Guide to the Rainforest Mr. Valle ’ s Guide to the Rainforest With special guest: Max the Monkey CLICK TO ENTER

Mr. Valle’s

Guide Guide toto thethe RainforestRainforest

With special guest: Max the Monkey

CLICK TO ENTER

Meet Max the Monkey

Greetings! My name is Max. It is a pleasure to meet you. Mr. Valle has told me that you are a wonderful and very bright group of students.

Meet Max the Monkey

I look forward to getting to know you throughout this presentation and helping you to learn more about the rainforest.

Meet Max the Monkey

The rainforest is my home sweet home. I love sharing information about it! This is why I am so glad Mr. Valle invited me to be here today.

Meet Max the Monkey

There is so much to tell you that I don’t quite know where to begin. Why don’t you help me out by clicking the links and buttons that start on the next page…

Main Menu (Click a picture to explore.)

Rainforest Overview Rainforest Animals Rainforest Plants

Save the Rainforest Vocabulary Review

At any point in the presentation, click on the bananas to return to this menu screen.

Rainforest Overview

Let’s get an overview of the rainforest. Click through these slides to learn about where rainforests are found, the layers they are made of, and why they are so unique.

What are Rainforests?Rainforests are areas known for having

Warm climates

Many tall trees

A lot of rainfall

An incredible number of animal, plant, and insect species

Layers of the RainforestRainforests have four separate layers. Each has its own characteristics. They are as follows:

Emergent

Canopy

Understory

Undergrowth (ground layer)

The Emergent Layer Highest rainforest layer

(can reach up to 200 ft.)

The tallest trees stick outabove the rest

Home to bats, predatorybirds, butterflies, and aunique monkey (the proboscis)

The Canopy Dense area of trees located

below the emergent area

Between 100-150 ft. high

Has the greatest variety ofanimal life in the forest

Includes many birds, monkeys, lizards, and other unique creatures

The Understory Shrubs grow throughout

this area wherever lightshines through the canopy

Many lizards, snakes,cat-like animals, chimpanzees, andothers live in this thickarea of leaves, brush, andvines.

The Undergrowth (ground) Dark forest floor

Many small insects livehere such as ants andtermites

This is also the home ofgiants such as elephantsand gorillas

There are also many mid-sized animals like anteaters, jaguars, and peacocks

Where are Rainforests?

Rainforests are found near the equator.

The climate is very stable, warm,

and often wet in placesnear the equator

Stability, warmth, and moisture allow rainforests to thrive

Where are Rainforests?

Rainforests are located throughout the world in places such as…

Central America South America Africa Asia Australia

Lets take a look at them…

Where are Rainforests?The Amazon RainforestThe Amazon Rainforest

Located in South America

The world’s largesttropical rainforest

Home to the greatest variety of plants and

animals on Earth.

Where are Rainforests?The Central American RainforestThe Central American Rainforest

Was once much larger but hasbeen cleared for cattle raisingand sugar cane farming

Famous for its large number of tropical birds such as parrots

Where are Rainforests?The African RainforestThe African Rainforest

The world’s second largest rainforest

Famous for its gorillas,chimpanzees, and elephants.

Includes the island of Madagascar’s rainforest.

Where are Rainforests?The Southeast Asia RainforestThe Southeast Asia Rainforest

The oldest rainforest on Earth

Has the greatestnumber of plant and animal species

Being destroyed at afaster rate than anyother rainforest

Where are Rainforests?The Australian RainforestThe Australian Rainforest

Known for its heavy andwet winds blowing in from the Pacific Ocean

Famous for its large

number of plant and

animal species thatare endangered

This concludes our general overview of the rainforest. You may click one of the pictures above to go to another section. Clicking the bananas below will take you to the main menu.

I love bananas!

Rainforest Animals

The rainforest is a popular place for animals. There is nothing like a warm climate with plenty of water to enjoy! If you want to meet some of my friends, click through these slides.

Rainforest Animals

We will begin by meeting some of my best buddies from the tippy-top section of the rainforest: the emerging layer.

ToucanMy main man the toucan! Toucan’s big beak helps him find food such as small berries and other fruits at the end of branches. It is 8 inches long!

BirdwingThe birdwing is among the biggest insects in the world. Its wings can reach up to 8 inches long (as wide as the toucan’s beak!). Sometimes I venture to the treetops just to watch this guy fly!

Morpho ButterflySpeaking of butterflies, check out the morpho butterfly and its shimmering wings! These flash in the sunlight and make it one of the most beautiful beings in the forest.

Great HornbillThe great hornbill has a long beak that it uses to reach food. Its favorite foods are fruit and insects. I think the top part looks like one of those candy corns you see around Halloween. Mmmmmm.

Proboscis MonkeyDon’t let me forget my cousin, the proboscis monkey. My cousin uses its long nose to make these really loud honking noises. Its nose looks just like those old fashioned bicycle honkers too! I wonder who used the design first?

Phillippine Monkey-Eating Eagle

Aaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!This is no friend of mine!This is a monkey eating eagle! It likes to snack on lemurs, flying squirrels, and ME!

Lets get out of here!

Rainforest Animals

Whew! That was a close one. Remind me never to hang around too long in the emergent layer. For now, lets check out the most populated party area in the jungle: the canopy.

Scarlet MacawWith its bright colors and loud screeching calls, this is one very noticeable bird. Its strong beak allows it to crack nuts to eat. It also likes to eat fruit and leaves. Macaws often fly in large flocks of up to twenty.

Eclectus ParrotsWould you believe that these two birds are brother and sister? The female eclectus is the red and blue one. The male is the green one. Quite a colorful family don’t you think?

Flying Dragon

This is the rainforest’s version of a flying dragon (quite different from the one in Shrek 2). It is actually quite small and uses its wing-like flaps of skin to glide from branch to branch in the tree-filled canopy layer.

Flying LemurDragons aren’t the only unique flyers in the canopy. Lemurs like to soar as well. It uses its huge flaps of skin like a parachute. This allows it to glide from tree to tree.

Flying FrogFrogs fly in the canopy too. It uses flaps webs of skin on its feet and flaps on its legs to move from tree to tree.

Golden Arrow-Poison Frog

Don’t go too close to this guy! Its bright color is meant to warn predators away from his poisonous body. It is so dangerous that tribesmen use its poison to tip their arrows when hunting.

Diana Monkey

Lets take a look at some monkeys like me! This diana monkey is known for its red-colored fur along its back. The diana monkeys like to travel in troops of up to thirty. They spend nearly all their lives high in the trees eating leaves, fruits, and insects.

Black GibbonSticking with the monkeys, let me introduce you to the black gibbon. The arms of the gibbon are twice as long as its body. When it stands, they touch the ground. These arms are handy for swinging between trees. If there were a monkey Olympics, you can bet this guy would take home the gold in acrobatics!

Red Howler MonkeyThis is the mother of one of my best friends. Let me tell you, Mrs. Howler is not someone you want to make angry. Your ears will be ringing for a week! Red howlers are some of the loudest animals on Earth. They use their strong voices to warn away enemies (and monkeys like me when we get too rowdy ).

Rainforest Animals

As you can see, the canopy is quite a place. There are many more animals to meet in the canopy, but for now lets check out the understory. I am sure you will find many of my friends from here very interesting.

CurassowMeet the curassow. This bird is quite different from most others you are familiar with. It moves quickly through the trees by running along the branches. Its big strong feet allow it to do this.

Aye AyeAye yay yay! Meet the Aye Aye. This creature has an extra long finger on each hand so he can pull insects from the bark of trees. Its hearing is so good that it can hear insects moving below the bark! No one will sneak up on these guys.

Slender LorisThe slender loris has special muscles that allow it to grip onto branches for hours without getting tired. It can even hang by just one leg while it eats. Have you noticed its large eyes? Many animals in the understory have very big eyes. Most sunlight does not reach this layer of the rainforest, so big eyes are needed to help animals see.

Spectacled OwlThe white rings around its eyes give this owl its name. It looks like its wearing spectacles (glasses). This owl has no problem finding food though. It enjoys eating birds, lizards, and other small animals.

Emerald Tree BoaMr. Valle (who doesn’t exactly like snakes) asked that I not introduce you to this creature, but I thought you might like to meet the emerald tree boa. So here he is! Just don’t tell Mr. Valle! This snake wraps its body around its preyand crushes it. A fewminutes later, its dinner time!.

Leaf-Tailed GeckoHaving trouble seeing this one? That is because the leaf-tailed gecko’s spotted back keeps it hidden from others. Its not easy to eat something you can’t see. Do you think this guy sells auto insurance like that other well-known gecko?

Rainforest Animals

Finally, lets venture down to the ground level, the undergrowth. This is where I go when I want to stretch my legs with a nice walk. I usually meet some crazy creatures on the forest floor. Lets check them out!

Meet the gorilla family. This is my aunt, uncle, and baby cousin George. Gorilla’s like to live in groups together. You should see the size of our extended family gatherings! This side of the family owns most of the size and strength genes. My side has the good looks

Asian ElephantSpeaking of size and strength! I think of two things when I think of elephants. 1) They are huge! 2) They have trunks. The size speaks for itself, but did you know that elephant trunks are used to eat, drink, and even fight when necessary. In addition to Asian elephants, there are also African elephants which are very similar.

CassowaryLets stick with the big theme and meet a cassowary. This incredible bird can’t fly but can run very fast through the forest. Believe it or not, it can also stand as tall as an adult human! The horny lump on its head protects it as it runs through brush.

JaguarThe jaguar is one of the coolest cats in the rainforest. Right now it is relaxing in a tree, but don’t be fooled, this is one fierce hunter. Its spotted coat helps keep ithidden as it hunts downprey.

Army AntsThis gang defines the meaning of teamwork and shows that you don’t have to be big to survive in the rainforest. By working together, army ants are able to conquer and feast on prey much larger than them. They also build complicated homes and can travel long distances together in search of food.

This concludes our animal exploration. You may click one of the pictures above to go to another section. Clicking the bananas below will take you to the main menu.

Bananas are delicious!

Rainforest PlantsThe rainforest is home to the largest gathering of plants in all the world. Together, they create a nifty home for me. On their own, they are extremely unique and fascinating to study. Lets take a look at some of the rainforest’s plants. Just click and discover!

Bromeliad Related to the

pineapple family

Thick leaves help it catch and store water

Leaves also provide homes for frogs, salamanders, beetles, and others.

Vanilla Orrchid One of 20,000 known

species of orchids

Enjoy moist tropical regions

Can grow either in soil or on high up on trees

Rafflesia This plant feeds off other

plants (killing what it grows on)

Its flowers are the largest in the world (over 3 feet wide)

Looks and smells like rotting meat to flies (this attracts flies and causes them to pollinate it)

Brazil Nut Tree Among tallest of rainforest

trees

Can live up to 500 years old

Produces a nut which can be used for food, as oil to make clocks run smoothly, or to assist in the creation of artists’ paints

Surprisingly, Bolivia (not Brazil) is the largest producer of Brazil nuts.

Cannonball Tree Similar to the Brazil nut

tree

Produces large orange, pink, or red flowers which eventually grow into the big cannon ball sized fruit.

Heavy fruit is known to fall and can cause injury to those on the forest floor.

Rubber Trees One of the most

valuable types of trees in the rainforest

Its sap can be collected and used to make rubber

The wood from this tree is used to make high-quality furniture

Kapok Tree Grows up to 220 feet

tall and can be over 9 feet wide

Easily identified by its tall and wide-spreading branches which stretch out over other trees.

Mangroves Lives near the edges of

oceans and rivers

Wide spreading roots support the tree during flooding and help secure it in muddy areas

Roots also trap nutrients

Liana Type of climbing vine

found in rainforests

Attaches to trees using sucker roots

Climbs upward to reach sunlight

Often spread from tree to tree and wrap themselves around other lianas

Bamboo Giant woody grass

Can reach up to 120 feet

Grow extremely fast

Used for food and to create fences, furniture, toys and a variety of other materials

Banana Plant The banana plant is

known for its fruit which has the same name.

This fruit grows in bunches and provides food for rainforest animals (like Max) and people all over the world

Cacao Tree Small tree (12-24 feet tall)

found in the understory layer

Fruit (beans) are used to make cocoa and chocolate

Cacao beans from this tree were once used as money in ancient cultures

Mostly found in Africa and South America

This concludes our study of rainforest plants. You may click one of the pictures above to go to another section. Clicking the bananas below will take you to the main menu.

I go bananas for bananas!

Save the Rainforest

In this portion of my presentation, I need to talk to you about some very serious things.

Save the Rainforest

You might be surprised to hear this, but the rainforests are in serious danger. They are being destroyed at an extremely fast pace.

Save the Rainforest

Animals like me are losing our homes every day. So are the many special plants. But that’s not all…

Save the Rainforest

The destruction of the rainforests can have serious consequences for you too! In fact, the entire world is being harmed by rainforest destruction.

Save the Rainforest

Please click through these slides so that I can explain how the rainforest is being destroyed, why it is so important to save it, and what you can do to make a difference.

Importance of Rainforests

Rainforests are home to over half of all the world’s species of plants and animals.


Rainforest plants provide some of the most important medicines in the world. Scientists

believe that more medical cures can be found within the rainforests.


The unique qualities of the rainforest help to stabilize the Earth’s environment. They accomplish this by

recycling large portions of the air and creating oxygen.


As stabilizers of the environment, rainforests play a huge role in preventing global warming.


Rainforests also help to maintain the water cycle. The do this by returning moisture to the air and

encouraging rainfall.


Rainforests reduce erosion thanks to its many trees and plants which hold soil in place. Without

rainforests, many rivers would be clogged with extra dirt and rocks.

Destruction of Rainforests

Sadly, every year a large portion of the rainforests are cut down and destroyed. Plants and animals lose

their homes and the environment is seriously harmed.


Equally sad is the fact that human beings are the cause of most of this destruction. So why do

people destroy the rainforests?


Humans are cutting down rainforests for many reasons. These include logging, agriculture, creating

cattle grazing areas, and building roads.


Wood for furniture and construction is often taken from rainforests. While non-destructive ways of logging are

becoming known, rainforest logging remains very harmful


Thousands of miles are destroyed each year for the creation of farms. Farmers quickly deplete the soil in these cleared areas and must clear even more forest.


Clearing pastures for cattle is the #1 cause of rainforest destruction. Cattle owners seem

continuously eager to expand their wealth at the expense of the rainforest.


As roads are built through the rainforest other types of development follow. The result is continuous cycle of

rainforest destruction.

How to Help

Here are some quick and easy steps to doing your part to save the rainforests.

How to Help

1)Use less paper, recycle paper, and use recycled paper whenever you can.

How to Help

2) Use less plastic by recycling and using recycled products whenever possible. Refill water bottles,

reuse plastic bags from home, and look for ways to conserve

How to Help

3) Fundraise. There are many organizations dedicated to preserving rainforests. You can help them by

chipping in or telling adults about them.

How to Help

4) Study. Continue to learn as much as you can about the rainforest. The more you know, the better you will be able to assist when your talents are called

upon.

How to Help

5) Teach. Don’t keep your understanding of the rainforest to yourself. You now have a lot of valuable

knowledge. Spread this to others so that they can help too!

Save the RainforestYOU TRULY CAN MAKE A

DIFFERENCE!

Just remember the 5 steps:1)Recycle & use less paper2)Recycle & use less plastic

3)Fundraise4)Study 5)Teach

This concludes our review of why we must preserve the rainforest and what you can do to make a difference. Click a picture above to go to another section. Click the bananas below to go to the main menu.

Bananas, bananas, bananas!

Vocabulary ReviewIn this section, you will review some important rainforest vocabulary. By understanding these words, you will have a better understanding of the rainforest and its importance in the world. Study hard!

STABLE

Steady and not likely to change

CLIMATE

The average weather of a place over a long period of time

SPECIES

A grouping of a living things based on common characteristics

EMERGENT LAYER

The highest layer of the rainforest known for its trees that stick out

above others.

CANOPY

The second highest layer in the rainforest and most populated with

animals.

UNDERSTORY

A thick area of leaves, brush, and vines just above the ground layer of

the rainforest

UNDERGROWTH

The bottom or ground layer of the rainforest

EQUATOR

Imaginary circle around the Earth which is most directly in line with the

sun

MOISTURE

Wetness in an area

TROPICAL

An area of land that is often very hot and humid

PREDATOR

An animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals in order to survive

PREY

Animals caught, killed, and eaten by other animals as food

DESTRUCTION

The act of destroying something or the remains of something that has

been destroyed

This concludes our vocabulary review. Make sure you study these terms because Mr. Valle will likely be testing you on them. You may click one of the pictures above to go to another section. Clicking the bananas below will take you to the main menu.

Do you like bananas?

Documents

Guide to the Rainforest Mr. Valle ’ s Guide to the Rainforest With special guest: Max the Monkey CLICK TO ENTER