​Life in the World's
Tropical Rainforests

An activity for understanding what defines rainforests, their vast biodiversity, and their importance to the health of the Earth

The Life in the World’s Tropical Rainforests video incorporates beautiful photos, rainforest sounds, and Fun Facts interspersed throughout.
Lessons include rainforest definitions, layers of a tropical rainforest and their attributes, a peek into who lives at each layer, the symbiotic relationships inherent in healthy and diverse ecosystems (biodiversity), the crises rainforests are facing, their importance to and their impact on us all, and what can be done to save them. All accomplished via a downloadable matching game.

STEP 1: WATCH THE PREZI SLIDESHOW

Click the forward arrow to advance through the presentation, or the back arrow to go to the previous slide.

STEP 2: PRINT AND PLAY

Have fun while learning!

MATERIALS AND PREPARATION

Materials:

  • Levels of the Rainforest gameboard
  • 36 Rainforest Animal game tiles are divided into 10 Forest Floor species, 8 Understory species, 13 Canopy species, and 5 Emergent Layer species.
 Preparation:
  • Print the game board and tiles. For best results, print on card stock. Laminate if you wish.
  • Cut out the 36 game tiles.
  • Click on the numbered activity buttons to the right of the graphics for instructions.

Levels of a Rainforest GameBoard

levels-of-a-rainforest-new-board-final_75
GOALS

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • The characteristics that define a rainforest
  • That there are rainforests on every continent except Antarctica
  • That 50% of plant and animal species live in rainforests
  • That life in rainforests occurs in layers
  • The names and properties of the layers of a rainforest
  • The names of some of the many animal species that live in a rainforest
  • That habitats need to be protected in order to save the animals that live in them
  • That rainforests are being destroyed at an alarming rate
  • That the entire Earth needs the rainforests
  • What you can do to help
OBJECTIVES

Here’s how: 

  • Correctly match each animal species to the level of the rainforest in which they primarily live
  • Learn rainforest layer definitions and properties
  • Discover that rainforests can and do exist in multiple worldwide locations
  • Understand that each layer of a rainforest supports a great deal of life, and each life in the rainforest is integral to the survival of the rainforest
  • Understand the significance of biodiversity
  • Grasp that rainforests throughout the world, and the animals that live in them, are at-risk 

Lesson developed by Debra Curtin, 2016-2018

Copyright © New England Primate Conservancy 2016-2022. You may freely use, copy and share these Learning Activities for educational purposes. 
For questions or comments, e-mail us at [email protected]