The program begins with a look at a tropical rainforest and a coral reef. Students are chosen from the audience to help show the different layers of a rainforest as a rainforest tree is built on stage. A coral reef is also built on stage and the two unique ecosystems are compared. Other students assistants demonstrate and model the different specialized equipment used to explore and study each ecosystem.
After the demonstrations, undersea explorers, Wayne and Karen Brown, take your students on their exciting adventure, via a fascinating multi-image slide presentation, to the Central American country of Belize to investigate tropical rainforests and coral reefs.
The expedition begins when your students are invited to join Wayne and Karen in a lodge deep in the tropical rainforest in Belize. Your students learn about this unique ecosystem as we hike deeper into the forest. As students see the diversity of this ecosystem they learn about the special relationships between different creatures and the rainforest environment.
Deep in the forest we find a link from this rainforest to the sea, a jungle river! We float down this jungle river into a dark and mysterious cave. Inside we find furry bats and spindlely spiders and the ancient remains of ancient Mayan sacrifices.
Exiting the cave we follow the river to the sea. Along the way we find some reptiles, such as cute iguanas and scary crocodiles. Where the river meets the Caribbean Sea we board our expedition boat where your students meet the captain and divemaster.
As they accompany Wayne and Karen on a scuba dive, your students see the incredible diversity of life on the second largest barrier coral reef on earth. We see a fascinating variety of marine creatures big and small, from the most docile to the most dangerous. As students see the diversity of this ecosystem they learn about the special relationships between different creatures and the coral reef environment. They also learn how some fishes protect themselves from predators and search for food.
After the multi-image presentation, your students are shown surprising examples of some of their favorite foods that are from tropical rainforests. As time allows, at the end of the presentation a brief time is set aside for a questions and answers.
If you would like to learn more about tropical rainforests and coral reefs visit our past Internet Expedition. Click on this link to dive into adventure...
