​Life in the World's Tropical Rainforests
Presentation, Lessons, and Activities

An activity for understanding what defines a rainforest, who lives in the world's rainforests, the vast biodiversity within rainforests, and the importance of rainforests to the health of the Earth
​Start by viewing the Life in the World's Tropical Rainforests Prezi below.
It's a self-guided slideshow that is the foundation for the activities that follow.

Print the Levels of a Rainforest game board and the species game tiles.
They serve as game pieces and reference points for all activities.

Then have fun while learning!

Watch

Click or tap on the arrow to get started. Move forward or back using the right and left arrows along the bottom of the screen. ​You can opt to view full screen.

​Life in the World's Tropical Rainforests incorporates beautiful photos, rainforest sounds, and Fun Facts interspersed throughout. Lessons include rainforest definitions, layers of a tropical rainforest and their attributes, a peek into who lives at each layer, the symbiotic relationships inherent in healthy and diverse ecosystems (biodiversity), the crises rainforests are facing, their importance to and impact on us all, and what can be done to save them.

Print

Here's what the game board and species game tiles look like.
MATERIALS AND PREPARATION

1. Download the printable game board and tiles below. ​Click on the titles or the photos below to download the Game Board and Tiles.

2. Print the game board and tiles. For best results, print on card stock. Laminate if you wish.
​
3. Cut out the 36 game tiles.

​​36 game tiles are divided into 10 Forest Floor species, 8 Understory species, 13 Canopy species, and 5 Emergent Layer species.
The game board illustrates the locations of the levels of a rainforest.

Scroll down for game instructions.​

Goals

Here's what you'll learn:
  • The characteristics that define a rainforest
  • That there are rainforests on every continent except Antarctica
  • That 50% of plant and animal species live in rainforests
  • That life in rainforests occurs in layers
  • The names and properties of the layers of a rainforest
  • The names of some of the many animal species that live in a rainforest
  • That habitats need to be protected in order to save the animals that live in them
  • That rainforests are being destroyed at an alarming rate
  • That the entire Earth needs the rainforests
  • What you can do to help

Objectives: 
  • Correctly match each animal species to the level of the rainforest in which they primarily live
  • Learn rainforest layer definitions and properties
  • ​Discover that rainforests can and do exist in multiple worldwide locations
  • Understand that each layer of a rainforest supports a great deal of life, and each life in the rainforest is integral to the survival of the rainforest
  • Understand the significance of biodiversity
  • ​Grasp that rainforests throughout the world, and the animals that live in them, are at-risk 
Lesson developed by Debra Curtin, 2016-2018
Copyright © New England Primate Conservancy 2016-2018. You may freely use, copy and share these Learning Activities for educational purposes. 
​For questions or comments, e-mail us at info@neprimateconservancy.org. 
© 2017-2021 New England Primate Conservancy.
​All Rights Reserved.