South American Entry for Highland Elementary in CO.

Hola Highland Elementary in Littleton!

Greetings from Ecuador in South America.  It has been a special journey so far, one where I have learned a great deal about the indigenous people and places.

It's really great to share this journey with you and I am looking forward to answering your questions.

This is me on the front of the canoe going down the Bobonaza River in Ecuador, which eventually connects to the mighty Amazon river.

Would you like to be in the canoe with me?  

In case you are wondering, I still don't swim well, but you never let your fear stop you, remember!

Cheers,

Dean

ps I was chatting with Mrs Tharp today right before heading out for lunch.  I promised to take a photo of my plate so you could see what's for lunch!  At the moment I go every day to the local market where you can find food stalls and all kinds of yummy foods!

Any guesses as to how much lunch was?  This is fresh fish from the Pacific Ocean.

 

 Would you like to see a flock of these guys in the Amazon?

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Randy]

Hi DeanJacobs

This is Randy Stall from Denver

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Thaddeus,
I hope you get to see a capybara in the wild one day to!
Keep up the good work at school!

Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

That's cool Jolie!
Keep reading!

I spent Thanksgiving with friends. For Christmas all I want is a good laugh! I'll probably find a nice church and go light a candle to express my gratitude.

The Amazon holds the promise of adventure. Life is short, so we never want to miss out on opportunities to grow and learn.

Happy Holidays!
Dean

[Jolie]

Hi Dean,

I LOVE HARRY POTTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HARRY POTTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!RON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your Friend,
JOLIE

[Thaddeus]

dear Mr. Jacobs
Big Bug. I think that the big bug is a type of beetle also. I've never seen a capybara but I'd love to see one in the wild not in a zoo. Your friend,
Thaddeus

[Jolie]

Hi Mr.Jacobs,
I would want to see the Amazon if you would show me where to go.
Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?
What do you want for Christmas?
Do you like it in the Amazon?
Do you like Harry Potter?
Ron's the best!!!
What do you like to do in the Amazon?

Your Friend,
Jolie

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Maddie,
Thank you for the posting on my blog. Yes, hunting in the forest can be very hard at times, that’s why they have to be so good, it might be their only chance.
I’ve never eaten monkey, and would prefer not to, but if it’s the only thing to eat, then I will.
Would you like to see the Amazon River one day?
Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

HI Dawson,
Thank you for posting on my blog. No, I haven’t seen or had a monkey frog jump on my face, at least not yet. That would be fun!
I’ve seen monkeys and lots of birds and insects.
Would you like to see the Amazon River one day?
Cheers,
Dean

[Dawson]

Dear Mr. Jacobs,
I am a kid from the Wednesday Amazon class. We are learning about the Amazon. Did you know that monkey frogs can walk with four legs? Has a monkey frog ever jumped on your face? Thank you for answering these questions.
Sincerely,
Dawson

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Steven,

Thank you for the posting on my blog. I’m on my way to see where the Amazon River starts in the mountains of Peru. From there I will follow it to Brazil. In the mountains it is actually cool, 40-50 degrees, as I get closer to the rainforest, it will get warm and humid.
Would you like to see the Amazon River one day?

Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Ashley,
Thank you for the posting on my blog! No, I haven’t seen or had a monkey frog jump on my face, at least not yet. That would be fun!
I’ve seen monkeys and lots of birds and insects. I’m hoping to have a chance to see all those other animals!
Do you want to see the Amazon River one day?
Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Winnie,
Thank you for the posting on my blog. The width of the Amazon changes as it gets closer to the ocean. It can be anywhere from 2-3 miles wide up to 200 miles wide as is enters the Atlantic ocean! No, I haven’t had a monkey frog jump on my face, at least not yet. I haven’t seen to many fish yet, but I plan to. I haven’t seen a sloth yet either let’s hope I do!
Would you like to see the Amazon River one day?
Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Quinten,
Thank you for the post on my blog! Please say hello to Mrs. K-T for me!
The width of the Amazon changes as it gets closer to the ocean. It can be anywhere from 2-3 miles wide up to 200 miles wide as is enters the Atlantic ocean! No, I haven’t had a monkey frog jump on my face, at least not yet. Hunting is a very important way for the Indians to get food.
So far I have explored the upper part of the Amazon Basin in Ecuador. The next place to explore is Peru where it starts up in the mountains. I guess they like to have pets just like we do. Do you have a pet at home?
Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Jahliel,
Thank you for the posting on my blog.
I was in the Amazon rain forest when I took that photo of the ant. Did you like it?
The ant was checking me out to see what I was going to do!
Happy to have you along for the journey!
Would you like to see the Amazon River one day?
Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Jesse,
Thank you for the posting on my blog.
The Amazon is almost 4,000 miles long! There is some debate around the exact distance. No, I haven’t had a monkey frog jump on my face, at least not yet. I got to visit some of the Indians that live in the Amazon rain forest, pretty cool huh?
Would you like to see the Amazon River one day?
Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Abigail,
Thank you for the posting on my blog.
I love animals too, especially those in the wild. Thank you for the kind words, they are sincerely appreciated.
Monkeys can get really big. The spider monkey I saw in the Amazon can average 24 lbs.
I think the depth of the water when I was riding in the canoe was probably 20-30 feet deep. That’s a guess.
Would you like to ride on the tip of a canoe one day in South America?
Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Charlie,
Thank you for the posting on my blog!
The health of the Amazon basin is very important, because it effects the whole world with the volume of oxygen the Amazon Rainforest produces. I’m here to learn as much as I can about the Amazon basin and river, to allow me to teach young people about how cool it is.
Would you like to see the Amazon River one day?
Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi John,
Thank you for the posting on my blog.
The width of the Amazon changes as it gets closer to the ocean. It can be anywhere from 2-3 miles wide up to 200 miles wide as is enters the Atlantic ocean!
I haven’t seen a monkey frog yet, but hope to!
No rattlesnakes here, they like drier climate. Happy to have you along for the journey John! Do you want to see the Amazon River one day?

Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Sawyer,
Thank you for the posting on my blog.
I did see Spider Monkeys climbing through the trees as we floated down the river. Monkeys can get big, depending on what kind it is. A spider monkey’s average weight is 24 lbs.
Would like to see a spider monkey in the wild one day?
Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Thaddeus!
Thank you for the posting on my blog.
You have been a steady companion on my journeys! Thank you!
Yes, big bug! It was big wasn’t it??? ☺ Some kind of beetle, I think. I haven’t seen a monkey frog yet, but would love to!
The same goes with a tree sloth.
My favorite snake would be the anaconda in the Amazon. I think the Capybara’s are pretty cute, they are the biggest rodent in the world and are related to guinea pigs.
Would you like to see the Amazon River one day?
Cheers,
Dean

[Dean Jacobs]

Hi Jolié,
Thank you for the posting on my blog. Please say hello to Mrs. Brown for me!
I haven’t seen a monkey frog yet, but would love to! I’ve only seen some kind of tree frog, but have listened to many in the night!
How deep is the Amazon is a tricky question, it depends on where you measure it. I read that it can get up to 300 feet deep, wowza, that’s the length of a football field!
Would you like to see the Amazon River one day?

Cheers,
Dean

[Ashley]

Dear Mr. Jacobs,
I am a 3red grade student at Highland Elementary.We are learning about the Amazon Basin.I learned that monkey frogs can walk like a monkey.Have you seen a monkey frog yet?If you have,did it jump on your face?Also,did you see a mana-mana because they are huge!Last,did you see a three toed sloth? You can tell because they have a yellow stripe on their back.
Thank you for teaching us so much!
Sincerely,
Ashley

[Winnie]

Dear Mr. Jacobs,
I'm a 3rd grader here in the Amazon class we are learning about the Basin. The basin is as big as the 48 states. Do you know how wide the it is? Did you know Monkey Frogs walk like a monkey. Has a Monkey Frog ever jumped on your own face? Pirarucas are going extinct. Have you ever seen one there yet? It is a kind of fish. Sloths have strong claws. Have you seen a sloth's back? Thank you Mr. Jacobs!
Your friend,
Winnie

[Quinten]

Dear Mr.Jacobs,
I am in 3rd grade. My Teacher is Mrs.K-T. We are learning about the Amazon basin. We learned that the basin is as long as the 48 states. How wide is the Amazon basin? Has a monkey frog ever jumped on your face? Monkey frogs walk on their fists like monkeys. Most Indians go out into the forest to hunt and are out there for either 3 or 4 days at the most and sometimes come back with nothing. That's probably very frustrating. What part of the Amazon Basin are you going to explore? How do the Indians know how to call to the monkeys? Why do the Indians kill a creature's mother and keep its baby for a pet?
Sincerely,
Quinten

[jahliel]

Dear Mr. Jacobs,
I am a student at Highland Elementary. I am learning about the Amazon. I learned there are a lot of animals that live there. One of them is the red-faced monkey. People are hunting them to eat. I saw your picture of the ant. Where were you when you took the picture? What was the ant doing? Thank you for coming to Highland this year.
sincerely,
Jahliel