At-Academy Activity: Rainforest Necklace Scavenger Hunt

Through this scavenger hunt, students will learn that plants and animals depend on one another for survival and reproduction, such as through pollination and seed dispersal. Students will also learn that a rainforest has distinct layers, with life specially adapted to each layer.

Through this scavenger hunt, students will:

1. Learn that plants and animals depend on one another for survival and reproduction.
2. Learn that animals can aid a plant’s reproduction through pollination and seed dispersal.
3. Learn that a rainforest has distinct layers, with life specially adapted to each layer.

• Rainforest Scavenger Hunt Necklace (1 per student)
• Rainforest Scavenger Hunt Answer Key (1 for teacher; included in this document)
• scissors
• yarn (~38” piece per student)
• hole puncher

Preparation

1. Print and copy a Rainforest Scavenger Hunt Necklace (2-sided) for each student.
2. Cut along all dotted lines; this will create 6 foldable tabs on each side of the necklace.
3. Hole-punch the brown circle underneath the words “forest floor”.
4. String a piece of yarn (~38”) through the hole to create a necklace.
5. You may wish to laminate these if you want to use them in subsequent years.

 Before the Scavenger Hunt

1. Depending on students’ prior knowledge of a flowering plant’s life cycle, you may want to review the following concepts: the functions of a flower, pollinator, fruit, and seed disperser.  You may also want to review the concept of adaptations. 
2. Assign students a partner to travel with through the exhibit. 
3. Tell students they will start from the bottom of the page (forest floor) because that is where they will enter the exhibit.  Once they find one of the plants or animals pictured on the page, they may fold back that tab and discuss the question with their partner.
4. Some of the answers will be featured prominently on graphics within the exhibit.  Other answers will require the students to reason. 
5. We made this scavenger hunt a “necklace” because it can be hung around the neck and does not require a pen or pencil. The California Academy of Sciences strongly discourages the use of pencils and loose papers inside the Rainforest Bolla Exhibit.  Several pencils have been found in the aquarium below. 
6. To make sure students take the hunt seriously, let them know that the class will be discussing their answers afterwards.  Either at the museum or back in class, use the Rainforest Necklace Scavenger Hunt Answer Key below to discuss each question.

Wrap-Up: Discussion Questions

After students have had a chance to explore the rainforest and complete scavenger hunt, ask questions such as:

• Which plants depend on animals? 
• Which animals depend on plants? 
• What do they depend on each other for?
• Which animals are pollinators?  Which are seed dispersers?

What are some adaptations (structures or behaviors that help an organism survive in its habitat) the plants and animals have?
 

Grade Three

Life Sciences

• 3a. Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

Grade Four

Life Sciences

• 3a. Students know many plants depend on animals for pollination and seed dispersal, and animals depend on plants for food and shelter.

Grade Six

Ecology (Life Sciences)

• 5c. Students know populations of organisms can be categorized by the functions they serve in an ecosystem.