Beyond observing plant growth, students can compare the growing conditions with local and cultivated plants, as well as leaf transpiration rates. Illustrations of rainforest leaves are provided for students to compare the leaves. Typically temperate leaves have more variety in shape. Using a paper bag they cut out eye holes, paste on paper ears and a nose, paint it yellow with black spots, and add pipe cleaner whiskers. A tail is created by filling a nylon stocking with paper and gluing on black felt dots.
Students can pretend they are jaguars and explain the functions of their structures.
Tropical rainforests are located in the warm regions south of the Tropic of Cancer and north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Tropical rainforests are warm areas that receive a great deal of rainfall. Thornton et al. Despite the beauty and importance of rainforests, they are being rapidly destroyed or altered. Analogies can help people understand the rates of loss.