Objective:  Students will be able to complete identify key rain forest terms and insert them in sentences through the use of a word bank.

Name___________________    Date___________________

THOSE REMARKABLE  RAIN FORESTS

Rain forests are warm, wet areas of the world where the largest collection of the world's plants and animals is found.  The temperature in a rain forest stays about the same night and day all year long.  Rain forests are the wettest areas of land in the world.  Some areas get 32 feet of rain a year!

Most rain forest are near the equator in Central America and South America.  Some rain forests are in Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Rain forests have three layers.  The top layer is called the canopy.  This is where tall tree branches and leaves tangle together high above the ground.  Very little sunlight can squeeze through to the ground, so most plants and animals live in the canopy.

Below the canopy is the understory.  This part of the rain forest is very dark.  Smaller trees, vines, and bushes can be seen there.

The bottom layer of the rain forest is called the forest floor.  Many kinds of insects live on the forest floor.  The insects help with recycling in the rain forest by eating leaves that fall from the canopy.

Use the words in the Word Bank to fill in the blanks.

1.    Most rain forests are located near the_______________________________.

2.    The_____________________in a rain forest stays about the same all year.

3.    Rain forests have ______________________________layers.

4.    Many kinds of insects live on the______________________floor.

5.    Most plants and animals live in the canopy because of the___________________.

6.    Smaller trees, vines, and bushes grow in the______________________.

7.    The top layer of the rain forest is called the________________________.

8.    Insects eat fallen leaves to help______________________in the rain forest.

9.    The understory is very__________________________.

10.   Some rain forests get 32 feet of___________________in a year.