachers	The Rainforest Alliance Web site devotes lots of space to a section it calls "Kids and Teachers." Complex issues are presented simply here but not oversimplified. Young surfers have many choices—"Online Rainforest Stories," "The Frog Pond," "Tropical Coloring Book," "School of Amazon Painting," "Rainforest Activities" and "Resources for Kids." Educators and parents can also benefit from an entire section called "Learning Site." "Kids and Teachers" and "Learning Site" are both accessible from the main page. The whole site is a primary source, stocked with information to be viewed, read and absorbed. One example is the coloring book, whose pages can be downloaded for younger viewers to color in; it can be used as well by older children who are illustrating a tropical bird project or report. The site is also a gateway—to other Web sites from around the globe, illustrating the alliance's mission to build global citizenship. Click on "Resources for Kids" in the "Kids and Teachers" section. Or click on "Links" on the main page. And rainforest-alliance.org is definitely child friendly. For example, the Web sites listed in "Links" are coded with frog symbols if they are suitable for children.

Include Geography	One recommendation to enable students to learn global geography and to better visualize the locations in the world to which they are cyber-traveling is to show them how to download maps. They can refer to these as they read and search. Click on "Adopt-a-Rainforest" on the main page, pick a project, click on it and you will find a map. Under these maps are links for more detailed maps available through Encarta. The Rainforest Alliance site has won many awards (including approval by Nana Ellen as a "Kid Safe Site"). Go there to see why!

About the Rainforest Alliance	This statement and much more information about the alliance can be read by clicking on "About Us" on the site's main page: "The Rainforest Alliance is a leading international conservation organization. Our mission is to protect ecosystems and the people and wildlife that live within them by implementing better business practices for biodiversity conservation and sustainability. Companies, cooperatives, and landowners that participate in our programs meet rigorous standards for protecting the environment, wildlife, workers, and local communities. The Rainforest Alliance is based in New York City, with offices throughout the United States and worldwide" (March 2006).

For more information about the UFT Parent/Community Outreach Committee,
call Betty Zohar at (718) 722-6900 or you can send her an email: bzohar@uft.org.

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