Rainforest Facts for Kids (KS1)

Introduction – What Is A Rainforest?

A rainforest is defined as an area that is covered in trees and receives a huge amount of rainfall. There are two types of rainforests:

1. Tropical rainforests are found near the equator (an imaginary circle around the Earth, it divides Earth into two parts). These forests are hot and humid throughout the year and receive a lot of rainfall. 
2. Temperate rainforests are further away from the equator. These forests are warm but not as hot or humid all the time but receive lesser rainfall and milder climate. 

Rainforests are considered to be the oldest ecosystem to ever exist. You probably didn’t know that rainforests are home to 40-75% of living creatures on this planet. According to National Geographic, rainforests cover 6% of the Earth. 

Where Are Rainforests Found?

Did you know rainforests are found throughout the entire world? Except the continent of Antarctica. They are mostly located in the middle of the Earth (near the equator). Here is a list of rainforests and where they are found: 

• The Amazon Rainforest is found in Brazil Peru, Colombia and a few other countries
• The Hainan Rainforest is found in China
• The Tongass Rainforest is found in The United States

What Is the Weather Like in a Rainforest?

Imagine yourself on a hot, humid day, surrounded by the shade of trees. The weather of rainforests is similar to that, but varies slightly in the types of rainforests. There are two types of rainforests and they have different weather from one another. 

1. Tropical rainforests: These rainforests are found near the equator which means they experience hot and humid weather all year. A lot of rain occurs in these forests as well!
2. Temperate rainforest: These are found further away from the equator and experience less humid and hot weather. Lesser rain also occurs compared to Tropical rainforests!

Layers of the Rainforest

There are 4 main layers of a rainforest: 

1. Emergent: Imagine the Emergent layer as giants standing still and tall, these are trees that are scattered but considerably taller than the rest. 
2. Canopy: Most species found in the rainforest live in the canopy layer. It is a dense layer of vegetation and acts like a roof to the rest of the forest. So you might find a monkey hanging from a branch here. 
3. Under-story: In this area less sunlight shines through and short vegetation exists, adapting to less sunlight. 
4. Shrub Layer (also called Forest Floor): Here the process of decomposition occurs where small biodiversity like earthworms, etc. thrive.

Animals Found In Rainforests 

Different animals live in rainforests like:

1. Reptiles:

• Crocodiles
• Anacondas
• Turtles

2. Amphibians:

• Frogs 
• Toads
• Salamanders

3. Mammals:

• Sloths
• Capybaras
• Squirrel Monkeys
• Ocelots

4. Birds:

• Toucans
• Sun conures
• Grey Parrots

Plants Found In Rainforests

There are many different plants found in a rainforest. Tall trees, with big leaves and huge trunks or small plants, with small leaves and small stems. Here is a list of plants found in the rainforests:

• The Banana Plant 
• Orchids 
• Cacao (where you get your chocolate from)

Why Are Rainforests Important?

Rainforests are important to us and our environment for many reasons, such as:

• Home for millions of humans and animals.
• Rainforests provide us with food and important medicine. 
• Did you know that rainforests stabilise the climate of the entire world? 
• Trees and plants in the rainforest protect us against floods, erosion and droughts.
• Rainforests maintain a water cycle, as areas with more trees receive more rain water.

Do people live in rainforests?

Yes, people have been living in rainforests for a very long time. Indigenous populations throughout the world live in forests:

1. The Chimbu People: They live in the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. They perform agriculture and have developed a lot of traditional medicine from the rainforest. 
2. The Mbuti People: They live in the rainforests of Central Africa. They are hunter-gatherers and they also migrate, using sources from the rainforest but do not use up the land.
3. The Amazonians: This group lives in the rainforest of Amazon, which is spread across Brazil, Peru, Colombia and borders of few other countries. They rely on agriculture and fishing which is carried out in a sustainable way. Could you imagine being disconnected from the world? No internet, no modern technology? There are many Amazonians that voluntarily live in isolation and do not engage with modern technology. 

What Is Happening To Rainforests?

According to American author, Peter Benchley “If man doesn’t learn to treat the ocean and rainforests with respect, man will become extinct”. It is important for everyone to know that rainforests all over the world are facing issues like:

• Deforestation that occurs due to logging. There are many instances in history where forests were cleared due to economic or political reasons. The island of Borneo was covered in lush green rainforests, but from 1980 to 1990 the forests were destroyed. The trees were burnt, cut and cleared to make way for palm oil production and timber production. 

• Wildfires that occur due to droughts, industrial agriculture. You probably didn’t know that in 2024 millions of acres of the Amazon rainforest burnt down. Forests when cleared for agriculture and expansion are burnt to clear a path, but due to droughts the forest is not able to contain the fire. 

• Climate change means that these rainforests are not as humid and are experiencing droughts, which leads to forest fires and many animals dying. 

What Can Kids Do to Help Rainforests?

There are a lot of activities that children can be a part of to help the rainforests. Here is a list of things children can do and remember:

• Reuse, Reduce, Recycle the things they own. 
• Save electricity by turning off extra lights.
• Learn how to recycle paper from already used material.
• Learn about rainforests and other biomes. Education helps you understand how you can help!
• Find a green frog symbol on products. These products are certified and are produced through sustainable (eco-friendly) ways for rainforests. 
• Create a fun checklist of things that you can do every day to save the rainforests.

Conclusion

Rainforests are very important for this planet. They are full of creatures and beautiful trees, and so is your environment! We need to protect rainforests and our environment through these steps:

• Learning about native plants and animals in your area.
• Plant native trees and protect insects around you.
• Keep our environment clean and healthy. 
• Do not disturb or harm wild animals. 

Rainforest Fun Facts for Children

• The Amazon rainforest contains 10% of the world’s biodiversity.
• Did you know rainforests help us fight against global warming?
• Rainforests cover between 2-6% of the Earth’s land area!
• You probably didn’t know that Sloths (that live in rainforests) are three times stronger than humans. 
• Imagine standing in a rainforest and hearing a lot of sounds from different animals. One of these animals that live in rainforests are squirrel monkeys that make 20-25 calls!
• Did you know some trees found in the rainforest are taller than 20-story buildings (60 meters tall)?

Frequently Asked Questions About Rainforests

External Links

National Geographic – Rainforest

WWF – Inside The Amazon

Yunjoy Nature – Hainan Tropical Rainforest

Britannica – Tongass National Forest

Rainforest Alliance – Find The Frog