How to Graph the Four Layers of The Rain Forest
This lesson will help teach children how to identify the four layers of the rain forest by drawing them on paper. They will draw the four layers of the rain forest and label them with the appropriate name. On each layer of the rain forest the children will draw plants and animals that live in that layer. If the child does not draw well they can use a ruler to draw lines and to label the layers neatly so they can identify the key elements.
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Things You'll Need
- 8 1/2 by 11 paper
- Pencil
- Rulers
- Colored pencils or crayons
- Books about the rain forest
Instructions
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With a ruler and pencil, divide the paper horizontally into four sections that represent the four layers of the rain forest. Write the names of the layers on each section. Label the first layer at the bottom the "Forest Floor," the second the "Under Story Layer," the third the "Canopy Layer" and fourth at the very top of the paper the "Emergent Layer." Use a good elementary book on the rain forest to get the information needed for the lesson. Instruct students to write information about each layer and the plants and animals they will draw and label.
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Have the children draw some of the plants and animals found on the Forest Floor layer. This layer is dark and there is very little light. The plants found on the forest layer are moss, ferns and vines. The children can draw these plants and label them. Animals they might draw include anteaters, frogs, lizards or snakes. The insects that live in this layer are beetles and termites. Let them choose at least two plants and animals to draw for each layer of the rain forest. Remind them to take notes about the layers so they learn about the differences between them.
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Tell the children to draw at least two plants and animals from the Under Story Layer. Plants found here include ferns, palms, phildendron and heliconas. The animals that live on this layer are snakes, lizards, bettles, bees and other small animals. Have the kids label the plants and animals neatly on this layer.
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Instruct the children to draw the plants and animals on the third layer, the canopy layer. Remember if the students do not draw well have them at least write down names of the plants and animals on the layer. Some of the plants that live on this layer are orchids and bromelaids called air plants. This layer has many unique animals like tree frogs, toucans, leopards, butterflies and sloths. It is the primary layer that forms a roof over two layers below.
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Ask the children to finish by drawing the last layer. It is called the Emergent Layer and most animals found there can fly. The harpy eagle and small mammals called pygmy gliders are found here, as are bats, butterflies and hummingbirds.
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Put the layer drawings aside. From the notes that the students have written, have them write one paragraph about each of the rain forest layers. It should include details about the plants, animals and climate of each layer.
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Tips & Warnings
Think about having your students do a presentation about the layers of the rain forest and the animals after they do this lesson. It will be a good exercise to reinforce what they have learned. They can work in groups of two or three on the project.
