Did you know that Ecuador is a world leader in the production of cocoa, which is the basis of chocolate? Environmentally friendly cocoa grows in tropical rainforests beneath the shade of the forest canopy. However, unsustainable farming methods and other types of development threaten these cocoa-producing areas.

Help students understand how responsible agricultural practices can conserve the environment surrounding cocoa farms while learning about the origins of a favorite Halloween treat: chocolate!

After learning about cocoa farming, students in the third and fourth grades invite fellow students -- and teachers -- to "trick or treat" in their classrooms, where they share their knowledge about the origin and production of chocolate and its impact on the environment. Students explain the difference between treats made from plants growing in tropical rainforests and those that come from temperate areas.

Explore other chocolaty activities in our third and fourth grade units.

Learn how your class can treat Ecuador's Chachi cocoa farmers with a Halloween fundraiser.

Did you know:

• The first hot chocolate drink was concocted as far back as 600 to 200 B.C.;
• Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, which are found on an oblong fruit commonly called a pod that grows on the cacao tree;
• The cacao tree is an evergreen that reaches to about
  15 to 25 feet at maturity;
• The fruits and flowers of the cacao tree sprout directly from its trunk;
• The Latin name for cacao is Theobroma cacao, which means "food of the gods";
• The name "chocolate" is derived from the Aztec word, xocolatl, or "bitter water";
• Like coffee, cocoa can be grown in relative harmony with the forest; and
• Historically, cocoa farms served as refuges for a wide range of animals, including howler monkeys, ocelots and parrots.

Are you still hungry for chocolate facts? Learn more about the cacao tree.

Are you looking for another reason to treat yourself to chocolate? Order Rainforest Alliance Certified chocolate that is grown in harmony with the forest and helps local economies to grow.

The Rainforest Alliance Learning Site was featured in two educational magazines: Teaching K-8 Magazine and Curriculum Review. The articles highlight the new middle school curriculum, which focuses on the environmental and socioeconomic effects of banana production in Honduras.

Find out more about the seventh and eighth grade curricula and how to make use of them in your classroom.

Looking for ways to improve your grant writing skills? Education World, an online resource designed to make the Internet more accessible to educators, is offering helpful tips on how to plan, budget and apply for grants that can provide your school with much needed resources. Check out Show Me the Money: Tips and Resources for Successful Grant Writing for tips and ideas.

Science teachers in grades K-12 are eligible to apply for the Shell Science Teaching Award, which recognizes a classroom science teacher who has had a positive impact on his or her students, school and community. The winner receives $10,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to the National Science Teachers Association's National Convention. Two runners-up receive all-expenses-paid trips to the convention. The application deadline is November 15th.

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