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The first grade students at St. Olaf School put on a play to send the message that everyone needs to do their part to preserve the rainforest because in the last 100 years we have cut down over half of the world's rainforests.IC photo by Chris Young

BOUNTIFUL — "In the last 100 years, we have cut down over half the world’s rainforests, and scientists estimate that 42 million acres are destroyed each year," said Aimee McNabb, St. Olaf Elementary School first grade teacher.

In celebration of Earth Day, the first grade students at St. Olaf School created a rainforest and performed a play about how to preserve the rainforest for their parents April 28.

"It is my goal to teach the students we get many things from the rainforest such as various kinds of medicines, fruits, coffee, chocolate, and spices," said McNabb. "The students also learned ways of helping our earth through recycling, reusing, and reducing the amount of materials we use. They learned how precious our resources are, and that we could some day run out of these resources because they are diminishing."

The students learned we all need to be conscious about using the earth without abusing it, and they learned good habits at a young age.

In creating their rainforest the students researched and wrote reports, and presented their reports to the class. The entire school was invited to come to their rainforest fair.

"The students were excited to create a rainforest in the classroom," said McNabb. "We set up a canopy and the students brought in their stuffed animals or toys that belong in a rainforest.

McNabb said each student chose an animal on which he or she wanted to report, made their animal, and named it. They told where their animal lives, what the animal eats, and reported something special about the animal. The students talked about how the animal they chose is endangered, has a special way of defending itself, or has a funny habit or odd feature. For example, the toucan has a very large bill, but the bill is very light even though it looks heavy and awkward.

The students were concerned that some of the animals they studied in the rainforest may not be on this earth when they are in their 20s or 30s.

McNabb said even though her students are really young, having the opportunity to do research and present their projects to the class gave them public speaking practice, good study habits, and confidence in themselves. They loved sharing what they learned with others.

McNabb started the rainforest project a few years ago while student teaching in Montana, and she said it has really grown since then. She wrote the rainforest play, gathered the music, and has made it bigger and better every year.

"The play is a way for the students to learn about something outside of their world," said McNabb. "These students are only seven years old, and their world is touchable and reachable. For them to think of the world outside their home and the St. Olaf community is hard for most of them to imagine. Even when we talk about the state of Utah, it is hard for them to understand how big it is and how it exists in the United States. The rainforest project gives them an opportunity to think about something outside of where they live and of what they know."

The students also collected money to save the rainforest for a project called "The Big Gift" as an Earth Day project to save acres of the Brazilian Amazon. They brought in their loose change or the money they got from the Tooth Fairy when they lost a tooth, or money they earned doing chores such as from mowing the lawn or washing the dishes.

"The play sends the message that everyone needs to do their part to make a difference," said McNabb. "The students are so young, but they want to do everything they can to help even though they realize we are only one classroom."