Geography
Where are the rainforests?
- Defining rainforests and locating them on a world map
- Identifying the equator and Tropic of Cancer and
Capricorn
- Using maps to identify continents and countries where
rainforests are located
What are rainforests like?
- Learning that the hot, humid climate of rainforests
make them perfect for plant growth
- Identifying the 4 main layers of vegetation in a tropical
rainforest: emergent layer, canopy, under storey and
forest floor
What is the climate of the rainforest like?
- Defining ‘climate’ and discussing the local climate,
including changes in seasons
- Using charts and graphs to explore the climate of
tropical rainforests, including heat and rainfall
- Exploring the part the rainforests play in the water
cycle
Who lives in the rainforest and what are their lives
like?
- Exploring the way of life of the Yanomami tribe,
including housing, clothing, hunting, traditions, etc.
- Comparing the lives of indigenous rainforest tribes with
life in modern society
Why are rainforests under threat and what can we do?
- Exploring some of the reasons for deforestation Investigating the impact of deforestation on plants,
animals and humans in the rainforest and around the world
- Identifying ways we can help save the rainforests
The Rainforest
Topic Overview Science
What are the different parts of a plant and what do they do?
- Identifying rainforest plants
- Exploring the different parts of a plant (stem, flower, roots, leaves) and
their uses
- Identifying the different parts of a variety of rainforest plants
What different types of rainforest plants are there?
- Identifying a variety of rainforest plants
- Describing a variety of rainforest plants and matching plants to their
descriptions
- Using branching databases to identify different plants
What animals live in the Amazon rainforest?
- Identifying animals of the Amazon rainforest by their features
- Using branching databases to identify various animals
How can we organise Amazon animals into groups?
- Understanding the need to organise organisms into groups
- Identifying the differences between mammals, birds, reptiles,
amphibians, fish and insects
- Using a variety of ways to organise animals according to their features,
including Carroll diagrams
How are animals and plants in the rainforest connected by food
chains?
- Defining terms such as carnivore, herbivore, omnivore and producer
- Understanding how food chains work, including the role of plants in
producing energy
- Describing and creating examples of food chains
Computing
Using the internet to find out facts about
the rainforest
- Learning how to use appropriate search
terms
- Exploring why it is important to verify facts
online and how to do this
- Using the internet to find out if given facts
about the rainforest are true or false, as well
as finding facts independently
Using word processing to present a
rainforest glossary
- Using the internet and other sources to
rainforest keywords and their meanings
- Inserting and altering a table in a word
processing document
- Changing fonts, adding borders and adding
headings
Art
Drawing rainforest animals
- Exploring tips and trips for drawing animals accurately
- Following step-by-step instructions to draw a variety of rainforest animals
- Drawing rainforest animals from observation
Exploring the art of Henri Rousseau
- Finding out who Rousseau was, when he lived and the kind of art he produced
- Investigating the ‘jungle’ art of Rousseau and identifying common features
- Replicating the art of Henri Rousseau through a variety of techniques, including
collage
Rainforest animal masks
- Using and/or creating mask templates
- Identifying various techniques that can be used to decorate an animal mask
- Designing, making and evaluating an animal mask
Design and Technology
Designing, making and evaluating poison dart frog beanbags
- Exploring shapes and patterns of poison dart frogs
- Using sewing skills to create and decorate a beanbag
Designing, making and evaluating an information book with moving parts
- Exploring types of moving mechanisms used in books, such as
sliders, rotating wheels, pop-ups, etc.
- Using a variety of techniques to design, make and evaluate a
moving information book about the rainforest.