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Mahogany being taken to a saw mill © Mark Edwards / WWF-Canon Jaguar © Staffan Widstrand / WWF
Worksheet 1a: Postcards
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Trees line the river bank © Zig Koch/WWF Amazon pink river dolphin © naturepl.com / Mark Carwardine / WWF-Canon
Worksheet 1b: Postcards
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Rainforest canopy in Acre, Brazil © Greg Armfield/WWF-UK Boy and pineapple © Greg Armfield/WWF-UK
Worksheet 1c: Postcards
Worksheet 2: Newspaper article
6 June 2012
A TALE OF HOPE FOR THE
AMAZON - FROM WIGAN
The town of Wigan, in Greater
Manchester, is thousands of miles
from the Amazon rainforest. But
students at St Marks CE Primary
School in Wigan have been inspired by
the Amazon’s plight– and have won
the 2012 Sky Rainforest Rescue Schools
Challenge for their amazing efforts.
The Schools Challenge, which is
open to students aged 8—14, has
resulted in a brilliant response from
schools right across the UK. Young
people get to investigate how the
food we eat, the stuff we buy and
the energy we use has an impact on
rainforests and climate change – and
then take action to make a difference.
Currently the Amazon rainforest is being cut down at the
rate of three football pitches
per minute. This deforestation
is putting the future of the
people, animals and plants that
call the Amazon their home
at risk. And it’s also having a
huge impact on climate change.
Through Sky Rainforest
Rescue, Sky and WWF aim
to help save one billion trees
in the Amazon by providing
sustainable alternatives to
deforestation to people living
in the state of Acre in Brazil
and by educating young people
in the UK to inspire action.
Monkey Shoppers & Tiger Munchers
St Mark’s winning teams, the
‘Monkey Shoppers’ and ‘Tiger
Munchers’, impressed judges with
their inspirational activities ranging
from collection boxes for recyclable
materials, fashion shows using
recycled materials and displays
on re-using, to growing herbs in
a sensory garden, talking to staff
and pupils about Fair Trade goods
and holding a Fair Trade stall
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for children, parents and visitors.
Over the two years of the Challenge
programme, nearly 18,000 students
have taken part in rainforest-themed
assemblies, over 4,000 students
have learned about deforestation,
and some 27,000 students and
approximately 13,700 student family
members have been surveyed on
their knowledge of rainforestfriendly products and behaviour.
Worksheet 3: The rainforest hierarchy
Read the article on Worksheet 2. You might like to highlight any important parts as you go.
Now use the template below to sort the information in the article by importance. Write the most
important piece of information from the article at the top of the pyramid and the least important
piece at the bottom.
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Worksheet 4: Finish the story
Scenario
1
You are a member of a small tribe from deep in
the Amazon rainforest. One day when you are
walking in the forest you meet some strange
men wearing unusual clothes and using loud
machines to destroy the trees near your home.
You return to your tribe and decide what to
do next…
Scenario
3
You are a group of scientists working in the
Amazon rainforest aiming to find new animals
to document for science. One day you find some
strange footprints leading into the forest and
your group follows them.
What do you find?
Scenario
5
You are an environmental protester who hears
of a company planning to clear a huge part of
the Amazon rainforest to make grazing land for
cattle. You are concerned for the people that
live in this part of the forest and the amazing
animals that can be found there.
What do you and your friends do to respond?
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Scenario
2
You are from a school in the city of Manaus in Brazil.
One day the school decides to take a school trip to
the Amazon rainforest. When you arrive you climb
into canoes for a trip down the Amazon but you
and five friends get separated from the group.
What happens when the five of you continue
your adventure?
Scenario
4
You are a jaguar which lives in the Amazon
rainforest. One day you discover that you are
being followed by a poacher who wants to kill
you for your skin.
How do you try to escape? Which other
animals do you meet during your journey?
Scenario
6
You are part of a colony of ants which are
collecting food from a guava tree when the
fruit you are on is harvested and packed
into a box and sent for sale in the UK.
What do you discover when you arrive in
the UK?
Worksheet 5a: Rainforest cards
The Amazon rainforest
The largest rainforest in the world. Around 1 in 10 of the
world’s species can be found in this vast rainforest.
Animals
The Amazon is home to thousands of species including
the magnificent jaguar and beautiful hyacinth macaw.
Countries
The Amazon spreads across:
Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela,
Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana
Australasia
Much of Australia’s north east coast and the island of
New Guinea are covered by dense tropical rainforest.
Animals
The rainforests of Australasia contain lots of fascinating and
unusual animals including tree kangaroos and giant pigeons.
Countries
Rainforests can be found in:
Australia
Papua New Guinea
Indonesia
Madagascar
Animals
Madagascar is the only country in the world which is home
to lemurs including the famous ring-tailed lemur.
Countries
Madagascar
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Holding turtle image: © Cat Holloway / WWF-Canon
Originally nearly all of Madagascar was covered in rainforest. Now only around 20% of Madagascar still has forest
cover.
Worksheet 5b: Rainforest cards
Central America
This area was originally entirely covered by rainforest but
much of it has now been cleared for farming.
Animals
The tiny country of Panama is home to more than 700
species of birds.
Countries
All the countries in Central America have some
rainforest cover. These are: Honduras, Guatemala, El
Salvador, Belize, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica
The Congo
Found in Central Africa, the Congo rainforest is the
world’s second largest tropical rainforest.
Animals
The African forest elephant has a smaller body and ears
than the Savannah elephant and its tusks are straighter
and point downward. It lives a secretive life in the dense
undergrowth of the rainforests.
Countries
The Congo rainforest spreads across many countries but is
mainly found in: Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo
South East Asia
The rainforests found in south east Asia are the oldest
on the planet – dating back to 70 million years ago!
Animals
Species such as the majestic Sumatran tiger and Javan
rhino can only be found in the wild in south east Asian
rainforests. Both animals are critically endangered with less
than 50 Javan rhinos existing in the wild.
Countries
Rainforests can be found in many South East Asian
countries but the biggest areas can be found in: Malaysia,
Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia
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Worksheet 6a: Weather forecast
1
Look at the three following charts which belong to cities in different countries (you can use the map
to help you). Write some notes on what the chart tells you about the climate in that destination:
Destination A
Key
Key
Average maximum Temperature (ºC)
Average minimum Temperature (ºC)
37.5ºC
300mm
35ºC
250mm
32.5ºC
200mm
30ºC
150mm
27.5ºC
100mm
25ºC
50mm
22.5ºC
Average Precipitation (mm)
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Notes
Destination B
Key
Key
Average maximum Temperature (ºC)
Average minimum Temperature (ºC)
15ºC
100mm
10ºC
75mm
5ºC
50mm
0ºC
25mm
-5ºC
Average Precipitation (mm)
0mm
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Notes
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Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Worksheet 6b: Weather forecast
Destination C
Key
Key
Average maximum Temperature (ºC)
Average minimum Temperature (ºC)
25ºC
100mm
20ºC
80mm
15ºC
60mm
10ºC
40mm
5ºC
20mm
Average Precipitation (mm)
0mm
0ºC
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Notes
2
Look at the map below and decide which of the three charts belong to each destination.
Write the relevant letter in each box.
Rekjavik
London
Manaus
A
B
C
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Worksheet 7a: Conscience alley
Jose
Petura
I make my money by extracting rubber
from the trees and selling it on. Rubber
tapping doesn’t harm the forest and this
makes me happy. But it’s hard work and
it’s difficult to earn much money this way.
My people have lived in the forest for
thousands of years and our way of life
depends on the plants and animals
that live around us. Many of these are
becoming extinct as people are destroying
the forest to grow crops and feed cattle.
Raul
Vanessa
For me the best way to make money is
by farming cattle but I need lots of land
for this. The rainforest doesn’t belong to
anyone so nobody will mind if I burn down
a little bit.
The trees in the Amazon absorb a huge
amount of carbon dioxide so they help
to limit climate change. I want to make
sure that the forest is not destroyed
as otherwise it could lead to serious
problems for the whole world!
Age: 45
Rubber
tapper
Age: 32
Member of an
indigenous
tribe
Age: 21
Cattle rancher
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Age: 24
Environmental
protester
Worksheet 7b: Conscience alley
Ana
Gabriel
The Amazon is home to so many incredible
creatures and some that we haven’t even
discovered yet. If we continue to destroy
the forest then more animals will become
extinct because they will lose their homes.
If Brazil can make lots of money by cutting
the wood and mining the gold underneath
the rainforest then my country will have
more money to invest in things like better
healthcare and education. That is more
important to me than the rainforest.
Pedro
Gustavo
There used to be thousands of my kind
in my part of the Amazon rainforest. But
now nearly all of the trees we live in have
been destroyed and our home has been
turned into a city. There are only a few of
us remaining in the wild.
I run a company which sells wood from
trees which are cut down in the Amazon.
If there were stricter rules about logging
I would not be able to make money and I
would have to sack all of my employees.
Age: 25
Scientist
Age: 3 months
A red faced
spider
monkey
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Age: 38
Citizen from a
suburb of Rio
de Janiero
Age: 50
Timber
company
owner
Worksheet 8: Rainforest in the home
Use this survey to help you find out which rainforest products you have in your home. They could come
from one or several of the rainforests you have learnt about.
Houseplants
Rubber plant
Begonia
Bromeliad
Christmas cactus
Orchid
African violet
Fern
More food products
Brazil nuts
Coffee
Macadamia nuts
Cashew nuts
Tea
Tapioca
Ginger
Cloves
Nutmeg
Turmeric
Paprika
Gums and resins
Rubber
Balloons
Erasers
Balls
Rubber gloves
Rubber bands
Hoses
Tires
Canes
Bamboo
Rattan
Oils
Camphor
Lime
Palm
Coconut
Sandalwood
Rosewood
(look at wicker furniture
and cane seats)
(look in soaps, candles, perfume,
insect repellents, suntan lotions)
Spices and flavours
Black pepper
Chilli pepper
Cayenne
Chocolate or cocoa
Cinnamon
Vanilla
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Woods
Balsa
Rosewood
Mahogany
Sandalwood
(look at chairs, tables, doors, toys)
Bathroom products:
Shower gels /
Bath foam / Shampoo
(these all contain some form
of coconut derivative to help
them lather)
Conditioner
Face-wash
Liquid handwash
Deodorant stick
Shaving foam
Moisturiser & handcream
(these contain cocoa
butter/coconut oil/palm oil)
Avocado oil
Toothpaste
Cosmetics:
Lipstick
Mascara
Foundation
Foods:
Bananas
Mangos
Pineapples
Avocados
Limes
Oranges
Guava
Passion fruit
Coconuts
Papaya
Star fruit
Dragon fruit
Plantain
Heart of palm
Guava
Grapefruit
Cassava
Worksheet 9: Amazon animals
The Amazon is full of weird and wonderful creatures. Look at the pictures of these animals and follow the
key to find out what they are called. Once you have discovered their names write it underneath the picture.
Does it have wings?
Yes
No
Does it have a beak?
Yes
Toucan
Does it have fur?
No
Yes
Does it have a long snout?
Does it have blue colouring?
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Does it have spots?
Yes
Morpho butterfly
Owl butterfly
No
Tree frog
Howler monkey
Jaguar
Does it have knobbly skin?
Yes
Caiman
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No
Tapir
Worksheet 10a: Nature trail
Use this worksheet to keep a record of the different plants and animals that you see during your
nature trail. You could use the spaces to make drawings or write descriptions of what you see.
Try to find as many different types of plants and animals as you can. What features make each one
different from others that you have seen?
Draw the shapes of leaves, flowers or berries on different plants and make sure you capture the right
number of legs if you are drawing insects.
If you are short on time you could draw a quick sketch outside and then turn this into a more detailed
drawing when you are back in the classroom
Be careful not to hurt any animals or damage any plants during your trail.
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Worksheet 10b: Nature trail
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Worksheet 11: Fact file
New species are being discovered all the time in the Amazon.
Imagine that you have discovered a brand new animal deep in the rainforest. Draw a picture of it and create
a fact file for your animal using the headings below.
Fact file:
Best feature:
Home:
Size:
How is it adapted to its surroundings:
Favourite food:
Current population:
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Worksheet 12: The missing link
Look at the food chains shown below. Which of the animals in the box at the top of the page do you think is
missing from each chain? Think about what each of the animals eat and what might eat them!
Once you have worked it out write the name of the relevant animal in each box.
Gecko
Food
chain
Leaves
Harpy eagle
Cricket
?
1
Leafcutter ants
Food
chain
Giant Anteater
Jaguar
Red eyed tree frog
Spectacled owl
?
2
Leaves and flower buds
Food
chain
?
3
Plants
Moths
Food
chain
Greater bulldog bat
?
4
Rotten wood
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Rhino beetle
Squirrel monkey
Worksheet 13: The water cycle
The Amazon rainforest is one of the wettest places on Earth. It receives an average of around 2000 mm of
rain per year - nearly twice as much as the UK!
Look at the diagram below which shows the cycle water goes through once it has fallen as rain and add the
correct labels to each stage.
1, The clouds hit cool air and the water falls as precipitation (rain, snow, sleet etc)
2, The rest of the water runs down into rivers or into the sea
3, Some of the water is absorbed by the ground
4, Heat from the sun provides the energy to evaporate water from oceans and lakes
5, The evaporated water cools down and condenses to form clouds
6, Plants lose water from their leaves (this is called transpiration)
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Worksheet 14a: Frog templates
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Worksheet 14b: Frog templates
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Worksheet 15: Amazon deforestation
Your teacher will show you a slide with different numbers on them. Look at the slides and decide which
statistic each number completes. When you have decided which statistic the number belongs to, write it in
the box next to that statistic.
1, What percentage of deforestation / forest loss is caused by cattle
ranching?
2, The amount (in square kilometres) of Amazon rainforest which has
been cut down since 1970.
3, An area of Amazon rainforest the size of ? football pitches is cut
down every minute.
4, Number of trees Sky and WWF are trying to protect through the Sky
Rainforest Rescue campaign.
5, One in ? of the world’s species can be found in the Amazon rainforest.
6, Number of square kilometres which the Amazon rainforest covers.
7, The number of plant species which have been discovered in the
rainforest.
©WWF-Indonesia/Bhayu Pamungkas
8, The number of indigenous people living in the Amazon rainforest.
For more information on Sky Rainforest Rescue visit sky.com/rainforestresue.
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Worksheet 16a: Leaf templates
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Worksheet 16b: Leaf templates
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Worksheet 17: Sky Rainforest Rescue
Sky and WWF are working with farmers to help improve
the quality of their existing soil so they do not need to
cut down more trees.
The trees and plants of the Amazon hold many
nutrients. But without them, the soil becomes very
poor. Farmers cut and burn forest to fertilize the soil.
But it soon becomes degraded and they need to burn
down more forest so they have fresh land to grow on.
Experts are helping farmers to plan how they can use
their land so they can grow more food and make more
money without clearing forests for new land.
Many small scale farmers do not officially own their
land so they are worried about losing it. Cutting forest
and growing crops is seen by some as a way to make
sure no one can take the land away.
Sky and WWF are working with the local government in
a state called Acre in Brazil to help small land owners
manage their land without cutting forest. In return they
are prioritised to receive official ownership of their land.
Huge amounts of rainforest have been cleared to
make space for cattle pasture.
Sky and WWF are helping to make sure that there are
rules to make cattle ranching less destructive to the
rainforest.
The rubber prices have dropped meaning many of the
people who used to harvest rubber from the trees can
no longer make a living this way.
Sky and WWF have set up rubber processing
technology which helps rubber tappers to create a
more valuable and better quality product so they can
continue to harvest rubber – a sustainable industry.
Many people do not realize how important the
trees in the Amazon are for the health of the local
environment and the world.
Sky and WWF are working with teachers to add
learning about the environment to lessons in the
project area of Acre state, Brazil.
The construction of roads and dams is important to
bring essential services to people. But if it’s not done
properly, it can have devastating impacts for people,
the rainforest and the animals that live there.
Sky and WWF are funding important work with
governments and international bodies to improve
the planning of roads and dams in the Amazon in
order to minimise damage to the environment and
people’s lives.
Illegal and unsustainable fishing in the Amazon is
threatening some important species of fish.
Sky and WWF are working with local people in the
Amazon to monitor and sustainably manage fish
populations. This way there is enough fish in the lakes
that people can harvest to sell or eat.
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Worksheet 18a: Scenario cards
Scenario 1
Scenario 1
Research and present the
advantages of this scenario:
Research and present the
advantages of this scenario:
A mining company wishes to clear an area of
the Amazon to dig for oil or precious metals
such as gold. They promise to bring some
employment to the area and say that the
workers will need services provided which will
create jobs. The country will receive income
from selling their resources, which could be
invested in public services like health and
education.
A mining company wishes to clear an area
of forest to dig for oil or precious metals
such as gold. The waste from the mines may
pollute local tributaries to the Amazon and
also contaminate the land. It will be dirty and
spoil the forest environment. Allowing mining
maintains the emphasis on fossil fuels which
are a resource which won’t last forever.
Scenario 2
Scenario 2
Research and present the
advantages of this scenario:
Research and present the
advantages of this scenario:
An area of the rainforest is to be cleared to
make space for plantations to grow rubber,
sugar, palm oil, tea and coffee. There will be lots
of low paid seasonal work, especially at harvest
time. As the population is growing, villages will
be created for people to live in. Schools and
clinics may be built. The plantations will create
a plentiful supply of these products at an
affordable price for western consumers.
An area of the rainforest is to be cleared to
make space for plantations to grow rubber,
sugar, palm oil, tea and coffee. The forest will
be cut down, destroying natural food chains
which will mean the loss of indigenous wildlife.
The crops will be sold abroad rather than
being used to feed local people.
Scenario 3
Scenario 3
Research and present the
advantages of this scenario:
Research and present the
advantages of this scenario:
Farms are set up by local groups growing
peanuts, avocados, oranges, pineapples and
cocoa for chocolate. Many foods grow wild in
rainforests – but by farming them local people
are able to grow more produce and have the
opportunity to improve their income.
Farms are set up by local groups growing peanuts,
avocados, oranges, pineapples and cocoa for
chocolate.
The forest will slowly change and some plants and
animals will no longer be found in the rainforest.
Roads and communication networks will have to
be built to help transport goods to market and
this can impact upon the environment.
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Worksheet 18b: Scenario cards
Scenario 4
Scenario 4
Research and present the
advantages of this scenario:
Research and present the
advantages of this scenario:
Loggers move in and clear the land of trees. After
the trees are chopped down, rough pasture will
be established for cattle. Most of the meat will be
sold to city dwellers to bring in revenue. Beef sold
in restaurants and supermarkets may be sourced
from rainforest cattle. This helps keep down the
cost so more people can eat more meat. The
wood - like teak and mahogany - can be used to
create long lasting timber or hardwood, which is
valuable and makes fine furniture.
Loggers move in and clear the land of trees.
After the trees are chopped down, rough
pasture will be established for cattle. Forests
help balance the gases in the atmosphere.
Removing them contributes to climate change.
Without tree roots to anchor soil, the earth
becomes loose and crumbly and washes away.
There may be landslides and floods.
Scenario 5
Scenario 5
Research and present the
advantages of this scenario:
Research and present the
advantages of this scenario:
Wildlife parks and reserves are established
in the Amazon rainforest. Animals and plants
are protected. Tourists are encouraged which
brings in money. High value medicinal plants
and crops are carefully harvested. The rest of
the world helps this by recycling paper and
buying wood from sustainable sources. Fossil
fuels are replaced by sustainable energy.
Wildlife parks and reserves are established
in the Amazon rainforest. Animals and plants
are protected. Tourists are encouraged
which brings in money. To keep the rainforest
pristine, people who used to live there are
moved from their homes and deprived of land
that they need to grow food.
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