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.
In The Go Jetters Explore Houses in Rainforest Treetops, the Go Jetters crew travels to the rainforest of Papua to visit the Korowai tribe. Ubercorn shares funky facts including why the Korowai live high off the ground and what they use to build their houses. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four international heroes as they travel the globe visiting landmarks and solving environmental problems with Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
In The Go Jetters Travel to the Amazon Rainforest, Ubercorn and friends explore the magical Amazon rainforest! This rainforest is the largest in the world, with tall trees, warm weather, and rain all year long. It’s home to millions of animals and plants, all living together in a special way! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four plucky international heroes as they travel the globe visiting the world’s most famous landmarks with their friend and mentor, Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
In New Guinea Rainforests, narrator Sir David Attenborough details the different species that live in the rainforests of New Guinea, which has 12 hours of daylight for 365 days a year. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Watch a Life Built on Decay in the Rainforests, narrator Sir David Attenborough notes that the nutrient recycling rate in rainforests happens faster than anywhere else. Learn how slime mold, fungi, and beetle larvae interact to decompose leaf litter. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Palm Oil vs. the Rainforest, naturalist Steve Backshall discusses ways in which the production of palm oil could minimize the risk to the rainforest and the survival of animals. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
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.
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 A Night in the Untamed Congo, host Simon Reeve and his guide, Addams, journey into the Congo Basin, one of the most unexplored places on Earth. After traveling by boat, they trek through the rainforest, facing swampy terrain and the challenges of the wild. As night falls, they set up camp and make a fire for safety, knowing the forest’s predators are afraid of it. Addams shares how the Baka people, who live here year-round, thrive in harmony with the forest, showing how different their survival skills are from outsiders. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Congo Adventures: Tracking Bonobos, host Simon Reeve treks through the rainforests of the Congo in search of bonobos, a gentle species of apes only found in this region. Along the way, he battles swarms of bees and tough terrain but finally discovers a family of bonobos living peacefully in the trees. These animals play a crucial role in the rainforest’s survival by spreading seeds as they eat, helping new plants and trees grow. Without the bonobos and other wildlife, the rainforest wouldn’t be able to thrive! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In The Baka People Confront Deforestation and Disease, host Simon Reeve spends time with the Baka people in the Congo, who live peacefully in the rainforest. He learns their biggest challenges aren't from nature, but from medical issues like malaria and conflicts with neighboring people. The dense rainforest canopy helps protect them from mosquitoes, but deforestation is making the situation worse. They share their struggles, including the long trek to get medical help and the violence they face from the Bantu. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Honey Hunters of the Congo, host Simon Reeve spends time with the Baka community in the Congo, learning their way of life. He joins the men on a hunt through the rainforest, where they collect fruits, nuts, and fresh honeycomb from a towering tree using a smoker. Back in the village, the Baka share everything they gather, showing unity as a community. Simon gets a taste of the honey and a glimpse of how deeply connected the Baka people are to each other and the rainforest. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
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.
In The Go Jetters Explore Houses in Rainforest Treetops, the Go Jetters crew travels to the rainforest of Papua to visit the Korowai tribe. Ubercorn shares funky facts including why the Korowai live high off the ground and what they use to build their houses. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four international heroes as they travel the globe visiting landmarks and solving environmental problems with Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
In The Go Jetters Travel to the Amazon Rainforest, Ubercorn and friends explore the magical Amazon rainforest! This rainforest is the largest in the world, with tall trees, warm weather, and rain all year long. It’s home to millions of animals and plants, all living together in a special way! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four plucky international heroes as they travel the globe visiting the world’s most famous landmarks with their friend and mentor, Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
In New Guinea Rainforests, narrator Sir David Attenborough details the different species that live in the rainforests of New Guinea, which has 12 hours of daylight for 365 days a year. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Watch a Life Built on Decay in the Rainforests, narrator Sir David Attenborough notes that the nutrient recycling rate in rainforests happens faster than anywhere else. Learn how slime mold, fungi, and beetle larvae interact to decompose leaf litter. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Palm Oil vs. the Rainforest, naturalist Steve Backshall discusses ways in which the production of palm oil could minimize the risk to the rainforest and the survival of animals. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
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.
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 A Night in the Untamed Congo, host Simon Reeve and his guide, Addams, journey into the Congo Basin, one of the most unexplored places on Earth. After traveling by boat, they trek through the rainforest, facing swampy terrain and the challenges of the wild. As night falls, they set up camp and make a fire for safety, knowing the forest’s predators are afraid of it. Addams shares how the Baka people, who live here year-round, thrive in harmony with the forest, showing how different their survival skills are from outsiders. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Congo Adventures: Tracking Bonobos, host Simon Reeve treks through the rainforests of the Congo in search of bonobos, a gentle species of apes only found in this region. Along the way, he battles swarms of bees and tough terrain but finally discovers a family of bonobos living peacefully in the trees. These animals play a crucial role in the rainforest’s survival by spreading seeds as they eat, helping new plants and trees grow. Without the bonobos and other wildlife, the rainforest wouldn’t be able to thrive! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In The Baka People Confront Deforestation and Disease, host Simon Reeve spends time with the Baka people in the Congo, who live peacefully in the rainforest. He learns their biggest challenges aren't from nature, but from medical issues like malaria and conflicts with neighboring people. The dense rainforest canopy helps protect them from mosquitoes, but deforestation is making the situation worse. They share their struggles, including the long trek to get medical help and the violence they face from the Bantu. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Honey Hunters of the Congo, host Simon Reeve spends time with the Baka community in the Congo, learning their way of life. He joins the men on a hunt through the rainforest, where they collect fruits, nuts, and fresh honeycomb from a towering tree using a smoker. Back in the village, the Baka share everything they gather, showing unity as a community. Simon gets a taste of the honey and a glimpse of how deeply connected the Baka people are to each other and the rainforest. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.