RAIN FORESTS

Rain Forests

They're really half a world away, 
There's nothing we can do.
"Rain Forests" might be just two words
To kids like me and you.

They're really somewhere over there.
I may not even see
A Rain Forest in my entire life.
What should it mean to me?

I know that in these Rain Forests
That I may never see,
Half the world's plants, animals, and insects
Live in harmony.

I know that trees are being cut, 
Faster than we know.
These trees are where the creatures live,
So now where will they go?

So, I know they're half a world away.
Rain Forests I can't see.
But I can learn and understand
Because the future starts with me!

From Songs 4 Teachers






The Rain Forest: An Introduction

What is a tropical rain forest?

A tropical rain forest is a forest that receives 4 to 8 meters of rain each year.

Where are the tropical rain forests located?

They are located near the equator in Africa, South and Central America, and Asia.

Why are tropical rain forests important to our earth?

Rain forests are important because they play an important role in the climate control of our planet by having an affect on the wind, rainfall, humidity, and temperature.  Within the rain forest, water, oxygen, and carbon are recycled.  This natural recycling helps to reduce flooding, soil eroision, and air pollution.

The rain forests support over half of the plant and animal life on Earth, even though they cover only 2% of the Earth's surface.

About one fourth of the medicines we use come from the plants of the tropical rain forest. 

What is happening to our rain forests?

27 million acres of the Earth's rain forests are destroyed each year due to man.  Agriculture, clearing and developing land, beef cattle ranching, logging, and the building of dams and hydroelectric plants. This has resulted in a loss of 100 acres of rain forest land being destroyed every minute and 80% of the rain forests of the world are now gone.  This destruction also results in 10,000 species of plants and animals to become extinct each year.

(information from RainBird - Rain Forest Teaching Curriculum

What is a Tropical Rain Forest? - good website to learn about the rainforests .
 
 

Where in the World are the Rain Forests?

Click here to find out!






Books:

Rain Forest - by Helen Cowcher 
Rain Forest Babies -  by Kathy Darling 
Amazon Alphabet -  by Martin and Tanis Jordan 
Look inside a Rainforest - by Alexandra E. Fischer 
The Great Kapok Tree -  by Lynne Cherry 
The Shaman's Apprentice - by Lynne Cherry and Mark J. Plotkin
Here is the Tropical Rainforest - by Madeline Dunphy 
Journey of the Red-eyed Tree Frog -  by Martin and Tanis Jordan 
The Red-eyed Tree Frog
Destination: Rain Forest - by Jonathan Grupper
Children Save the Rainforest - by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
 

Links:

Sounds of the Rainforest

Rainforest Animals A-E

Rainforest Animals F-M

Rainforest Animals N-Z

Rainforests - General information

Rainforest pictures

Layers of the Rainforest - in pictures

Tropical Feast - foods and spices of the Rainforest

Plant Life in the Rain Forest

Rainforest Plants
      rafflesia
      pitcher plant
      bromeliad
      orchids
      bananas
      cocoa
      pineapple

Plants of the Rainforest

Explore the Rainforests

Amazon Interactive - test your knowledge of the Amazon!

Rainforest Puzzle - answer the questions correctly and a picture of the rain forest will appear!

All About Rainforests - from Enchanted Learning

Animals of the Rain Forest

"Rain Forest Animals of the World" - my learning experience outline.

Amazon Rainforest Photos and Information - great photos of animals, plants, people, scenery, and towns!

Wild Life of the Amazon - good pictures

Maps of the Amazon River 
 

Fact File on the Amazon River

Gallery of Pictures - of the Amazon River

Pink and Gray River Dolphins of the Amazon River!

Amazon Interactive - How rainy is the rain forest?
Amazon Interactive - Where is the Amazon? Find it on a world map.
Amazon Interactive - Who lives in the Amazon?
 

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