Our final focus for this term: Rainforests

This week, we are going to learn about one of the most remarkable habitats on Planet Earth - the rainforest.  Rainforests cover about 6 percent of the Earth’s surface but are home to over half of the world’s species of plants and animals. 

Layers of the Rainforest

What are the layers of the rainforest?

Although the rainforest is one large eco-system, the different spaces within it have their own characteristics and are home to specific species of wildlife. The four layers of the rainforest are as follows: 

• Emergent Layer - The uppermost layer (the treetops).
• Canopy layer - A middle layer of closely growing tree branches and leaves. 
• Understory - Made up of smaller trees, plants, and shrubbery beneath the canopy layer.
• Forest floor - The ground level of the rainforest, home to large mammals not suited to climbing.

Task: Have a go at designing your own multi-layer rainforest creature. 

Challenge: Create a creature that is able to survive in all four layers of the rainforest!

Deforestation

What is deforestation? Can you carry out some research to find out?

Have a go at one of the following activities:

1. Create a leaflet or poster all about deforestation. It must explain:

• What deforestation is.
• Why deforestation is happening
• How it effects people, animals and the environment

2. Make a presentation or news report explaining what you think about deforestation. Watch the video below to help you understand why some people have to cut down trees to live.

Mapping the Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon rainforest spans 9 countries and over 5.5 million square kilometres. Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana all have a share of the forest, which stretches from the Atlantic Ocean almost as far as the Pacific.

Task: Can you complete this map of South America?

Tropical Rainforests

Task: Label different rainforests and the seven continents on the map below.

Animals of the Rainforest

Task: Create a fact file about the animals of the rainforest.  I have included some examples below, but you can carry out your own research too.

Rainforest Dictionary

Create a dictionary for all of the words listed in the document below.  Remember, a dictionary lists words and definitions in alphabetical order.