Activity: Class teams write a report about rain forest animals and their adaptations. Students will learn about animals’ unique characteristics and behavior and how they must adapt to their environment in order to survive.

1. Explain that rain forests are home to most of the world’s plant and animal species. The intense sunlight, high temperatures, and abundant rainfall make this environment one of extraordinary biodiversity.

2. Have students visit the Web sites below to learn about animals that live in the tropical rain forests, such as the toucan, the tree boa, and the leaf-cutting ant. Divide the class into small groups and ask each group to choose a rain forest animal they’d like to learn more about.

3. Have each group write a short report about the animal using the sites below. Encourage them to include important facts, such as its appearance, diet, and other fun facts they discover. They should also describe one way that the animal is adapted to its rain forest habitat. Encourage students to illustrate their reports with a picture of the animal, labeling unique characteristics, such as the toucan’s beak or the vibrant colors of the poison arrow frog. If the animal they’ve chosen to write about is endangered, have students explain why.

4. Display children’s drawings and reports on the rain forest bulletin board. Be sure animals are placed in the correct rain forest layer.

Tropical Rain Forest Animals: 14 Animals Up Close
http://www.mobot.org/MBGnet/sets/rforest/animals/index.htm