Year 8 : Ecosystems – Tropical rainforests
Key Questions
Learning objectives
What is an ecosystem?
To be able to know the
meaning of ecosystem.
To be able to understand at
least 3 parts in an ecosystem
and how they are linked
together.
Teaching and learning
activities / textbooks
Draw a diagram of an
ecosystem and show links
between its different parts.
Concept map task (see Central
Resource Bank)
Higher ability could explore
food webs and / or food chain
relationships (see Geog 2 TRP)
Foundation ability could
expand their geography
vocabulary (see Geog 2 TRP)
New Interactions p.8-9
Extensions p.36-7 (H)
Resources/ Key
words
Geog 2 TRP
p.52, p.54 (H)
Geog 2 TRP p.57
(F)
New Interactions
TRP p.43
ecosystem
biome
plants
animals
soil
Cross-curricular
Literacy
Thinking skills
– concept map
Assessment
Opportunities
Pupil writing and
verbal comments
describing and
explaining the
different parts of
an ecosystem.
Completed
concept map.
Year 8 : Ecosystems – Tropical rainforests
Where are tropical
rainforests found and
what is their climate
like?
To be able to locate tropical
rainforests in the world.
To be able to describe the
climate and give at least 1
reason for why this happens.
Starter: Photo Q+A
(Earthworks 2 p.1)
Pupils to shade areas of
tropical rainforests on a world
map.
Write a description and
explanation of the equatorial
climate including climate
graph interpretation.
DART : New Interactions TRP
- pupils to annotate diagram of
the daily weather by extracting
information from diary account
on p.10 of New Interactions
textbook or p.44-5 of TRP.
New Interactions p.10-11
Earthworks 2 p.1, 4-5, 8-9
New Basics p.116-7 (F)
Literacy
Key Geography
TRP 3 p.35-7 (F) Numeracy
Earthworks 2
SNTRP p.72-5
(F)
New Interactions
TRP p.44-5
equator
Tropics of Cancer
and Capricorn
convectional
rainfall.
Written
description of the
weather pattern
and explanation
of the climate
produced by this
pattern.
Year 8 : Ecosystems – Tropical rainforests
What are the main
characteristics of
tropical rainforests?
To be able to name the
different layers of a rainforest.
To understand at least 2
reasons for how the vegetation
has adapted to the climate.
Pupils to complete a sketch of
the different layers of the
tropical rainforest.
Write explanation of how
vegetation and animals adapt
to the climate.
Backpack decision making
task (Earthworks 2 q.4 p.7).
If using Earthworks 2 Special
Needs Materials p.68 use
Earthworks 2 p.6-7 for photo
stimulus.
Plenary suggestion: New
Interactions TRP p.47 – 13
statements that need
completion from p.12-3 of
New Interactions or from the
endings on p.48 of TRP or
Rainforest quiz on p.119 of
New Basics
New Interactions p.12-13
Earthworks 2 p.6-7
Extensions p.38-9 (H)
New Basics p.114-5, 119 (F)
Key Geography
TRP 3 p.38-40
(F)
Earthworks 2
SNTRP p.68-71
(F)
VG57 – Deep
Jungle
buttress roots
canopy
drip tip
emergent
Literacy
Spelling and
meaning test on
key terms.
Annotated
diagram of
rainforest.
Explanation of
contents of
backpack.
Year 8 : Ecosystems – Tropical rainforests
Could you survive in
the forest?
How do Indians use
the tropical rainforest?
To be able to know about at
least 1 plant and animal that
lives in the rainforest.
To understand that the forest
has many useful resources but
is also dangerous.
Pupils to participate in the
rainforest survival game.
Pupils to write an account of
their journey through the forest
and / or design their ‘ultimate’
plant or animal to survive in
the rainforest.
Earthworks 2 p.10-11
To know the meaning of
Pupils to produce a flow
shifting cultivation. To be able diagram illustrating the process
to understand at least 2 ways in of shifting cultivation.
which the Indians use the
Pupils to compare their
rainforest.
lifestyle with that of the
rainforest Indians.
(Earthworks 2 q.4 p.13).
Draw a scale plan of a typical
longhouse. (Earthworks 2 q.2a
p.13)
New Places p.30-1
Earthworks 2 p.12-13
Dice and
counters.
Cards for game.
Making Animals
sheets.
Communication
skills
Literacy
Thinking Skills
– making
animals
Journey account.
Plant or animal
design.
Key Geography
TRP 4 p.54 –6
(F)
Literacy
Numeracy
Comparison
writing of
lifestyles
Shifting
cultivation
Kayapo
Year 8 : Ecosystems – Tropical rainforests
Why are tropical
rainforests being cut
down?
What are the effects of
cutting down tropical
rainforests?
To know at least 3 ways in
which the Amazon rainforest is
being developed. To be able to
give at least 2 reasons for this
development.
To be able to interpret at least
2 features of a satellite image.
To understand at least 2
positive and negative effects of
cutting down rainforests.
Class brainstorm on why
tropical rainforests are being
cut down.
Complete a mind map on the
main reasons for and against
the development of the
rainforest.
Complete explanation writing
about the forest fires in Borneo
(Earthworks 2 p.18-9)
New Places p.32-3
Earthworks 2 p.14-5, 18-9
New Basics p.120 (F)
Pupils to identify different
features on a false colour
satellite image and sketch their
own version.
Pupils to describe and explain
the effects of the logging
industry in a written passage.
Earthworks 2 p.16-7
Extensions p.88-9 (H)
New Places p. 40-1
New Basics p.121 (F)
Key Geography
SNTRP 4 p.57-9
(F) (W)
Literacy
ICT
Mind map
showing main
reasons for and
against
deforestation
Literacy
Numeracy
Describing and
explaining
processes in the
logging industry.
deforestation
hydro-electric
power
ranching
Satellite image
outline
soil erosion
Year 8 : Ecosystems – Tropical rainforests
How can tropical
rainforests be
managed?
Should tropical
rainforests be saved?
Where is the hot desert
ecosystem?
What is the hot desert
like?
How do plants and
animals adapt to the
hot desert
environment?
To know the meaning of
sustainable development. To
understand with reference to
the logging industry at least 3
solutions to rainforest
destruction.
To know who Chico Mendes is
and be able to understand why
he was a threat to the logging
companies.
To know where the hot desert
is found. To understand at least
3 ways in which plants and
animals adapt to the desert
environment.
Design a poster to show how
logging can be made into a
sustainable industry. Based on
q.4 p.41
New Places p.40-1
Pupils to complete the mystery
of who shot Chico Mendes.
Mystery write up explaining
their answer and including
their opinion on should the
forests be saved using
Earthworks 2 p.20-1 to help.
Earthworks 2 p.20-1
Pupils using the relevant
resources from New
Interactions to complete
descriptive writing and attempt
explanation of hot desert
climate.
Draw labelled sketch of how
plants or animals adapt to the
desert environment.
New Interactions p.14-7
Driest place on earth task (h)
– see Cp
Literacy
ICT
Poster on logging
as a sustainable
industry.
Chico Mendes
mystery cards.
Thinking Skills
wordmats.
(Central
resource bank)
Thinking Skills
- Mystery
Mystery write up.
Key Geography
SNTRP 3 p.41-6
‘Going to
Extremes’ book
extract (h) – see
Cp
Literacy
ICT
Thinking Skills
– maps from
text
Annotated sketch
of how plants or
animals adapt to
the desert
environment.
Climate graph
interpretation.
Sustainable
development
Year 8 : Ecosystems – Tropical rainforests