Geography, Common Assessment Task 3 Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem Name Class Task 1. Location of tropical rainforests Your task is to colour the map on the next page to show the location of rainforests in the world. Colour the rainforest in green (1) Colour the rest of the Earth s land yellow (1) Colour the oceans blue (1) Colour the lines of latitude: Equator, Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer in red. Use a ruler (3) Add the following labels to the correct areas on the map to show some major tropical rainforests: (3) AMAZON RAINFOREST CONGO BASIN, SOUTH EAST ASIA Success criteria Colour the correct areas neatly to show rainforests, land and oceans (3) Correctly identify 3 tropical rainforests (3) Answer all questions correctly Marks - /15
Task 1. Rainforest Questions Q.1. Along which line of latitude do the tropical rainforests mainly lie? (1) Q.2. Describe the climate of the tropical rainforest throughout the year. (3) Q.3. Name 3 CONTINENTS where rainforests are found. (3) Q.4 Name 2 CONTINENTS where rainforests are NOT found. (2) Q. 5 Describe the vegetation found in the rainforests. (3) Marks - /12
Task 2: Animal adaptations Describe how and why each animal is specially adapted to live in the tropical rainforest. (12 marks) 3 toed sloth Spider Monkey Harpy Eagle Tree Kangaroo
Task 3: Treasures of the Rainforest Many of the things you use every day come from the tropical rainforests. Look at an eraser in your desk or on the end of your pencil. That eraser is made from rubber. That rubber came from a rubber tree in the rainforest! Tropical rain forests are full of natural resources such as fruit and nut trees, rubber trees, and spice plants. All of these plants and trees grow naturally and are native to the rain forest. People cultivate these plants and trees and then use the fruits, spices, and wood to sell at stores. You may buy fruits and vegetables that are from the rain forest at your local market. Avocados, lemons, tangerines, bananas, pineapple, and grapefruit are just some of the fruits you may find in your grocery bag. Peanuts, cashew nuts, tapioca, coffee, and tea are other food products that come from the rainforest as well. Have you ever eaten a spicy meal? Well if you have, you were probably eating spices that came from the rainforest. Black pepper, paprika, cayenne, chili pepper, and turmeric spices all grow in the rain forest. And if you have a sweet tooth, you'll enjoy these flavors also from the rainforest: vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and cocoa (chocolate). The rain forest generates more than just food. The rubber tree produces latex (liquid rubber). Rubber is used to make rubber bands, tires, balloons, erasers, and balls. There is also a tree that produces chicle - the gummy substance used to make chewing gum! Many plants in the rainforest can cure diseases these plants are called medicinal plants. About one-fourth of all the medicines we use come from rain forest plants. There are also plants that produce the oils found in insect repellents, suntan lotions, soaps, and perfumes. Your medicine cabinet may be full of things from the rain forest! Today, much of the rainforest is being cut down for lumber and to make room for cattle and farming. Unfortunately, few new trees are planted and the rain forest is shrinking day by day. Soon, there will be very little left of the fruit trees, rubber trees, and medicinal plants. Even the rain forest animals will no longer have a home. Fortunately, however, there are ways to conserve the rainforest. Trees can be planted on land that has been cleared. We can use products from the rain forest without destroying it: nuts, fruits, and plants can be gathered carefully, and latex can be taken from the same rubber trees year after year. If we are careful, we can enjoy the products of the rainforest while also helping to maintain it as a healthy and fruitful environment.
Read the article on the previous page which shows how important our rainforest ecosystem is. Deforestation is a big problem and we are quickly losing large sections of our rainforest as governments chop down or burn trees to make way for farms and roads or to sell the wood. Write a letter to the Brazilian Government and try to persuade the government to CONSERVE the rainforest. In your letter you should include the following: SUCCESS CRITERIA Use a letter format State the purpose of your letter e.g. I am writing to Discuss why the rainforest is so important and why it should be conserved - at least 4 reasons in detail. You may use information from the article above but no copying. Give the government ideas on how to conserve the rainforest. Any other interesting facts you know about rainforests. Good use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Total marks = Grade 1 wish Peer assessment 1 wish