Rainforest Animal Research Report FREEBIES!

Happy almost Friday, Peeps!! Kerri here...
I know, I know! This is WAY too late for many of you who are soaking up the rays of summer (although TECHNICALLY it is not ACTUALLY summer yet according to the seasons, but that's just me, feeling bitter that y'all are out sooo much earlier than me!), but I FINALLY have my act together and am posting my Rainforest Animal Research Report goodies, that you may use, or file away, or do absolutely nothing with! I leave it up to you! :)


Step 1: I send home a letter and worksheet and the kids look up research about a rainforest animal of their choosing for homework. Obviously, you can do this for ANY animal groups that you are studying...The kidlets research at home with mom and dad and return the paper after a week. 


Step 2: We use the information that they gathered to fill out the FANTABULOUS animal graphic organizers that the girls over at Made for First Grade shared last year-click here to go to their blog post about them. These are RAD, and work perfectly!


Step 3: In my Writing Center, the kids write their research report using their graphic organizer that they have already filled out. I DO NOT do this whole group. I would probably SHOOT myself if I attempted that one. 6 kids + me is all I can handle when writing these reports out!


Step 4: I print out pictures of their animal off the internet that they can use to refer to when drawing their animal. I have them draw it with pencil, sharpie (my other best friend besides Mod Podge) over the pencil lines, and then color WITH THEIR BEST COLORING (Can you envision my gnarly furrowed brow as I threaten them within an inch of their little lives to do their best because this is for Open House, and do you want your parents to see you scribble scrabble, blah blah blah...You get the picture!)


Step 5: Using these oh-so-cool folders that were donated to my school last year (YES, I did HOARD a whole bunch of them. I have a problem...) in colorful colors, I staple their picture and the internet photo to the left, and all 3 of their writing process papers (research, graphic organizer, and final draft) to the right, slap on a snazzy cover and TADA!! They are FINISHED!! 


The kids feel SOOOO GROWN-UP after finishing these monsters, and are SUPER EXCITED to earn a Magic School Bus Goes to the Rainforest movie as a reward, while teacher collapses in a heap in her corner! (That, by the way, MOST DEFINITELY did not happen today! Nope!)


Photo time...

Covers and fun folders

 leaf-cutter ant drawing and final copy of report

 internet photo and graphic organizer

 Research homework

Isn't his little "ant-tastick" line so cute!! LOVE!

 Red-Eyed Tree Frog

I just had to show you this one. First of all, who ON EARTH names a bird "Cock of the Rock". REALLY?? Cool looking bird, HORRIBLE name. This little sweetie FORGOT 3 very important words- "of the rock".  AWKWARD!! Guess who wrote it in for her? YUP, me, whilst trying to keep a straight face as I reminded her of those 3 VERY important words that she forgot to write. 

(Note to self...maybe next year this particular bird is not a choice?? Hmmm...)

Click on the picture below to download copies of all of the above papers for the Rainforest Animal Research Reports!

I'd love to know if you find these useful! Let me know by leaving a wee little comment!!

Happy almost weekend, friends!