Tropical Rainforests: Rainforest Matching Game

​Life in the World's
Tropical Rainforests

RAINFOREST ACTIVITY 1

LAYERS OF A TROPICAL RAINFOREST

A MATCHING GAME

OBJECTIVES: 

  • Correctly match each animal species with the level of the rainforest where it primarily lives
  • Learn rainforest layer definitions and properties
  • Discover that rainforests exist in a variety of locations globally
  • Understand that each layer of a rainforest supports a great deal of life (biodiversity), and that each life in the rainforest is integral to the rainforest’s survival
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For Educators: Education Standards Success Criteria

PREPARATION:
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  1. Download the Levels of the Rainforest game board and tiles.
  2. Print the Levels of the Rainforest board, preferably on cardstock or photo paper for repeat use.
  3. Print the rainforest species game tiles, preferably on cardstock or photo paper for repeat use.
  4. Cut out the species game tiles that you printed. Mix them up for a challenge.

LEVELS OR A RAINFOREST GAME BOARD

RAINFOREST GAME TILES

INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. View the Life in the World’s Tropical Rainforests video.
  2. Match the animal species to the correct layers of the tropical rainforest in which they live.
PLAY AND LEARN

Research and Explore:

Besides the examples provided in the Life in the World’s Tropical Rainforests video and the game tiles, what other animals live in a tropical rainforest? There are many!

  1. List 5 species that live at the Forest Floor
  2. List 5 species that live in the Understory
  3. List 5 species that live in the Canopy
  4. List 5 species that live in the Emergent Layer
BACK TO LIFE IN THE WORLD'S TROPICAL RAINFORESTS INTRODUCTION

EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS SUCCESS CRITERIA

Objective: SW match animals to the layer of the rainforest where they live.

Proficient

SW match animals to the layer of the rainforest they live in, and provide an explanation related to how that particular layer supports animal survival (for example, The eagle lives in the Emergent Layer so that the baby eagle can stay safe in the nest, while the mommy eagle flies to find food).

Students use academic vocabulary to talk about animals, their habitats, and how they survive.

Beyond (connection to Activities 3 & 4): Students may independently, or with guidance and support, conduct research on an animal of interest by seeking new books, videos, or other resources with further information.

Almost

Students may need adult prompting, visual cues, or other resources to help match animals to the correct layer, and describe the ways animals move through the forest.

Students may need prompting or modeling from adults or peers to describe how a given layer is helpful to the survival of an animal.

Not Yet

Students may work with an adult or peer to match animal pictures to an identical picture. 

Standards by Brandi Bellacicco, May 2024

Copyright © New England Primate Conservancy 2016-2024. You may freely use, copy and share these Learning Activities for educational purposes. 
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