The unit is an integrated thematic study of the worlds rain forests and covers such topics as their locations and characteristics, the endangered species that inhabit them, and the types of organisms that live in them. Also covered are the people and products of the rain forest and the ecological effects that result from its destruction. The activities within this unit give students the opportunity to learn about the interdependence of plant and animal life that is unique to the rain forest. Some of these activities include transforming the classroom into a tropical rain forest, setting up a rain forest museum, and determining how many students it would take to reach the top of a giant tropical tree. In other activities, students create a poem about an animal found in rain forests, make rubber balls from rain forest latex, and challenge themselves with brain stretchers and tongue twisters.
Students can also take a guided visualization adventure through a rain forest.
The unit contains a rain forest glossary, an answer key for the activities, a world map, and a list of additional resources that may be helpful to teachers.