Guide your students on a hike through the tropical rainforest ecosystem! From the Amazon in South America to the jungles of Southeast Asia, rainforests are full of unique and amazing species.
✨ Perfect for grades 3–8, here’s what you need to bring ecosystems to life:
- Iconic BBC Videos: Share the clips on this page to introduce the location, plants, animals, and climate of the rainforest. (Don't miss the spider monkeys and waterfall toads!) Brought to you by world-class BBC programs like Planet Earth, Deadly 60, Seven Worlds, One Planet, and Life.
- Free Printable: Use the Tropical Rainforest Brochure Template to help students pull it all together in an ecosystem report with facts they’ve learned (and a little extra research).
It’s everything you need to make ecosystems easy to teach and truly memorable for your students.
Journey into the heart of the rainforest and explore the four amazing layers that make this ecosystem so unique. From the sunlit emergent layer high above the trees to the dark and humid forest floor below, students will discover how different plants and animals survive and thrive in each part of the rainforest.
This Kahoot examines the rainforest’s distinct layers — the emergent layer, canopy, understory, and forest floor — and the important roles they play in supporting biodiversity. Students will learn how animals adapt to life at different heights, how plants compete for sunlight and water, and how all the layers work together to create one of the richest ecosystems on Earth.
Watch the related BBC videos (below), then invite your Grade 3–8 students to test their knowledge and uncover the wonders hidden within each layer of the rainforest.
Join the Go Jetters in learning about the wonders of the Amazon rainforest. In this fun worksheet, you'll:
- Discover fascinating facts about rainforest habitats and biodiversity.
- Locate the Amazon rainforest on a map.
- Trace the Mighty Amazon River.
- Try to name three different plants.
Discover the wild side of the underwater world in this video playlist! Meet the ocean's most unusual characters — from glowing anglerfish and toothy piranhas to spiky lionfish and balloon-like pufferfish. These 10 short clips from BBC favorites like Deadly 60 and Blue Planet reveal the surprising ways these strange fish hunt, hide, and survive. Packed with fun facts and jaw-dropping moments, it’s perfect for curious kids and adults alike!
Step into the lush, green world of tropical rainforests! From the mighty Amazon to the steamy jungles of Southeast Asia, these ecosystems overflow with towering trees, hidden creatures, and nonstop adventure. After watching our videos, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful report filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) Inside the brochure, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!
Delve into the eerie and enchanting world of creatures of Halloween! This BBC playlist explores the mysterious lives of wolves, bats, spiders, and owls, revealing the fascinating hunting strategies, survival journeys, and unique ecosystems that make them so captivating. Perfect for a spooky science lesson or a deep dive into the animal kingdom's more shadowy inhabitants.
In How Energy Travels Across the Seas, geologist Iain Stewart explains why Earth is called the "blue planet," with over three-quarters of its surface covered by water. Explore how the ocean shapes coastlines and carries powerful energy across the planet, creating crashing waves that start as tiny ripples from a breeze. See the raw power of the sea in Hawaii and learn how tides form from the pull of the Moon and Sun. Next watch how this energy creates massive tidal waves, like the powerful tidal bore in the Amazon River, moving upstream and carrying more water than the flow of Niagara Falls! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
In How the Andes Shaped Life in South America, narrator Iain Stewart explains how the Andes have shaped South America in incredible ways, creating the Amazon River and its rainforest. One of the Andes’ most amazing residents is the llama, built for high-altitude life. But llamas didn’t originate in South America — they came from North America and crossed over millions of years ago when the continents connected. Today, just like the llamas once did, people bring new foods, technology, and ideas to the Andes, showing the world is more connected than ever! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Rise of the Continents, which uncovers how Earth’s continents formed and shaped life over millions of years.
In The Heart and Lungs of the World, host Radzi Chinyanganya explains how the Amazon rainforest plays a critical role in regulating the Earth's climate by recycling water from the trees into the atmosphere. The Amazon takes in and pumps out water, which creates moisture that forms clouds and produces rain. With 400 billion trees cycling water, this process significantly influences global weather patterns, including rainfall in regions far from the rainforest itself, such as the United States’ Midwest. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
In The Effects of Deregulation, host Radzi Chinyanganya explains how Brazil's deregulation policies have led to rapid deforestation in the Amazon. The government’s decision to lift restrictions on land use has allowed for the clearing of forests for agricultural expansion, logging, mining, and ranching. This video highlights the environmental consequences of this deregulation, focusing on the struggle between different groups, such as ranchers seeking land for cattle grazing and Indigenous populations fighting to protect their ancestral forests. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
In Mother to Indigenous Youth, host Radzi Chinyanganya highlights Indigenous Arara youth and their connection to the Amazon rainforest, which they consider their "mother." This video highlights the struggles of Indigenous communities, such as Maristela's, as they fight for the preservation of their culture and environment. Maristela expresses deep concern for the loss of their sacred forest, emphasizing how integral it is to their identity and survival. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
In A Threatened Global Treasure, host Radzi Chinyanganya follows journalist Nomia Iqbal as she travels through Brazil to investigate the threats facing the Amazon rainforest. The video focuses on the alarming increase in forest fires in 2019, largely driven by changes in government policies as well as the issue of illegal logging. Can the Amazon survive? This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
Guide your students on a hike through the tropical rainforest ecosystem! From the Amazon in South America to the jungles of Southeast Asia, rainforests are full of unique and amazing species.
✨ Perfect for grades 3–8, here’s what you need to bring ecosystems to life:
- Iconic BBC Videos: Share the clips on this page to introduce the location, plants, animals, and climate of the rainforest. (Don't miss the spider monkeys and waterfall toads!) Brought to you by world-class BBC programs like Planet Earth, Deadly 60, Seven Worlds, One Planet, and Life.
- Free Printable: Use the Tropical Rainforest Brochure Template to help students pull it all together in an ecosystem report with facts they’ve learned (and a little extra research).
It’s everything you need to make ecosystems easy to teach and truly memorable for your students.
Journey into the heart of the rainforest and explore the four amazing layers that make this ecosystem so unique. From the sunlit emergent layer high above the trees to the dark and humid forest floor below, students will discover how different plants and animals survive and thrive in each part of the rainforest.
This Kahoot examines the rainforest’s distinct layers — the emergent layer, canopy, understory, and forest floor — and the important roles they play in supporting biodiversity. Students will learn how animals adapt to life at different heights, how plants compete for sunlight and water, and how all the layers work together to create one of the richest ecosystems on Earth.
Watch the related BBC videos (below), then invite your Grade 3–8 students to test their knowledge and uncover the wonders hidden within each layer of the rainforest.
Join the Go Jetters in learning about the wonders of the Amazon rainforest. In this fun worksheet, you'll:
- Discover fascinating facts about rainforest habitats and biodiversity.
- Locate the Amazon rainforest on a map.
- Trace the Mighty Amazon River.
- Try to name three different plants.
Discover the wild side of the underwater world in this video playlist! Meet the ocean's most unusual characters — from glowing anglerfish and toothy piranhas to spiky lionfish and balloon-like pufferfish. These 10 short clips from BBC favorites like Deadly 60 and Blue Planet reveal the surprising ways these strange fish hunt, hide, and survive. Packed with fun facts and jaw-dropping moments, it’s perfect for curious kids and adults alike!
Step into the lush, green world of tropical rainforests! From the mighty Amazon to the steamy jungles of Southeast Asia, these ecosystems overflow with towering trees, hidden creatures, and nonstop adventure. After watching our videos, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful report filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) Inside the brochure, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!
Delve into the eerie and enchanting world of creatures of Halloween! This BBC playlist explores the mysterious lives of wolves, bats, spiders, and owls, revealing the fascinating hunting strategies, survival journeys, and unique ecosystems that make them so captivating. Perfect for a spooky science lesson or a deep dive into the animal kingdom's more shadowy inhabitants.
In How Energy Travels Across the Seas, geologist Iain Stewart explains why Earth is called the "blue planet," with over three-quarters of its surface covered by water. Explore how the ocean shapes coastlines and carries powerful energy across the planet, creating crashing waves that start as tiny ripples from a breeze. See the raw power of the sea in Hawaii and learn how tides form from the pull of the Moon and Sun. Next watch how this energy creates massive tidal waves, like the powerful tidal bore in the Amazon River, moving upstream and carrying more water than the flow of Niagara Falls! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
In How the Andes Shaped Life in South America, narrator Iain Stewart explains how the Andes have shaped South America in incredible ways, creating the Amazon River and its rainforest. One of the Andes’ most amazing residents is the llama, built for high-altitude life. But llamas didn’t originate in South America — they came from North America and crossed over millions of years ago when the continents connected. Today, just like the llamas once did, people bring new foods, technology, and ideas to the Andes, showing the world is more connected than ever! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Rise of the Continents, which uncovers how Earth’s continents formed and shaped life over millions of years.
In The Heart and Lungs of the World, host Radzi Chinyanganya explains how the Amazon rainforest plays a critical role in regulating the Earth's climate by recycling water from the trees into the atmosphere. The Amazon takes in and pumps out water, which creates moisture that forms clouds and produces rain. With 400 billion trees cycling water, this process significantly influences global weather patterns, including rainfall in regions far from the rainforest itself, such as the United States’ Midwest. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
In The Effects of Deregulation, host Radzi Chinyanganya explains how Brazil's deregulation policies have led to rapid deforestation in the Amazon. The government’s decision to lift restrictions on land use has allowed for the clearing of forests for agricultural expansion, logging, mining, and ranching. This video highlights the environmental consequences of this deregulation, focusing on the struggle between different groups, such as ranchers seeking land for cattle grazing and Indigenous populations fighting to protect their ancestral forests. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
In Mother to Indigenous Youth, host Radzi Chinyanganya highlights Indigenous Arara youth and their connection to the Amazon rainforest, which they consider their "mother." This video highlights the struggles of Indigenous communities, such as Maristela's, as they fight for the preservation of their culture and environment. Maristela expresses deep concern for the loss of their sacred forest, emphasizing how integral it is to their identity and survival. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
In A Threatened Global Treasure, host Radzi Chinyanganya follows journalist Nomia Iqbal as she travels through Brazil to investigate the threats facing the Amazon rainforest. The video focuses on the alarming increase in forest fires in 2019, largely driven by changes in government policies as well as the issue of illegal logging. Can the Amazon survive? This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.