How to Teach Rain Forest Layers for Kids
- 1). Present children with the names of the different layers of the rain forest. From the ground up they are: forest floor, understory layer, canopy layer and the emergent layer.
- 2). Show them pictures of each layer. Introduce them to the idea that each layer, as you climb higher, gets more and more sunlight. Present them with plants and animals that live in each layer so they can make associations that will help them remember.
- 3). Help them draw a large map of the rain forest. Divide the map into four separate areas for the different layers of the rain forest. Put the large map up on the wall so the children can see how the levels climb up the wall. On different sheets of paper have the children draw animals such as jaguars, tree frogs, toucans, leopards, snakes, monkeys, bats, eagles and butterflies. Have them cut out their animals.
- 4). Ask them where they think each of their animals would live in the rain forest. Help them figure out where each of these animals spends its time and stick them to the large map in the correct rain forest layer.
- 5). Give them animal masks to wear and ask them where their animal lives in the rain forest layers. Ask them what plants are around them. Ask them how dark it is where they live. Change masks and ask them the same questions.
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