Download What are Rainforests? - inquiringmindsinyear8

Mr. Valle’s
Guide to the Rainforest
With special guest: Max the Monkey
CLICK TO ENTER
Meet Max the Monkey
Greetings! My name is Max. It is
a pleasure to meet you. Mr. Valle
has told me that you are a
wonderful and very bright group
of students.
Meet Max the Monkey
I look forward to getting to know
you throughout this presentation
and helping you to learn more
about the rainforest.
Meet Max the Monkey
The rainforest is my home sweet
home. I love sharing information
about it! This is why I am so glad
Mr. Valle invited me to be here
today.
Meet Max the Monkey
There is so much to tell you that I
don’t quite know where to begin.
Why don’t you help me out by
clicking the links and buttons that
start on the next page…
Main Menu (Click a picture to explore.)
Rainforest Overview
Rainforest Animals
Rainforest Plants
At any point in the
presentation, click
on the bananas to
return to this menu
screen.
Save the Rainforest
Vocabulary Review
Rainforest Overview
Let’s get an overview of the
rainforest. Click through these
slides to learn about where
rainforests are found, the layers
they are made of, and why they
are so unique.
What are Rainforests?
Rainforests are areas known for having

Warm climates

Many tall trees

A lot of rainfall

An incredible
number of animal,
plant, and insect
species
Layers of the Rainforest
Rainforests have four separate layers. Each has
its own characteristics. They are as follows:

Emergent

Canopy

Understory

Undergrowth
(ground layer)
The Emergent Layer

Highest rainforest layer
(can reach up to 200 ft.)

The tallest trees stick out
above the rest

Home to bats, predatory
birds, butterflies, and a
unique monkey
(the proboscis)
The Canopy

Dense area of trees located
below the emergent area

Between 100-150 ft. high

Has the greatest variety of
animal life in the forest

Includes many birds,
monkeys, lizards, and other
unique creatures
The Understory

Shrubs grow throughout
this area wherever light
shines through the canopy

Many lizards, snakes,
cat-like animals,
chimpanzees, and
others live in this thick
area of leaves, brush, and
vines.
The Undergrowth (ground)

Dark forest floor

Many small insects live
here such as ants and
termites

This is also the home of
giants such as elephants
and gorillas

There are also many midsized animals like anteaters,
jaguars, and peacocks
Where are Rainforests?

Rainforests are found near the equator.

The climate is
very stable, warm,
and often wet in places
near the equator

Stability, warmth,
and moisture allow
rainforests to thrive
Where are Rainforests?
Rainforests are located throughout the world
in places such as…





Central America
South America
Africa
Asia
Australia
Lets take a look at them…
Where are Rainforests?
The Amazon Rainforest

Located in South America

The world’s largest
tropical rainforest

Home to the greatest
variety of plants and
animals on Earth.
Where are Rainforests?
The Central American Rainforest

Was once much larger but has
been cleared for cattle raising
and sugar cane farming

Famous for its large
number of tropical
birds such as parrots
Where are Rainforests?
The African Rainforest

The world’s second largest rainforest

Famous for its gorillas,
chimpanzees, and
elephants.

Includes the island of
Madagascar’s rainforest.
Where are Rainforests?
The Southeast Asia Rainforest

The oldest rainforest on Earth

Has the greatest
number of plant and
animal species

Being destroyed at a
faster rate than any
other rainforest
Where are Rainforests?
The Australian Rainforest

Known for its heavy and
wet winds blowing in from
the Pacific Ocean

Famous for its large
number of plant and
animal species that
are endangered
This concludes our general
overview of the rainforest.
You may click one of the
pictures above to go to
another section. Clicking the
bananas below will take you
to the main menu.
I love bananas!
Rainforest Animals
The rainforest is a popular place
for animals. There is nothing like
a warm climate with plenty of
water to enjoy! If you want to
meet some of my friends, click
through these slides.
Rainforest Animals
We will begin by meeting some
of my best buddies from the
tippy-top section of the
rainforest: the emerging layer.
Toucan
My main man the
toucan! Toucan’s big
beak helps him find food
such as small berries and
other fruits at the end of
branches. It is 8 inches
long!
Birdwing
The birdwing is among the
biggest insects in the world.
Its wings can reach up to 8
inches long (as wide as the
toucan’s beak!).
Sometimes I venture to the
treetops just to watch this
guy fly!
Morpho Butterfly
Speaking of butterflies,
check out the morpho
butterfly and its
shimmering wings!
These flash in the
sunlight and make it one
of the most beautiful
beings in the forest.
Great Hornbill
The great hornbill has a
long beak that it uses to
reach food. Its favorite
foods are fruit and
insects. I think the top
part looks like one of
those candy corns you see
around Halloween.
Mmmmmm.
Proboscis Monkey
Don’t let me forget my
cousin, the proboscis monkey.
My cousin uses its long nose
to make these really loud
honking noises. Its nose
looks just like those old
fashioned bicycle honkers too!
I wonder who used the design
first?
Phillippine Monkey-Eating Eagle
Aaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!
This is no friend of mine!
This is a monkey eating
eagle! It likes to snack
on lemurs, flying
squirrels, and ME!
Lets get out of here!
Rainforest Animals
Whew! That was a close one.
Remind me never to hang
around too long in the emergent
layer.
For now, lets check out the most
populated party area in the
jungle: the canopy.
Scarlet Macaw
With its bright colors and
loud screeching calls, this
is one very noticeable
bird. Its strong beak
allows it to crack nuts to
eat. It also likes to eat
fruit and leaves. Macaws
often fly in large flocks of
up to twenty.
Eclectus Parrots
Would you believe that
these two birds are
brother and sister? The
female eclectus is the red
and blue one. The male
is the green one. Quite a
colorful family don’t you
think?
Flying Dragon
This is the rainforest’s version of
a flying dragon (quite different
from the one in Shrek 2). It is
actually quite small and uses its
wing-like flaps of skin to glide
from branch to branch in the treefilled canopy layer.
Flying Lemur
Dragons aren’t the only
unique flyers in the
canopy. Lemurs like to
soar as well. It uses its
huge flaps of skin like a
parachute. This allows it
to glide from tree to tree.
Flying Frog
Frogs fly in the canopy
too. It uses flaps webs
of skin on its feet and
flaps on its legs to move
from tree to tree.
Golden Arrow-Poison Frog
Don’t go too close to this
guy! Its bright color is
meant to warn predators
away from his poisonous
body. It is so dangerous
that tribesmen use its
poison to tip their arrows
when hunting.
Diana Monkey
Lets take a look at some monkeys
like me! This diana monkey is
known for its red-colored fur along
its back. The diana monkeys like
to travel in troops of up to thirty.
They spend nearly all their lives
high in the trees eating leaves,
fruits, and insects.
Black Gibbon
Sticking with the monkeys, let me
introduce you to the black gibbon.
The arms of the gibbon are twice as
long as its body. When it stands, they
touch the ground. These arms are
handy for swinging between trees. If
there were a monkey Olympics, you
can bet this guy would take home the
gold in acrobatics!
Red Howler Monkey
This is the mother of one of my
best friends. Let me tell you,
Mrs. Howler is not someone you
want to make angry. Your ears
will be ringing for a week! Red
howlers are some of the loudest
animals on Earth. They use their
strong voices to warn away
enemies (and monkeys like me
when we get too rowdy ).
Rainforest Animals
As you can see, the canopy is
quite a place. There are many
more animals to meet in the
canopy, but for now lets check
out the understory. I am sure
you will find many of my friends
from here very interesting.
Curassow
Meet the curassow. This
bird is quite different
from most others you are
familiar with. It moves
quickly through the trees
by running along the
branches. Its big strong
feet allow it to do this.
Aye Aye
Aye yay yay! Meet the Aye
Aye. This creature has an
extra long finger on each
hand so he can pull insects
from the bark of trees. Its
hearing is so good that it can
hear insects moving below
the bark! No one will sneak
up on these guys.
Slender Loris
The slender loris has special muscles that allow it to
grip onto branches for hours without getting tired.
It can even hang by just one leg while it eats. Have
you noticed its large eyes? Many animals in the
understory have very big eyes. Most sunlight does
not reach this layer of the rainforest, so big eyes are
needed to help animals see.
Spectacled Owl
The white rings around its
eyes give this owl its name.
It looks like its wearing
spectacles (glasses). This
owl has no problem finding
food though. It enjoys
eating birds, lizards, and
other small animals.
Emerald Tree Boa
Mr. Valle (who doesn’t exactly like snakes)
asked that I not introduce you to this
creature, but I thought you might like to
meet the emerald tree boa. So here he is!
Just don’t tell Mr. Valle! This snake wraps
its body around its prey
and crushes it. A few
minutes later, its
dinner time!.
Leaf-Tailed Gecko
Having trouble seeing this
one? That is because the
leaf-tailed gecko’s spotted
back keeps it hidden from
others. Its not easy to eat
something you can’t see. Do
you think this guy sells auto
insurance like that other wellknown gecko?
Rainforest Animals
Finally, lets venture down to the
ground level, the undergrowth.
This is where I go when I want to
stretch my legs with a nice walk.
I usually meet some crazy
creatures on the forest floor.
Lets check them out!
Meet the gorilla family. This is my aunt, uncle,
and baby cousin George. Gorilla’s like to live in
groups together. You should see the size of our
extended family gatherings! This side of the
family owns most of the
size and strength genes.
My side has the
good looks 
Asian Elephant
Speaking of size and strength! I
think of two things when I think of
elephants. 1) They are huge! 2)
They have trunks. The size speaks
for itself, but did you know that
elephant trunks are used to eat,
drink, and even fight when
necessary. In addition to Asian
elephants, there are also African
elephants which are very similar.
Cassowary
Lets stick with the big theme
and meet a cassowary. This
incredible bird can’t fly but
can run very fast through the
forest. Believe it or not, it
can also stand as tall as an
adult human! The horny
lump on its head protects it
as it runs through brush.
Jaguar
The jaguar is one of the
coolest cats in the rainforest.
Right now it is relaxing in a
tree, but don’t be fooled, this
is one fierce hunter. Its
spotted coat helps keep it
hidden as it hunts down
prey.
Army Ants
This gang defines the meaning of
teamwork and shows that you don’t
have to be big to survive in the
rainforest. By working together, army
ants are able to conquer and feast on
prey much larger than them. They
also build complicated homes and can
travel long distances together in
search of food.
This concludes our animal
exploration. You may click
one of the pictures above to
go to another section.
Clicking the bananas below
will take you to the main
menu.
Bananas are delicious!
Rainforest Plants
The rainforest is home to
the largest gathering of
plants in all the world.
Together, they create a
nifty home for me. On
their own, they are
extremely unique and
fascinating to study. Lets
take a look at some of
the rainforest’s plants.
Just click and discover!
Bromeliad

Related to the
pineapple family

Thick leaves help it
catch and store water

Leaves also provide
homes for frogs,
salamanders, beetles,
and others.
Vanilla Orrchid

One of 20,000 known
species of orchids

Enjoy moist tropical
regions

Can grow either in soil or
on high up on trees
Rafflesia

This plant feeds off other
plants (killing what it
grows on)

Its flowers are the largest
in the world (over 3 feet
wide)

Looks and smells like
rotting meat to flies (this
attracts flies and causes
them to pollinate it)
Brazil Nut Tree

Among tallest of rainforest
trees

Can live up to 500 years old

Produces a nut which can
be used for food, as oil to
make clocks run smoothly,
or to assist in the creation
of artists’ paints

Surprisingly, Bolivia (not
Brazil) is the largest
producer of Brazil nuts.
Cannonball Tree

Similar to the Brazil nut
tree

Produces large orange,
pink, or red flowers
which eventually grow
into the big cannon ball
sized fruit.

Heavy fruit is known to
fall and can cause
injury to those on the
forest floor.
Rubber Trees

One of the most
valuable types of
trees in the rainforest

Its sap can be
collected and used to
make rubber

The wood from this
tree is used to make
high-quality furniture
Kapok Tree

Grows up to 220 feet
tall and can be over 9
feet wide

Easily identified by its
tall and wide-spreading
branches which stretch
out over other trees.
Mangroves

Lives near the edges of
oceans and rivers

Wide spreading roots
support the tree during
flooding and help secure
it in muddy areas

Roots also trap nutrients
Liana

Type of climbing vine
found in rainforests

Attaches to trees using
sucker roots

Climbs upward to reach
sunlight

Often spread from tree to
tree and wrap themselves
around other lianas
Bamboo

Giant woody grass

Can reach up to 120 feet

Grow extremely fast

Used for food and to
create fences, furniture,
toys and a variety of other
materials
Banana Plant

The banana plant is
known for its fruit
which has the same
name.

This fruit grows in
bunches and provides
food for rainforest
animals (like Max) and
people all over the
world
Cacao Tree

Small tree (12-24 feet
tall) found in the
understory layer

Fruit (beans) are used to
make cocoa and chocolate

Cacao beans from this
tree were once used as
money in ancient cultures

Mostly found in Africa and
South America
This concludes our study of
rainforest plants. You may
click one of the pictures
above to go to another
section. Clicking the
bananas below will take you
to the main menu.
I go bananas for bananas!
Save the Rainforest
In this portion of my
presentation, I need to talk
to you about some very
serious things.
Save the Rainforest
You might be surprised to
hear this, but the rainforests
are in serious danger. They
are being destroyed at an
extremely fast pace.
Save the Rainforest
Animals like me are losing
our homes every day. So are
the many special plants. But
that’s not all…
Save the Rainforest
The destruction of the
rainforests can have serious
consequences for you too!
In fact, the entire world is
being harmed by rainforest
destruction.
Save the Rainforest
Please click through these
slides so that I can explain
how the rainforest is being
destroyed, why it is so
important to save it, and
what you can do to make a
difference.
Importance of Rainforests
Rainforests are home to over half of all the world’s
species of plants and animals.
Importance of Rainforests
Rainforest plants provide some of the most important
medicines in the world. Scientists believe that more
medical cures can be found within the rainforests.
Importance of Rainforests
The unique qualities of the rainforest help to stabilize the
Earth’s environment. They accomplish this by recycling
large portions of the air and creating oxygen.
Importance of Rainforests
As stabilizers of the environment, rainforests play a
huge role in preventing global warming.
Importance of Rainforests
Rainforests also help to maintain the water cycle. The
do this by returning moisture to the air and
encouraging rainfall.
Importance of Rainforests
Rainforests reduce erosion thanks to its many trees and
plants which hold soil in place. Without rainforests,
many rivers would be clogged with extra dirt and rocks.
Destruction of Rainforests
Sadly, every year a large portion of the rainforests are
cut down and destroyed. Plants and animals lose their
homes and the environment is seriously harmed.
Destruction of Rainforests
Equally sad is the fact that human beings are the cause
of most of this destruction. So why do people destroy
the rainforests?
Destruction of Rainforests
Humans are cutting down rainforests for many reasons.
These include logging, agriculture, creating cattle
grazing areas, and building roads.
Destruction of Rainforests
Wood for furniture and construction is often taken from
rainforests. While non-destructive ways of logging are
becoming known, rainforest logging remains very harmful
Destruction of Rainforests
Thousands of miles are destroyed each year for the
creation of farms. Farmers quickly deplete the soil in
these cleared areas and must clear even more forest.
Destruction of Rainforests
Clearing pastures for cattle is the #1 cause of rainforest
destruction. Cattle owners seem continuously eager to
expand their wealth at the expense of the rainforest.
Destruction of Rainforests
As roads are built through the rainforest other types of
development follow. The result is continuous cycle of
rainforest destruction.
How to Help
Here are some quick and easy steps to doing your part to
save the rainforests.
How to Help
1) Use less paper, recycle paper, and use recycled paper
whenever you can.
How to Help
2) Use less plastic by recycling and using recycled
products whenever possible. Refill water bottles, reuse
plastic bags from home, and look for ways to conserve
How to Help
3) Fundraise. There are many organizations dedicated to
preserving rainforests. You can help them by chipping
in or telling adults about them.
How to Help
4) Study. Continue to learn as much as you can about
the rainforest. The more you know, the better you will
be able to assist when your talents are called upon.
How to Help
5) Teach. Don’t keep your understanding of the rainforest
to yourself. You now have a lot of valuable knowledge.
Spread this to others so that they can help too!
Save the Rainforest
YOU TRULY CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE!
Just remember the 5 steps:
1)Recycle & use less paper
2)Recycle & use less plastic
3)Fundraise
4)Study
5)Teach
This concludes our review of
why we must preserve the
rainforest and what you can
do to make a difference.
Click a picture above to go to
another section. Click the
bananas below to go to the
main menu.
Bananas, bananas, bananas!
Vocabulary Review
In this section, you will
review some important
rainforest vocabulary.
By understanding these
words, you will have a
better understanding of
the rainforest and its
importance in the
world. Study hard!
STABLE
Steady and not likely to change
CLIMATE
The average weather of a place over
a long period of time
SPECIES
A grouping of a living things based on
common characteristics
EMERGENT LAYER
The highest layer of the rainforest
known for its trees that stick out above
others.
CANOPY
The second highest layer in the
rainforest and most populated with
animals.
UNDERSTORY
A thick area of leaves, brush, and vines
just above the ground layer of the
rainforest
UNDERGROWTH
The bottom or ground layer of the
rainforest
EQUATOR
Imaginary circle around the Earth
which is most directly in line with the sun
MOISTURE
Wetness in an area
TROPICAL
An area of land that is often very hot
and humid
PREDATOR
An animal that hunts, kills, and eats
other animals in order to survive
PREY
Animals caught, killed, and eaten by
other animals as food
DESTRUCTION
The act of destroying something or the
remains of something that has been
destroyed
This concludes our
vocabulary review. Make
sure you study these terms
because Mr. Valle will likely
be testing you on them.
You may click one of the
pictures above to go to
another section. Clicking
the bananas below will take
you to the main menu.
Do you like bananas?