Rainforests

1. Warm up:

Have you ever been to a forest or jungle? What was it like?

Would you like to visit a rainforest? Why or why not

Why do you think rainforests are important for the Earth?

2. Vocabulary

1. Ecosystem: A community of living things and their environment.

2. Deforestation: The cutting down of large areas of forest.

3. Species: A group of similar animals or plants.

4. Equator: An imaginary line around the middle of the Earth.

5. Climate: The weather patterns in a particular place over time.

3. Read the following text and check your vocabulary:

Rainforests: The Lungs of the Earth

Rainforests are some of the most important ecosystems on our planet. They are called the "lungs of the Earth" because they produce a large amount of the oxygen we breathe. Rainforests are found near the equator, where it is warm and rainy all year. The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon, located in South America. Other significant rainforests include the Congo Rainforest in Africa and rainforests in Southeast Asia.

Why Are Rainforests Important?

Rainforests are home to more than half of the world’s plant and animal species. They provide food, medicine, and materials like rubber. Many fruits, such as bananas and pineapples, come from rainforest regions. Additionally, rainforests help regulate the Earth's climate by absorbing carbon dioxide.

However, rainforests are under threat. Deforestation, caused by logging, farming, and mining, is destroying these precious ecosystems. Every year, thousands of square kilometers of rainforest are lost. This not only affects the animals and plants that live there but also contributes to climate change.

Amazing Animals of the Rainforest

Rainforests are home to incredible animals, like jaguars, sloths, and colorful parrots. Insects are everywhere, from giant butterflies to ants that work together like tiny armies. The Amazon River, which runs through the Amazon Rainforest, is home to pink dolphins and piranhas.

Fascinating Facts

• A single rainforest tree can be home to thousands of species of insects.

• The Amazon Rainforest produces about 20% of the world’s oxygen.

• Rainforests once covered 14% of the Earth’s surface; now they cover only about 6%.

Think About This

1. Why do you think rainforests are called the “lungs of the Earth”?

2. How would the world change if rainforests disappeared?

Comprehension Questions

1. Where are rainforests usually located?
   a) Near the poles
   b) Near the equator
   c) In dry, desert areas

2. Which rainforest is the largest in the world?
   a) Congo Rainforest
   b) Southeast Asian Rainforests
   c) Amazon Rainforest

3. What is one reason rainforests are important to humans?
   (Write one reason from the text.)

4. What is deforestation, and how does it harm rainforests?
   (Write your answer.)

5. Name two animals that live in the rainforest.

Match the Words to Their Meanings

a) Ecosystem
b) Deforestation
c) Species
d) Equator
e) Climate

1. The cutting down of large areas of forest

2. A group of similar animals or plants

3. The weather patterns in a particular place over time

4. A community of living things and their environment

5. An imaginary line around the middle of the Earth

True or False

• Rainforests are found in cold, dry areas. T/F

• The Amazon River is home to pink dolphins. T/F

• Rainforests once covered 50% of the Earth’s surface. T/F

Creative Writing

• Imagine you are an explorer in the Amazon Rainforest. Describe what you see, hear, and feel.

• Write a letter to convince people to protect rainforests. Explain why they are important and what we can do to help.

Research Activity

Choose a rainforest animal or plant. Find out where it lives, what it eats, and one interesting fact about it.