Geography

The equatorThe equator is an imaginary line which divides the world in half.

The tropicsThere is also another imaginary line above the equator called the Tropic of Cancer and one below called the Tropic of Capricorn.

The tropicsThe space between these lines is known as the tropics.

The tropicsBecause the earth is round the tropics are the parts which are closest to the sun.

This means that they are usually very hot.

The tropics

Because it is so hot, lots of water evaporates from the seas and rivers in this area and turns into clouds. This means that there is also lots of rain in the tropics.

The tropics

Tropical rainforests need lots of heat and rain to survive so all of the tropical rainforests can be found in this band around the equator.

© Zig Koch / WWF

WeatherWeather is used to describe the conditions which a place is experiencing.

For example:• The temperature• Precipitation (if it is raining,

snowing, sleeting)• Wind

These factors can change minute by minute, day by day.

© Greg Armfield / WWF-UK

ClimateClimate is the average weather which a place normally experiences.

The climate is different across the world and can be affected by lots of different things.

For example:• How high the place is• Where it is on the earth• Whether it is close to, or far

away from, the sea

ClimateThe shape of the world has a big effect on climate.

Because the earth is a globe the middle part is much closer to the sun than the parts at the top and bottom.

This means that countries around the centre of the earth can get much hotter than those at the top and bottom.

ClimateThe charts on your worksheet show you the average temperature and amount of rainfall which three destinations get over one year.

Look at the charts and make some notes on the climate of each place.

Now use your detective skills to work out where each destination is on the map.

AnswersThe answers to the questions on worksheet 6 are…

• Destination A: Manaus, Brazil

• Destination B: London, UK

• Destination C: Reykjavik, Iceland

The layers of the AmazonRainforests are very tall, dense forests made up of loads of plants and animals.

They can be separated into four different layers:

• Forest floor

• Understory

• Canopy

• Emergent layer

Different plants and animals live in each layer…

The layers of the Amazon

The layers of the Amazon

Emergent layer

This is the tops of the tallest trees in the forest. They can be up to 200 feet tall! This layer gets lots of sunlight.

The layers of the Amazon

CanopyThis is the main roof and busiest part of the forest. All the treetops grow closely together to catch most of the sun. There are lots of fruits and flowers to eat which means a lot of animals live in this layer.

The layers of the Amazon

UnderstoryThis layer is made up of smaller trees and plants. Not much sunlight gets through the layer above so the plants have big leaves to catch the sunlight where they can.

The layers of the Amazon

Forest floor

Hardly any sunlight reaches the bottom layer so it is dark and stuffy here. Not many plants can grow down here but there are lots of dead leaves which have fallen from above which makes it a paradise for insects.

Guess the layer

Now you know about the different layers of the Amazon guess which layer each of these animals lives in…

Guess the layerHarpy eagle

Guess the layerSloth

Guess the layerJaguar

© David Lawson WWF-UK

Guess the layer

Toucan

Tree frog

Guess the layer

© Zig Koch / WWF

Giant Anteater

Guess the layer

Leafcutter Ant

Guess the layer

The harpy eagle lives in the emergent layer at the top of the forest.

Guess the layer

The sloth lives in the canopy of the forest to try and stay away from the quicker predators on the ground.

Guess the layer

The jaguar lives on the forest floor but can also climb up to the understory in order to catch its prey.

Guess the layer

© David Lawson WWF-UK

The toucan lives in the canopy where it uses its huge beak to crack open hard nuts.

Guess the layer

The tree frog lives on the leaves in the damp understory of the rainforest.

Guess the layer

© Zig Koch / WWF

The giant anteater lives on the forest floor where it can forage for delicious ants.

Guess the layer

The leafcutter ant climbs tall trees to collect green leaves for its burrow, but its home is on the forest floor.

Guess the layer

Conscience alley

Logging can provide an important source of income to the people and governments of the Amazon countries.

But it is crucial that logging is done sustainably to protect the forest and the people and animals which live in the Amazon.

Conscience alleyGovernments play an important role.

They need to set good standards for the environment and working conditions. And they need to ensure that logging companies stick to the rules and punish those that do not.

Conscience alleyBut we can also make a difference by making sure to only buy paper or wood products which are FSC certified.

By tackling illegal logging we can make the best use of the Amazon’s resources without destroying the rainforest for future generations.

Rainforest at home

Did you know that many of the products we use everyday and have in our homes contain products from the rainforest?

Rainforest at home

For example….

• Rubber

• Lipstick

• Pineapples

• Furniture

Rainforest at home

Rubber

Rubber (which we use in tyres and many other items) originates from a tree that grows wild in the Amazon rainforest. These days, most of the rubber we use comes from plantations or from synthetics. But they would not have existed without this amazing Amazonian plant.

Rainforest at homeLipstick

Lipstick and many other beauty products contain products like dyes and oils which are harvested from the Amazon.

Rainforest at homeFruits

Many of the delicious fruits which we enjoy like pineapples and bananas are grown in the Amazon!

© Greg Armfield / WWF-UK

Rainforest at homeFurniture

Unfortunately some furniture is still being made from trees which are cut down unsustainably from the Amazon and other threatened forests.

You can make sure you avoid products like these by only buying furniture which is FSC certified. FSC means the wood has been harvested in a way that is good for the forest and for workers.