Rainforests: Temperate and Tropical
Introduction
There are two types of rainforest in the world - temperate and tropical.
Temperate rainforests can be found in North America. Tropical rainforests are
near the equator in Central and South America. Both types of rainforest are
disappearing at an alarming rate. In this WebQuest you will explore the types of
rainforests found in North, Central, and South America. You will compare and
contrast the two types of forest and learn about the plant life that flourishes
there.
The Task
Your task is to use the information from the website to:
 Compare and contrast a tropical and temperate rainforest.
 Find out why rainforests are disappearing and why they should be preserved.
 Discover plants that live in both types of rainforests.
 Create a poster with text and graphics to report your findings and persuade
people to do their part to save the rainforests.
 Write an editorial for the newspaper about the importance of saving the
rainforests.
The Process - Read all directions before you begin your work!!
Activity 1: Rainforest WebQuest

View the Rainforest Web Guide. (You have a printed copy.)

Go to Resources below. Click The Evergreen Project - Rainforests of the
World.

Click on the links at the web site to find the information for your web guide.
Resources
Rainforest Web Guide
The Evergreen Project - Rainforests of the World
VENN Diagram
Activity 2: Write an editorial to the newspaper on the importance of saving
the Rainforests of the Americas
Use your notes, VENN Diagram and answers to the questions in the Web Guide to
write your editorial. Your editorial should include at least one paragraph on each of
the following:

Descriptions of both temperate and tropical rainforests

Location of both temperate and tropical rainforests

Reasons why the rainforests are disappearing and why they should be
preserved
Activity 3: Create a poster on the importance of saving the Rainforests of the
Americas. It should include:

A Tropical Rainforest Plant

A Temperate Rainforest Plant

An interesting fact about the disappearing Rainforest

The graphics can be hand drawn, computer drawn, or photographs from the
web site or magazines.

References (websites, books, magazines, etc. from which you took your
information).
Evaluation
The Rainforest Web Guide will be evaluated for accuracy.
The poster and editorial will be evaluated based on the following:

Work is completed on time.

Poster includes text and graphics.

Poster is informative.

Written work is paraphrased (in your own words).

Spelling and grammar are correct.

Information is accurate and appropriate.
Rainforest: Temperate and Tropical was created by Cindy Cooper, Technology Specialist at Oak
View Elementary School (Guilford County Schools), High Point, NC
Adapted by Linda Brokish, Library Media Specialist, Lodi Elementary School, Lodi, WI