Learn about Sumatra, part of Indonesia and home to one of the oldest rain forests on earth. Sumatra has so many fascinating plants and animals that it would be an excellent subject for a class Big Book on flora and fauna. Study together about the basics of the Sumatran rain forest, and then divide students into small groups to learn about their choice of animals or plants. Have each group create a page showing their chosen animal or plant with the facts they’ve learned.
Unfortunately, many Sumatran animals are endangered, including the orangutan, the Sumatran tiger, and the Sumatran rhino. Learn what it means to say that an animal is endangered, and create posters to increase awareness of endangered animals.
Online resources:
- Lonely Planet has a map of Sumatra.
- Visit the Sumatran rainforest on Google maps to see photos and information.
- A nice traditional article on Southeast Asian rainforests makes a good reading assignment for older students. There are photos, maps, and references, as well as additional articles on plants and animals found in the Southeast Asian rain forests.
- Learn about tigers, an animal found in Sumatra, with our Tiger Lessson Plans.
- Learn about orangutans from National Geographic.
- Try shadow puppets, a traditional Indonesian art form.
Books
- Enjoy The Twenty-One Balloons, an entirely fictional story set in the rainforest near Sumatra.
- Emi and the Rhino Scientist tells about Sumatran rhinos (they have great animals in Sumatra).
- Indonesia In Pictures
