Activity 7 - Rainforest Features

Focus
The structural features of the rainforest are important concepts in understanding how rainforests work.

Background
The rainforest videos, Rainforest Rave Poster and the Tropical Rainforest Websites are useful resources to identify rainforest features such as:
• emergents (trees which are 15 metres taller than the surrounding rainforest canopy)
• canopy (mixed species of trees up to 30 metres high)
• vines and epiphytes (use other plants to reach the sunlight)
• understorey (tree ferns, young trees and palms living in dull, moist, cool conditions)
• buttress roots (help support and feed giant rainforest trees).

Several short video segments highlight the features and cycles of the tropical rainforest:

• Our Tropical Rainforest
• Rainforest Features
• The Water Cycle
• Photosynthesis: the Energy Cycle

The following fact sheets may also provide useful reading for students:
• Canopy Fact Sheet
• Climbing Strategies
• Climax and Pioneer Plants.

Pedagogy/teaching strategies
Teacher directed through questioning.

Activity sequence
1. View the Rainforest Features video.

Rainforest Features

2. Display the illustrated line drawing of the Rainforest Structure Diagram.
Identify the features of the rainforest.
3. Colour in completed rainforest diagram highlighting the important features.
4. Students are given an Rainforest Structure Activity Sheet and asked to colour various elements (eg. emergents – yellow, canopy – green, understorey –grey, forest floor – brown, epiphytes – red,
buttress roots – pink).
5. View the video Photosynthesis: the Energy Cycle.

• Photosynthesis: the Energy Cycle

6. Students are given an Unlabelled Photosynthesis Diagram.
7. Students add the key components of the energy cycle to the diagram. Use the 1-2-4 Strategy to share diagrams and choose the most comprehensive to present to the whole class.