More about Rainforests Workshops
What is a Rainforest?
Rainforests are the most diverse and interesting ecosystems on the planet. They cover 6% of the Earth and get 79 to 394 inches of rain a year, which is the most rain-falling area in the world.
There are two types of rainforests:
- Tropical rainforests found near the equator in South America, Africa, Asia and Australia
- Temperate rainforests found north or south of the equator in places like North America, Chile and New Zealand
Rainforests have four layers:
- Emergent Layer – the tallest trees above all others
- Canopy Layer – a thick ceiling of tree tops and climbing plants
- Understory – small trees and shrubs that thrive in low light
- Forest Floor – ground level where decomposing matter supports life and gets less than 2% of sunlight
These ecosystems are home to a huge number of species:
- 427 species of mammals
- 378 species of reptiles
- 400 species of amphibians
- 96,000 to 100,000 species of invertebrates in the Amazon Rainforest alone
Rainforests are life on Earth. They have two-thirds of all plant species, food, shelter and oxygen for the planet. The rich plant life supports even more animal life, all living in wet and humid environments.
We discuss and display a variety of real rainforest animals, giving students the opportunity to touch, hold, and interact with them—an unforgettable way to bring science to life!
Download our Activity Sheets here:
What is the Core Focus?
- What is a Rainforest?
- Where are the Rainforests?
- Layers of the Rainforest
- What animals are in each Layer?
What Animals are used?
A mix of Mammals, Reptiles/Amphibians and Invertebrates is used for this topic.
Note: While we can’t bring rainforest plants or recreate the environment, we bring the animals for hands-on learning and interaction.
