KS3 Geography - ecosystems: Rainforest
What essential services does the rainforest provide and in what ways do humans affect and exploit it? Explore the magnificent 'rainforest' in our Palm House to answer these questions.
Level
Key Stage 3
Duration
90 minutes
Allocated space
15 pupils per group
Overview
What essential services does the rainforest provide and in what ways do humans affect and exploit it? Explore the magnificent 'rainforest' in our Palm House to answer these questions.
What makes a rainforest ecosystem unique? Gain practical skills measuring abiotic factors comparing our temperate biome with Kew’s “tropical rainforest”.
Discover the many resources we obtain from rainforest plants, while exploring how human activity is shaping and affecting this precious and diverse ecosystem.
Learning outcomes
Pupils will be able to:
- Describe the global locations of rainforests and explain the differences between a temperate and a tropical climate, including abiotic factors.
- Recognise key ecosystem services provided by the rainforest ecosystem.
- Understand the impact and effect of human activity on the rainforest ecosystem.
We will ensure learning outcomes focus on the year group taking part.
Keywords:
Biome, climate, environment, abiotic, biotic, ecosystem services, products, food, sustainability, deforestation, climate change, conservation
Curriculum links
Geography
- Understand how human and physical processes interact to influence, and change landscapes, environments and the climate; and how human activity relies on effective functioning of natural systems.
- Understand geographical similarities, differences and links between places.
- Extend their locational knowledge and deepen their spatial awareness of the world’s countries.
