Student Centered Rainforest Classroom Transformation

Ever scroll through Instagram or Pinterest and wonder how teachers create those amazing classroom transformations? Me too! But here’s the truth — you don’t need fancy supplies or hours after school to make your classroom feel magical. Here’s a low prep, budget friendly, and student centered way to turn your classroom into a rainforest.

Vines

Grab a paper towel roll from your classroom. Twist a long piece and hang it from the ceiling using the tiles. Overlap a few to make it extra lush. This takes about 30 minutes max and you can even twist the paper towels during dismissal or playtime.

Leaves

Let students make the leaves. Give them green paper and let them design their own or use a simple template. Pro tip: Fold the paper in half before cutting so the leaves hang naturally. Staple two together for an even fuller look.

Forest Floor

Give students green paper and show them how to snip it to create grass. Then glue it along the bottom of your walls or cubbies to make a forest floor. Students love seeing their creations come to life at eye level.

Crafts and Writing

Each day, students will:

• Learn about a rainforest animal

• Write a short nonfiction piece about it

• Create a craft of that animal

Hang their animals in the canopy or on the forest floor. By the end of two weeks, students will have explored the four layers of the rainforest, learned about animals, and practiced nonfiction writing all while actively contributing to the classroom environment.

Want to try it yourself? My Rainforest Bundle has everything you need and more!