This document provides information about rainforests and discusses the threats facing the Amazon Rainforest. It begins with definitions of a rainforest and descriptions of its layers. It notes that rainforests contain over 50% of the world's plant and animal species while taking up less than 7% of the Earth's land. The document then discusses reasons for deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest and states that over the past few decades trees have been cut down for various reasons, putting this important environment in danger.

1. Entry Task:
In your opinion, what natural
resource is the most
valuable/important on Earth?

2. Interactive Notebook:
•Date =
•Title = Rainforests
•Page # =

3. Table Group Discussion:
•What is a rainforest?
•Record your ideas in your
Interactive Notebook.

4. What is a rainforest?
• Woodland characterized by lush vegetation,
comparatively high temperature, and rainfall throughout
the year.
• The world’s most biologically diverse ecosystem.
• Account for less than 7% of the land surface on earth, but
contain more than 50% of its plant and animal species.

5. • Emergent Tree – the tallest trees
which enjoy unfettered sunlight.
• Canopy Layer – absorbs as much
as 90% of the sunlight, darkening
the lower regions.
• Understory – receives little
sunlight, therefore boasts cooler
temperature and higher
humidity.
• Forest Floor – home to many of
the rainforest’s insects, reptiles,
and amphibians.

6. • Most plants found in the
rainforest are unique to
that biome.
• Many of these plants are
eaten by the indigenous
people and/or used for
medicine.
• Millions of plant species
exist in the rainforest.

7. • In 15 sq km (6 sq mi) of
rain forest, as many as
100 different mammal
species may be found.
• Many rainforest
animals are nocturnal,
sleeping during the
heat of the day.

8. • Almost 90% of the
rainforest animal
species are insects,
and of these, most
are beetles.
• Some estimate that
as many as 30
million insect species
may live in the

9. • Indigenous, or native people
have lived in the rainforest
for many thousands of years.
• Much of their food,
medicines, and clothing come
from the rainforest.
• Besides hunting, gathering
wild fruits and nuts and
fishing, they also plant small
gardens.

10. The problem is…
The Amazon Rainforest is in DANGER . . .
This beautiful and important physical
environment is under serious threat. For
decades people have been cutting down
the trees for a variety of reasons.
What are the reasons for deforestation?

12. How much of the Amazon
Rainforest has been destroyed?
•http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/press/relea
ses/2014/Amazon-deforestation-rates-decrease-from-last-
year/
•http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-
way/2016/11/30/503867628/deforestation-of-the-
amazon-up-29-percent-from-last-year-study-finds
•https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jun/07
/amazon-deforestation-illegal-logging-brazil

13. Videos:
• Please take notes in your I.N.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=9eFiZbB9aJQ
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=hllU9NEcJyg

14. Learning Task:
• Read the text called, Destruction of the
Amazon Rainforest.” This text is posted on
the Google Classroom.
• Take notes in your I.N.
• Complete the “Amazon Rainforest
Questions,” which are posted on the Google
Classroom.