COTERC Grade 2 - Educational Resource

Welcome to the rainforestWelcome to the rainforest

Today, we are going to go deep inside Today, we are going to go deep inside the rainforest and learn about some the rainforest and learn about some of the amazing animals that live of the amazing animals that live there.there.

Animals such asAnimals such as……

MammalsMammals


AmphibiansAmphibians

MammalsMammals


BirdsBirds


MammalsMammals


ReptilesReptiles

BirdsBirds


MammalsMammals


ReptilesReptiles

BirdsBirds


MammalsMammals

InsectsInsects


As you can guess, rainforests can be very wet places. As you can guess, rainforests can be very wet places.

1000 cm1000 cm

0 cm0 cm

500 cm500 cm

0 cm0 cm75 cm75 cm

A rainforest may receive from 400 to 1000 A rainforest may receive from 400 to 1000 centimetres of rain each year. centimetres of rain each year.

By comparison, Toronto receives By comparison, Toronto receives about 75 centimetres of rain about 75 centimetres of rain each year. each year.

Rainforests are also warm places. The temperature Rainforests are also warm places. The temperature stays between 25 stays between 25 –– 30 Celsius all year.30 Celsius all year.Now you know that rainforests are wet and warm.Now you know that rainforests are wet and warm.

It is also easier for animals to survive where it is warm It is also easier for animals to survive where it is warm all year. all year.

The rainforest makes a wonderful home for many The rainforest makes a wonderful home for many different kinds of animals because they all need water different kinds of animals because they all need water to survive.to survive.

Rainforests can be divided into three layers.Rainforests can be divided into three layers.The top layer is made up of the tops of all the The top layer is made up of the tops of all the rainforest trees. This layer is called the canopy.rainforest trees. This layer is called the canopy.

This part of the rainforest receives the most amount This part of the rainforest receives the most amount of sunlight and rain. Trees and plants need this of sunlight and rain. Trees and plants need this sunlight and water to grow.sunlight and water to grow.

The layer below the canopy is called the understoreyThe layer below the canopy is called the understoreyNotice that there is not a lot of light here. The Notice that there is not a lot of light here. The leaves in the canopy stop most of the sunlight.leaves in the canopy stop most of the sunlight.Many animals call the understorey their home. In Many animals call the understorey their home. In fact, this is where you can find the most number of fact, this is where you can find the most number of insects in the rainforest.insects in the rainforest.

If we move even further below the canopy and below If we move even further below the canopy and below the understorey, we will reach the forest floor.the understorey, we will reach the forest floor.Very few plants actually grow at this level because it Very few plants actually grow at this level because it is too dark. The forest floor is mostly covered in is too dark. The forest floor is mostly covered in dead leaves.dead leaves.Can you see an animal in this picture?Can you see an animal in this picture?

This bird is called a Night Hawk and it blends in very well with the dead leaves on the forest floor.

Many animals in the rainforest blend in with their homes to help them hide and stay safe. Are you ready to meet some of them?

Most of the animals we find in the rainforest are Most of the animals we find in the rainforest are insects. The insects in this picture are weaver ants.insects. The insects in this picture are weaver ants.

See how they hold onto each other to make a living See how they hold onto each other to make a living bridge between the leaves.bridge between the leaves.

There are many different types of insects, but they There are many different types of insects, but they all have characteristics that show us they are all have characteristics that show us they are insects.insects.

All insects have six legs. LetAll insects have six legs. Let’’s count them.s count them.

11

22

33

44

55

66

Insects also have three main body segments.Insects also have three main body segments.

1. Head1. Head

2. Thorax2. Thorax

3. Abdomen3. Abdomen

Katydids are insects that are related to Katydids are insects that are related to grasshoppers. Can you see the katydid in this grasshoppers. Can you see the katydid in this

picture?picture?

Katydids are well known for their camouflage. They Katydids are well known for their camouflage. They can look like sticks, flowers, and leaves. This one can look like sticks, flowers, and leaves. This one

looks like a leaf.looks like a leaf.

Here is another animal that lives on a leaf. This one Here is another animal that lives on a leaf. This one is not an insect though. It only has four legs.is not an insect though. It only has four legs.

The redThe red--eyed leaf frog is an amphibian and eyed leaf frog is an amphibian and amphibians have different characteristics than amphibians have different characteristics than

insects.insects.

All amphibians have moist skin. All amphibians have moist skin. This means that the skin is always just a little bit wet. This means that the skin is always just a little bit wet.

You know that the rainforest is a wet place, so it is a You know that the rainforest is a wet place, so it is a great place for animals that like to have wet skin.great place for animals that like to have wet skin.

Amphibians also have a backbone. Amphibians also have a backbone. Animals with backbones are called Animals with backbones are called vertebratesvertebrates. . Insects do not have a backbone. Insects do not have a backbone. Animals without a backbone are called Animals without a backbone are called invertebratesinvertebrates..

This poison dart This poison dart frog is a very frog is a very colourful amphibian. colourful amphibian. Most animals use Most animals use their colour to their colour to camouflage but the camouflage but the poison dart frog is poison dart frog is different.different.

Poison dart frogs Poison dart frogs use their bright use their bright colours to give a colours to give a warning. warning. The bright red The bright red colour tells animals colour tells animals to stop and leave to stop and leave the frog alone. the frog alone. If they eat it, the If they eat it, the frogfrog’’s poisonous skin s poisonous skin will make them sick.will make them sick.

Some people that live Some people that live in the rainforest use in the rainforest use the poison from this the poison from this frogfrog’’s skin. s skin. They put the poison They put the poison on their hunting on their hunting darts. When they darts. When they shoot the dart into an shoot the dart into an animal, the poison animal, the poison quickly kills it.quickly kills it.

This snake is called a boa constrictor and it is a reptile. This snake is called a boa constrictor and it is a reptile.

Another characteristic of reptiles is that they do not make heat inside their body.

Reptiles have dry scales on their skin.Reptiles have dry scales on their skin.

Mammals, like the jaguar, make heat inside their Mammals, like the jaguar, make heat inside their body just like you. Animals that make their own body just like you. Animals that make their own heat are called endothermic. heat are called endothermic.

Endo means Endo means insideinside and thermic means and thermic means heat. heat. EndothermicEndothermic animals make heat animals make heat insideinside their bodies.their bodies.

Reptiles, insects and amphibians, like this frog, Reptiles, insects and amphibians, like this frog, are ectothermic. are ectothermic.

Ecto means Ecto means outsideoutside and thermic means and thermic means heat. heat.

EctothermicEctothermic animals get heat from animals get heat from outsideoutside their their bodies. They do not make their own body heat. bodies. They do not make their own body heat.

Many different Many different types of birds make types of birds make the rainforest their the rainforest their home. home.

You already know that insects have six legs, amphibians You already know that insects have six legs, amphibians have moist skin, and reptiles are scaly. Can you think have moist skin, and reptiles are scaly. Can you think of one characteristic of birds?of one characteristic of birds?

This little This little hummingbird flies hummingbird flies from flower to from flower to flower drinking flower drinking sweet nectar with sweet nectar with its tongue.its tongue.

You can probably think of many characteristics.You can probably think of many characteristics.

Birds have beaksBirds have beaks……

feathersfeathers……

and wings.and wings.

Birds, like mammals, also make heat inside their body. Birds, like mammals, also make heat inside their body. They are endothermic.They are endothermic.

The jaguar is a mammal. You are a mammal too.The jaguar is a mammal. You are a mammal too.

Remember that Remember that mammals make mammals make their own body their own body heat. They are heat. They are endothermic.endothermic.

Mammals also have fur or hair all over their body.Mammals also have fur or hair all over their body.

The eyelash viper is The eyelash viper is a type of snake a type of snake found in the found in the rainforest. When it rainforest. When it is born, this snake is born, this snake looks just like its looks just like its parents.parents.

Do all animals look just like their parents Do all animals look just like their parents when they are born?when they are born?

Actually, most animals do not look like Actually, most animals do not look like their parents when they are born. their parents when they are born.

Insects and amphibians usually look very Insects and amphibians usually look very different when compared to their parents.different when compared to their parents.

Just look at this Just look at this little ant larva.little ant larva.

It does not look It does not look anything like the anything like the ant that is carrying ant that is carrying it.it.

Mammals, birds, and reptiles are not like Mammals, birds, and reptiles are not like insects and amphibians.insects and amphibians.

When mammals, birds, and reptiles are When mammals, birds, and reptiles are born they look a lot like their parents.born they look a lot like their parents.

This bat had two eyes, two ears, a mouth, This bat had two eyes, two ears, a mouth, two wings, and two feet just like its two wings, and two feet just like its mother and father.mother and father.

Now we can review all the Now we can review all the characteristics of the animals we characteristics of the animals we

have seenhave seen


have seenhave seen

MammalsMammals••BackboneBackbone

••Fur or HairFur or Hair

••EndothermicEndothermic


have seenhave seen

AmphibiansAmphibians••BackboneBackbone

••No scales, hair, No scales, hair,

or feathersor feathers

••EctothermicEctothermic





have seenhave seen








BirdsBirds••BackboneBackbone

••Feathers, beaks, Feathers, beaks,

and wingsand wings



have seenhave seen










and wingsand wings


ReptilesReptiles••BackboneBackbone

••Dry scalesDry scales



have seenhave seen










and wingsand wings


ReptilesReptiles••BackboneBackbone

••Dry scalesDry scales


InsectsInsects••No backboneNo backbone

••Six legsSix legs

••Head, thoraxHead, thorax

abdomenabdomen


You have learned a lot about rainforests and the You have learned a lot about rainforests and the animals that live there.animals that live there.The rainforest is an important home for millions of The rainforest is an important home for millions of species of plants and animals and they are an species of plants and animals and they are an important part of our Earth.important part of our Earth.

But rainforests are disappearing and so are the But rainforests are disappearing and so are the animals that live there.animals that live there.

Destroying one tree is like destroying a whole Destroying one tree is like destroying a whole neighborhood in your city. neighborhood in your city.

The trees are being cut down to be used for wood. The trees are being cut down to be used for wood. One tree is a home for hundreds of animals. One tree is a home for hundreds of animals.

Farmers cut down the forest to raise cattle and Farmers cut down the forest to raise cattle and grow crops.grow crops.

The roots of trees and plants are like hands The roots of trees and plants are like hands that hold the soil together. When the forest that hold the soil together. When the forest is cut down,is cut down,……

……the rain washes away the soil. This is called the rain washes away the soil. This is called erosion. After the rain is gone and the sun comes erosion. After the rain is gone and the sun comes out,out,……

……the ground dries up and very few plants can grow.the ground dries up and very few plants can grow.

We need to protect the rainforest.We need to protect the rainforest.••It provides a home for millions of plants and animals.It provides a home for millions of plants and animals.

••Rainforest plants produce oxygen so we can breathe.Rainforest plants produce oxygen so we can breathe.

••The rainforest fruits provide food so we can eat.The rainforest fruits provide food so we can eat.••Some plants can be used for medicine to keep us healthy.Some plants can be used for medicine to keep us healthy.

Although rainforests cover only a Although rainforests cover only a small part of the world, far away small part of the world, far away from our homes, they have an from our homes, they have an effect on all of us.effect on all of us.

Once rainforests are destroyed, they will be gone Once rainforests are destroyed, they will be gone forever. You can do something about it. Your home forever. You can do something about it. Your home provides many chances to help the rainforest:provides many chances to help the rainforest:

•• Reduce, reuse, and recycleReduce, reuse, and recycle•• Use products from the rainforest without destroying it.Use products from the rainforest without destroying it.•• Encourage local and national organizations, like COTERC Encourage local and national organizations, like COTERC to help save the rainforest.to help save the rainforest.

For more information about rainforests and what you can do For more information about rainforests and what you can do to help, to help, contact:contact:

The Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and The Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest ConservationRainforest Conservation

P.O. Box 335, Pickering, Ontario, Canada L1V 2R P.O. Box 335, Pickering, Ontario, Canada L1V 2R

Website: Website: www.coterc.orgwww.coterc.org Email: Email: [email protected]@coterc.org