Under A Green Umbrella

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Under A Green Umbrella
Learning About a Tropical Rainforest
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What is a tropical rainforest?

• Tropical rainforests
• are very dense, warm, wet forests.
• have millions of plants and animals.
• get over 80 inches (2 m) of rain each year.
• are usually between 75 F and 80 F.

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Where are rainforests?

• They are found in a narrow area around the
  equator.
• There are tropical rainforests across South
  America, Central America, Africa, Asia and
  Australia.

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Lets take a look at a rainforest
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The Layers

• The rainforest is divided into four different
  layers 
• the emergents
• the canopy
• the understory
• the forest floor 

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Emergents

• The emergent layer is at the very top of the
  rainforest. A few very tall trees poke out above
  the green growth to reach the sun. Many birds and
  butterflies live here.

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Canopy

• The canopy is the second layer of growth in a
  rainforest. Most of the plant growth is here in
  the sun. Many rainforest animals, including
  monkeys, birds, sloths, and tree frogs, live in
  the canopy.

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Understory

• Below the canopy are the young trees and
  shrubs that make up the understory. The plants in
  this layer rarely grow to be large because the
  canopy blocks out most of the sunlight. Animals
  that live in the understory include jaguars,
  tapirs, snakes, and woodpeckers.

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Forest Floor

• The forest floor is almost bare because very
  little light can get through the layers. Fallen
  leaves and branches rot quickly. The rotting
  plants supply needed food for other plants to
  grow. Ants, earthworms, and lizards live there.

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What creatures live in a rainforest?

• To visit an Internet site to learn more about
  the creatures that live in the rainforest go to
• Rainforest Animals

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Is there a rainforest in your house?

• Look for cinnamon, black pepper,vanilla,cocoa,
  lemon, pineapple, coffee, oranges, coconut,
  cashew nuts, avocados,and bananas.
• Look for twine (jute), bamboo, rubber (to make
  things like pencil erasers, rubberbands, and
  balloons), balsa wood,and rattan.

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What can you do to rescue the rainforests?

• Remember to recycle and buy things made from
  recycled products.
• Buy nuts, cookies, and cereals made from
  rainforest products.
• Use less paper.
• Write letters to elected officials. Ask them to
  protect the rainforests.

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• How would you like to visit a tropical
  rainforest?