E. Napp

I Am A Tropical Rainforest

In this project, students will be able to:

• identify characteristics of a tropical rain forest

• state geographic effects, reasons for destruction, and reasons for preservation

• write a monologue as a tropical rain forest explaining the characteristics and geographic effects of tropical rainforests as well as reasons for preserving rainforests

E. Napp

A tropical rainforest is warm all yearlong. Yearly rainfall ranges from

80 to 400 inches.

E. Napp

Tropical rainforests now cover lessthan 6% of the earth’s surface.

E. Napp

Plants in thetropical

rainforest produce muchof the world’soxygen. Infact, 40% ofthe earth’s oxygen is

produced inrainforests.

E. Napp

Let’s Learn More About Rainforests!

It’s your turn.

Visit the following website:

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm

Read the passage and take notes.

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What is the difference between Temperate rainforests and Tropical

rainforests?

Visit the following website:

http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/nceas-web/kids/biomes/rainforest.htm

Read the passage. Create a chart with two columns: Temperate rainforests and Tropical rainforests. List the differences.

E. Napp

Learn About Specific Rainforests:

Visit the following websites:

http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildplaces/amazon/

Write five facts about the Amazon rainforest.

http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/africa/publications/index.cfm?uNewsID=8825

Write five facts about the Congo rainforest.

E. Napp

While the originalinhabitants of

the rainforest werehunters and

gatherers, agriculturehas become

increasingly popular.Slash and burn farming destroysthe rain forest as

does logging.

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Let’s learn more about the destructionof the rainforest and reasons forpreserving the world’s rainforests.

Visit the following website:http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm

Write five facts for each of the following categories:Reasons for rainforest destruction,Reasons for rainforest preservation,Actions taken for preservation.

E. Napp

Many tribal people live in the rainforest.They depend on the forest for theirfood and shelter. As more trees are cut,more native tribes are in danger of losingtheir way of life.

E. Napp

Slash and burn farming is the practice ofcutting down trees and burning the tree

stumps and foliage to clear the land.

E. Napp

While the soil is initially fertile from ashes,slash and burn farming ultimately destroysthe rainforest.

E. Napp

Now, It’s Your Turn!

After researching information on tropical rainforests, geographic effects, and the dangers of deforestation (rainforest destruction), it is your turn to write your monologue as a tropical rainforest.

“I am a tropical rainforest. I produce much of the world’s oxygen…”

E. Napp

Only humans can save the rainforests.