The Rainforest Game
Grades: 4th – 8th
Program Duration: 30 Minutes
Program Type: Demonstration
Program Description
The world’s rainforests make up both temperate and tropical biomes that help to sustain a critical balance within our planet’s
ecosystem. These biomes are being destroyed in favor of more shortsighted concerns. This program will discuss the ecosystem of the
world’s rainforests, the diversity of both biotic and abiotic elements they contain, the interactions of these elements and how they
maintain a balance and the ramifications of the loss of these vital biomes.
Louisiana GLE’s:
Grade 4
Science
1. Ask questions about objects and events in the environment (e.g., plants, rocks, storms) (SI-E-A1)
4. Predict and anticipate possible outcomes (SI-E-A2)
50. Explain how some organisms in a given habitat compete for the same resources (LS-E-C1)
52. Describe how some plants and animals have adapted to their habitats (LS-E-C2)
72. Predict and describe consequences of the removal of one component in a balanced ecosystem (e.g., consumer,
herbivores, nonliving component) (SE-E-A2)
Grade 5
Science
29. Describe adaptations of plants and animals that enable them to thrive in local and other natural environments (LS-MD1)
36. Identify, describe, and compare climate zones (e.g., polar, temperate, tropical) (ESS-M-A11)
50. Describe the consequences of several types of human activities on local ecosystems (e.g., polluting streams, regulating
hunting, introducing nonnative species) (SE-M-A4)
51. Describe naturally occurring cycles and identify where they are found (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, water, oxygen) (SE-M-A7)
Grade 6
Science
42. Identify energy types from their source to their use and determine if the energy types are renewable, nonrenewable, or
inexhaustible (SE-M-A6)
46. Identify ways people can reuse, recycle, and reduce the use of resources to improve and protect the quality of life (SE-MA6)
47. Illustrate how various technologies influence resource use in an ecosystem (e.g., forestry management, soil conservation,
fishery improvement) (SE-M-A8)
Grade 7
Science
25. Locate and describe the major biomes of the world (LS-M-C3)
32. Describe changes that can occur in various ecosystems and relate the changes to the ability of an organism to survive
(LS-M-D2)
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34.
35.
39.
43.
Explain how environmental factors impact survival of a population (LS-M-D2)
Identify resources humans derive from ecosystems (SE-M-A1)
Analyze the consequences of human activities on ecosystems (SE-M-A4)
Identify and analyze the environmental impact of humans’ use of technology (e.g., energy production, agriculture,
transportation, human habitation) (SE-M-A8)
Grade 8
Science
51. Analyze the consequences of human activities on global Earth systems (SE-M-A4)
Key Terms:
Rain Forest: Forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750–
2000 mm (68-78 inches).
Biome: Climatically and geographically defined areas of ecologically similar climatic conditions such as communities of plants,
animals and soil organisms.
Tropical: The tropics, seated in the equatorial regions of the world, are limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern
hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23.4°) N latitude, and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at 23°26' (23.4°) S
latitude.
Temperate: Temperate latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles.
Clearcutting: Forestry/logging practice in which most or all trees in a harvest area are cut down.
Habitat: An ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular animal or plant species.
Web Resources:
Rainforest Facts-Raintree
http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm
“Raintree’s rainforest website features indepth information on the problems and solutions of Rainforest deforestation”
All About Rainforests!-Enchanted Learning
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/rainforest/Activities.shtml
This webpage provides information, printables, worksheets and activities.
Rainforest Lesson Plans-Mongabay
http://kids.mongabay.com/lesson_plans/
Rainforest lesson plans, teacher resources, help for school reports and schools projects.
Rainforest Resources-teAchnology
http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/science/biology/rain/
Teachnology provides links to lesson plans and worksheets.
Tropical Rainforest-Blueplanetbiomes
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm
This site provides plant, animals and climate information about tropical rainforests.
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Pre-Visit Activities
Rainforests – A Primary Unit developed by Lorraine Shirtliff, Beechy School, Beechy, Saskatchewan
http://www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/rbtboxes/rforest/unit/rainforest.pdf
Do Lesson 1 Introduction to Rainforests of the Rainforest unit in the link above.
Post-Visit Activities
Rainforests – A Primary Unit developed by Lorraine Shirtliff, Beechy School, Beechy, Saskatchewan
http://www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/rbtboxes/rforest/unit/rainforest.pdf
Lesson 6: Importance of the Rainforest and Lesson 7: Products of the Rainforest are great post-visit activities. The lessons contain
evaluations tools and extension activities.
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LESSON 1 Introduction to Rainforests
Objectives:
The students will:
 Demonstrate active listening behaviors
 Share feelings evoked by rainforest sounds
 Activate prior knowledge of rainforests.
Resources;
Poem - "in a Tropical Rainforest" by Jo-Ellen Moore (Tropical Rainforests by
Debbie DePaux.
Tape or Cd of rainforests sounds.
Chart paper, markers
Reading Activity sheet.
Assessment:
Participation and discussion in making chart.
Engaging Activities
Have students close their eyes and listen to tape of sounds in the rainforest.
Read the poem, "In a tropical Rainforest" with the sound tape playing in the background.
Exploring Activities
Discuss what they know about the rainforest and make a chart or concept web.
Extending Activities
Reading Activity - Cover for booklet on the Rainforest
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Lesson 6: Importance of the Rainforest
Objectives:
The student will:
Gain an appreciation of the importance of the rainforests
Gain an understanding of the interdependence of animals and plants in the rainforest.
Be able to put the story in sequence
Make headbands for the animals in the story
Participate in a simulation and reader's theatre
Resources:
"The Great Kapok Tree" - picture book
on-line sequencing activity and puzzle:
http://wblrd.sk.ca/~rbtboxes/rforest/objects/r_jumble.html
Chart paper
Headbands
String, scissors
Reader's theatre script
7. poster paper
Engaging Activities:
The Great Kapok Tree
Read the story and talk about the importance of the rainforest to animals and what would
happen to them if they were destroyed.
Exploring Activities
Comprehension/Sequencing activity http://wblrd.sk.ca/~rbtboxes/rforest/objects/r_jumble.html
Make a chart and write down what each animal depended on the tree for.
Make headbands for each animal in the book.
Do a drama activity - each student is an animal in the book (used animal
headbands) Narrator reads what each depended on the tree for, and each picks up a string
(branch) from tree in centre.
The Teacher would be the woodcutter and come in and cut each string breaking their
connection to the tree. This was very effective. It helps kids understand the interdependence
in the rainforest.
Extending Activities:
After reading the book and doing several activities with it, we then made posters
"Save the Rainforest."
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Lesson 7: Products of the Rainforest
Objectives:
The student will:
 Learn about products of the rainforest.
 Watch a video to gain information.
Resources:
Magic School Bus Visits the Rainforest video
Assessment:
Engaging Activities:
Give the students a checklist of several products of the rainforest and have them take
these home to see how many they can find in their homes. Have students bring these back
and also have them bring a sample of something that could come from the rainforest. Each
student shows and tells what they brought.
Spices and Flavours
Fruits/Vegetables
Nuts
Wood/Fibers
Household items
Watched Magic School Bus video where the
children buy Miss Frizzle a cocoa tree.
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