What is inside the rainforest? Are all the plants the same? Why?

Lesson Objective:- To investigate what lies within a rainforest. Lesson Outcome By the end of today’s lesson you will be able to:- Describe and explain the different layers within a rainforest Evaluate the importance of the layers of the rainforest and their function Lesson 3 What is inside the rainforest?

By the end of this topic you will be able to describe and explain the difference between human and physical geography. You will also be able to identify contrasting environments across the world as well as explaining the effects of the environment towards the population, plants and animals..

Using half a page split it into two sections. In the first section you need to draw a cross section of what you think the trees/plants in the rainforest look like.

Make a sketch of this diagram in your books (in your other section)

The Emergent LayerThe Canopy The Under CanopyThe Shrub Layer Split your page into 4 sections

There are a number of pieces of information placed around the room. As a table you need to collect all of them. This activity does not involve talking to anyone.

Under canopy is also know as the understory The forest floor can also be referred to as shrub layer

With the use of your learning mat’s please complete the following questions Emergent Layer 1.What are the trees shaped like? 2.Describe the characteristics of the trees. Under Canopy 1.What is found here? 2. What is the under canopy made up of? 3.What are the trees like? 4. Describe the characteristics of the under canopy. Shrub layer/ Forest floor 1.Describe the characteristics of the forest floor. 2.Explain what decomposition is. 3.Name the animals that live in this layer. Canopy 1.Describe the trees 2.What do the trees stop?

Emergent Layer 1.What are the trees shaped like? 2.Describe the characteristics of the trees.

Canopy 1.Describe the trees 2.What do the trees stop?

Under Canopy 1.What is found here? 2. What is the under canopy made up of? 3.What are the trees like? 4. Describe the characteristics of the under canopy.

Shrub layer/ Forest floor 1.Describe the characteristics of the forest floor. 2.Explain what decomposition is. 3.Name the animals that live in this layer.

Create 5 questions based on what you have learnt today Some of these questions will be used at the beginning of next lesson

Resources

The Under Canopy Layer In the rainforest most plant and animal life is found in the under canopy. The under canopy canopy is made up of the overlapping branches and leaves of rainforest trees. Most under canopy trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point. The under canopy is drier and hotter than other parts of the forest, and the plants and animals that live there are specially adapted for life in the trees. Scientists claim this the richest habitat for plant and animal life. The Forest Floor/ Shrub layer The rainforest floor is often dark and humid due to constant shade from the canopy’s leaves. Despite its constant shade, the rainforest floor is an important part of the forest ecosystem. Many of the largest rainforest animals are found on the forest floor. Some of these are elephants, the tapir, tigers, and the jaguar. The forest floor is where decomposition takes place. Decomposition is the process by which fungi and microorganisms break down dead plants and animals and recycle essential materials and nutrients. Emergent Only a few very tall trees break through the canopy and into the emergent layer. These trees are shaped like umbrellas and have long thin trunks. Their leaves are big, thick, waxy leaves to protect them because these trees get the most sunlight and have to cope with strong winds. The Canopy Is the thickest layer of the forest where the trees stop sunlight reaching plants below. Little sunlight reaches this area so the trees have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight. These trees grow in the shade of bigger trees.

Canopy Layer In the rainforest most plant and animal life is found in the canopy. The canopy is made up of the overlapping branches and leaves of rainforest trees. Most canopy trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point. The canopy is drier and hotter than other parts of the forest, and the plants and animals that live there are specially adapted for life in the trees. The Forest Floor/ Shrub layer The rainforest floor is often dark, hot and wet due to shade from the canopy’s leaves. Even through it is in shade the rainforest floor is an important part of the forest. Many of the largest rainforest animals are found on the forest floor. Some of these are elephants, tigers, and the jaguar. On the forest flood it is warm, wet and covered in dead plants, and leaves. On the flood all of the dead material rots away. This is called decomposition. Emergent Only a few very tall trees break through the canopy and into the emergent layer. These trees are shaped like umbrellas and have long thin trunks. Their leaves are big, thick, waxy leaves to protect them from strong winds and sun burn. The Canopy Is the thickest layer of the forest where the trees stop sunlight reaching plants below. Little sunlight reaches this area so the trees have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight. These trees grow in the shade of bigger trees.

The upper canopy has the thickest layer of trees. The stop sunlight reaching the plants below. Under Canopy Layer In the rainforest most plant and animal life is found in the canopy. The canopy is made up of the overlapping leaves of rainforest trees. Most canopy trees have smooth leaves that come to a point. The canopy is drier and hotter than other parts of the forest. The Forest Floor/ Shrub layer On the floor of the rainforest is it very warm and wet. Some of the largest animals live here. Emergent These are the tallest tree, that stick out the top of the rainforest. These trees are shaped like umbrellas and have long thin trunks. Some of the animals that live on the floor of the rainforest are elephants, tigers and jaguars. The Rainforest

The Emergent Layer – Only a few very tall trees break through the canopy layer. The trees are shaped like umbrellas. The Emergent Layer – This layer receives most of the sunlight and the rain. The Emergent Layer – The trees have long thin trunks, growing up to 60m. The Emergent Layer – The leaves are big, thick and waxy. This helps protect them from the strong winds and the sun. The Canopy – This is the thickest layer of the forest (it is like the forest ceiling). The Canopy – Little sunlight reaches this area so the trees grow larger leaves to reach the sun.

The Canopy – The canopy is home to 90% of the animals in the rainforest. The Under Canopy - This layer only receives 2-15% of the sunlight. The Under Canopy- Mainly young trees can cope with the low amounts of light. Many popular house plants come from this layer. The Shrub Layer/ Forest Floor - This layer receives less than 2% of sunlight. The Shrub Layer/ Forest Floor - There are very few plants here. The Shrub Layer/ Forest Floor – The floor is a thin layer of fallen leaves, seeds and branches that slowly decompose.