The tree was fashioned from a carpet roll and a plywood base, with long branches and vines made of twisted brown paper. The tree was decorated with 48 glow-in-the-dark lizards, 12 rainbow-colored butterflies, 12 whimsical snakes, 12 parrots, and eight toucans. Green paper over the lights in the lobby cast a rainforest hue.

Constructed after school hours, the tree seemed to have grown overnight to the children arriving at school the next day.

During the month of March, students added between 1,500 and 2,000 leaves to the tree.

Students enjoyed the shady branches and the rainforest hut constructed near the tree, said Mrs. Crisp. The wooden hut was made with slabs donated by Thick n’ Thin Lumber of Cedarville.

The rainforest theme took over the entire school. Teachers decorated their doors and the school halls, and students learned about the animals of the rainforest during an assembly. There was a tropical attire day, and on the final day of the reading month, everyone enjoyed chicken soup.

Mrs. Crisp said the domestic chicken originated in the rain forest, so the staff made chicken soup and served it to the student body Friday, March 25. They cooked it outside while Principal Dan Barry wore a chicken hat, much to the delight of the students. Students could eat as much soup and crackers as they wanted, and were able to eat around the tree and outside.

“We made stone soup a few years ago, and had so much fun doing it we decided to do this when we found out about the chicken in the rain forest,” Mrs. Crisp said.