Getting Started

WHERE TO BEGIN?

The Wilderness Classroom is a free, internet based, adventure learning program for 3rd to 8th grade students and teachers designed to improve students reading, writing, and critical thinking skills by engaging classrooms in live expeditions aimed at tackling real life questions.

During adventures students are able to interact with expedition members, scientists, and other classrooms from around the world as THEY run the expedition. By putting students in the drivers seat we are able to spark their desire to learn and bring the sights, sounds, and experiences of the worlds wildest places into the classroom in a whole new way.

Each learning adventure is focused around expedition updates. Through out each 6 to 8 week live adventure new photos, videos, scientific data, journal entires, podcasts, interactive polls, and other content appear every day Monday through Friday.

This Spring we will return to South America to study the Amazon Rainforest during the second stage of the Trans-America Expedition (March 31st to May 9th 2008)

We hope you will join us on what is sure to be an exciting quest for knowledge about life in the Amazon Rainforest.

Registration

Please take approximately 2 minutes to register your classroom. Registration is free, and grants you full access to all sections of our website including lesson plans, live chats with the explorers, and weekly teacher updates through out the learning adventure.

After you register and choose a username and password please download our teacher introduction, which is full of ways you can use our learning adventures with your students.

The Wilderness Classroom helps students explore the world around them, as they both ask and solve questions they encounter during online learning adventures. Students will strengthen their reading, writing, and vocabulary skills as they gain a deeper sense of cultural and environmental awareness among studens, and draw connections between their daily lives and the lives of people across the globe.

By joining our team, you can empower your students to direct a team of experts as they explore different parts of the world, which are as rich in cultural treasures as it is in plant and animal life. As students help uncover the mysteries and solve problems they will also begin to recognize how the choices they make everyday effect the world around them.

Expedition Updates

Each expedition update contains a variety of content designed to engage, educate, and motivate your students. The links below will take you to examples of the content we offer during each learning adventure.These examples are from the First stage of the Trans-Amazon Expedition in the Spring of 2007.

Notes From The Trail - Weekly journal entries and photos keep students informed and active in the adventure, improve reading comprehension, and expand their vocabulary.

Daily Dilemma - Each day the team posts a new dilemma for students to solve, the following day the team reports how they will solve the dilemma based on the suggestions they received from participating classrooms in the daily podcast. This activity is designed to help students use their higher-order thinking skills and improve their ability to communicate clearly through class discussion and written responses. Daily Dilemmas.

Daily Podcast - Every morning you can listen to our audio updates and learn how we plan to solve the daily dilemma from the previous day. You will need Flash to listen to audio updates. The podcast also includes miles traveled and weather data for students to record, graph, and analyze.

Cultural Connections - Interesting facts and profiles about the people we've met along the way will be posted every Monday and will introduce students to different cultures and improve reading comprehension.

Amazon Animals - Each day a new animal of the rainforest will be featured. Find out where it lives, what it eats, and other interesting facts. Photos included. Interest in these animals often leads to student directed research about the animals using links and resources posted at the bottom of each entry.

Video Clips - One to two minute videos uploaded from the rainforest was we travel give students unique glimpses into life in the rainforest. You will need Flash 8.0 or higher to view our videos.

Mystery Photo - Each update, students can use their investigative skills to solve a mystery. Clues are provided and responses are sent to the adventurers. Mystery Photos are a huge hit with 1st to 4th grade students. Facilitate class discussions by using an a LCD projector to view and solve the mystery as a class!

Cast Your Vote - Decide where the adventurers go and what they study by casting your vote using online polls. Encourage students to submit their reasons why they voted for a particular destination. When students understand their making decisions for the team their level interest and learning sky rocket.

Expedition Maps - Follow the journey through interactive maps that highlight geography.

CURRICULUM

Lesson Plans: Lesson Plans make it easy for you to integrate our program into your existing curriculum. To accomplish this we have developed a wide range of quick activities (most with worksheets) to use in conjunction with Notes From The Trail, Animals of the Amazon, Daily Dilemmas,Mystery Photos, and Cultural Connections. All activities are aligned to Illinois State Standards, and are designed to help students improve their performance during standardized testing. Download the 132 page Trans-Amazon Teacher's Guide for free, or order a printed copy for $15.
Rainforest Library: The Rain Forest Library contains a wealth of information for you and your students. Included are useful facts and pictures about the different animals, plants, and people who make the rainforest home. It is intended as a quick reference guide and a supplement to the information provided at the beginning of each unit.

Last Updated: July 18, 2007