Made by: Caitlin Fitzgerald

Recommended grade level ¾

Comments or questions: email at cfitzger@uvm.edu

 

THE AMAZON AND ITS WILDLIFE

 

Introduction:

        The rainforest is the home to many plants and animals. This wildlife comes in lots of shapes, sizes, colors. YOU will have the opportunity to learn about these animals as you explore the rainforest. It is important to know that more plants and animals live in the rainforest than any other place in the world!

          Four layers: the forest floor, the understory, the canopy and the emergent layer, make up the rainforest. LOTS of animals and wildlife live in each layer. Each one of you will become an explorer and it’s your job to find some of these animals that are hiding in the layers of the rainforest!

 

The Challenge:

        You can hear the moving branches above your head. Was that something slithering by your feet? Did you just hear what I did? I think I heard a howl or a scream. Was it coming from up there in the trees? Every step we take there is a new noise. Your skin is getting wet from the moisture and it seems like it will rain soon, but it’s hard to see the sky through the tangling branches of each layer of this rainforest.

You have been sent, with your class, to be explorers of the rainforest! You will need to examine each layer of the rainforest very carefully. You each need to bring back one picture of an animal from each layer of the rainforest. On this trip we have crayons and paper for you to document the wildlife you see! Be sure to write down three interesting facts about each animal!

You never know what will be lurking around the next corner – so be careful! There are many animals you will come across! Are you ready for the rainforest? Get your crayons out and be ready for this journey!

 

 

Your Journey:

Forest Floor:

There is almost no sun here and it is very wet and warm. This is where the larger animals live, as well as insects and bugs.

          Pick one of the animals or insects on the forest floor to draw and write about to bring back to your school and community.

THE SCORPION:   CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION:  http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/l_waigiensis.htm                            

 

ARMY ANTS:  CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/ants/army/

THE ANTEATER:   CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: http://www.maiaw.com/anteater/                                  

THE TAPIR:    CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION:  http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/rforest/animals/tapir.htm         

 

 

 

The Understory:

        The canopy layer above the understory blocks almost all light from this layer of the rainforest. The plants here are short because of the lack of light, but there are LOTS of animals. What one will you pick to draw and write about?

THE JAGUAR:  CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/agarman/jaguar.htm                                                                               

 

 

THE BOA CONSTRICTOR:  CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Boa_constrictor.html                                                                

 

FRUIT BAT:  CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: http://www.lpzoo.com/tour/factsheets/mammals/straw_bat.html

 

The Canopy:

        This layer is the main layer of the rainforest and acts as a ceiling to the first two layers. The trees grow very tall and grow lots of different fruits and vegetables. The canopy is up high, and some animals never go down to the ground. Pick one to draw and write about.

RED-EYED TREE FROG:    CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: http://www.nashvillezoo.org/redeye.htm

                                                                       

SLOTH:  CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/1478/classify.html

 

MACAW:   CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/biodome/e2-coll/eara_h.htm

                                                                                   

SPIDER MONKEY:  CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azspdmky.html

 

 

The Emergent Layer:

        This layer has the largest trees and the most sun. Trees can grow to be 200 feet tall! Lots of animals live here and you need to draw and write about one to share with your friends at home!

TOUCAN:  CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: http://www.toucans.net/Gallery/ToucanBird.html

                                                                                               

HARPY EAGLE:  CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION:  http://www.cpb.ouhsc.edu/okc/okczoo/bird/harpy.html

 

BLUE MORPHO BUTTERFLY:  CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION: http://www.havasu.k12.az.us/starline/akeller/morpho.html

 

 

USE THESE KEYWORDS IN A SEARCH TO FIND MORE ABOUT ANIMALS IN THE RAINFOREST:

ANIMALS, RAINFOREST, WILDLIFE