pathfinder

 Your pathfinder

Reference sources are a good starting point to give you an introduction or refresh what you already know.

** Whats it like where you live - Biomes of the World- Rainforests **

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Look for 'where are rainforests located' in the side bar. Find out about different types of rainforests and why they occur where they do. This is a fun and colourful site that is easy to read and easily navigated. Good for a world overview of the distribution and extent of rainforests and will help you with Question1 of the assignment.

When you have done this go to an atlas in the library and see if you can find a more detailed map to find out which continents and countries rainforests are located.

** Encyclopedia Britannica International Atlas R912ENC ** is a good one because you can easily find what you need in the contents page under geographical maps.

** Wikipedia ** Go to this wikipedia site and after reading the entry consider what is said in its discussion page. Talk about your thoughts on this article on the discussion page of our wiki. How useful is this information?

 AND FROM THE LIBRARY SHELVES..........

Continue your research by investigating Australian Rainforests.

Australia's Rainforests 577.34 PYE  This is a great source of information on our own Rainforests and includes terrific maps on their distribution as well as fantastic photos. It also provides detailed explanations of the different types of rainforests in Australia and their unique characteristics. It then focuses on a case study of the Daintree Rainforest.

Spectrum: geographical perspectives on people and their environment. 919.4DOD  A textbook with units specifically about Australian Rainforests. It is a good source for learning about man's impact on the rainforest and covers land degradation, erosion, soil salinity, conservation and national parks and reserves. It also has a good glossary to explain related terms.

Our Rainforests and the Issues Q574.594MOR <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">A fantastic resource that goes into great depth on man's impact on Australian rainforests. What are the problems and what are the solutions. Find out how successful our conservation programs are.

<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Post comments on our discussion page, on what you thought of any of these books and how you have used them.

<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">How about some online research to continue your investigation of Australian Rainforests......

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">** National Parks: A Case Study - Minnamurra Rainforest ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Have a look at this video on our own Minnamurra falls - a temperate Rainforest just an hour and half drive from our school. It is part of our clickview library and can be accessed from the clickview player on your desktop or click [|here] and sign in. John Dengate, a park ranger conducts a guided tour of the Minnamurra rainforest with a group of students. They examine unusual species and discuss a variety of environmental issues: The role of parks in preserving biodiversity, A case-study of environmental management, Conflicting land use-logging, farming, & recreation, Areas at risk. How parks are dedicated.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">** NSW ecosystems on show. ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">More information on NSW rainforests can be found by going to[| Tale4students] and using the code X0HV6 to access this learning object. This is about the Dorigo rainforest. Find out where it is and its significance. There are also sections on conservation and destruction of the rainforest, which are very useful. You can also access TaLe through your student portal.

<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Do you know why Rainforests are important to us? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> ** "Forests" - A Film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand ** **(7:34)* From the United nations International year of forests conference, 2011.** @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYVml6iZYxU <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> This is a very informative site and includes a wonderful 7 minute video. Arthus-Bertrand gives a fantastic insight into the significance of our world forests, quoting current statistics and facts and some terrific aerial footage. Watch it and learn some upto date facts. It is a good place to start your research and refer back to. Note any new terms used and look them up. Click on the link then click on the video 'Forests'.

<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Let's revise and add to what we already know by exploring these two fun and informative sites -

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">** Rainforest Education ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">This site is a great introduction from someone who knows and loves rainforests. This resource has a good section for ESL students or those students that [|struggle with reading] large blocks of writing. You can even change it to a language you are more familiar with! <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">The author also has some neat puzzles to attempt after exploring the site. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">For a virtual experience of a rainforest visit and view the video collection in [|"sights and sounds"] from the top menu bar. Find out [|why rain forests are important?]The [|kids site] is well structured to find information easily from the menu.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">** Mongabay - kids ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> Visit this page in the rainforest portal to find a clear and simple statement on the importance of rainforests (question 1). This is a well designed site specifically for kids. Good source for students with lower reading levels. Follow the experiences of Mongy the frog and his life in the rainforest to get a good idea of why we need to protect and conserve rainforests.

<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Don’t forget to tell us what you think of these resources…..and for a further indepth study visit.....

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">** National Geographic ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> Some of the articles within this site are for more advanced readers. They contain current research written by experts.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">** Incubators of Life ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">You can find out about the importance of the Brazilian rainforests by visiting this [|national geographic] site.The extent and result of deforestation is discussed and the process of transpiration explained as well as what the rainforest provides us with. A reliable and trusted authority produces this site and there are plenty of articles to explore. For an indepth study [|'The Rainforest in Rio's backyard']article is very interesting and informative. Find out how Australian Eucalyptus trees are helping to preserve rainforests in Brazil.

<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Check out some of these articles to find out how Rainforests around the world are being threatened and what are the solutions. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">** Tensions soar among Bolivia's indigenous groups ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">URL: [] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">How are [|Indigenous people] and rare plants and animals being endangered? Find out where Bolivia is and its special circumstances? How are people being endangered? An authoritative article recently written to spread awareness of the plight of this unique situation.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> ** What is deforestation? ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">URL: []. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Another page of this site is about [|deforestation?] This learning object is a lesson written for Californian students. What can you learn about deforestation here? It is designed for students and easy to read with well set out facts to help you answer the assignment question on what is threatening rainforests.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> ** Mongabay recent news ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">What can be done to [|ensure the survival]of these delicate ecosystems? This page is about Ecuador and Peru. The article describes real and necessary solutions to preserving these unique areas. There is also lots of links to recent articles written about the plight of rainforests in other parts of the world.

<span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Don’t forget to refer to


 * <span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">the class mind map,
 * <span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">your ISP model and
 * <span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">The assignment requirements to help guide your research.