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      Foods from tropical rainforests

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      You can list some tropical rainforest food products, describe the climatic conditions that are necessary to grow them, and explain how and why these products are exported around the world.

      Key learning points

      1. Temperate and tropical climate zones have different characteristics which are related to their location on Earth.
      2. Some food products grow in temperate climate zones while others grow in the tropical climate zones.
      3. Rainforest food products are important export crops and are exported around the world.
      4. We are connected to people and places around the world in many different ways.

      Keywords

      • Rainforest product - Rainforest products come from the resources found in the rainforest and include food, medicines and furniture.

      • Trade - Trade is the buying and selling of goods and services between people, companies and countries.

      Common misconception

      Pupils aren't aware of where different foods come from and how they are made.

      Explain that some food is grown, some comes from animals and some is manufactured or processed in factories.

      Teacher tip

      Shopping bags, each with a selection of temperate and tropical foods, are required for Task 1. If this isn't possible, pupils could sort the list of items provided on the worksheet. Task 3 could be completed at school or as a homework activity.

      Equipment

      Task 1: If possible, provide shopping bags, each with a selection of temperate and tropical foods.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      In which rainforest layer would you find the tallest trees? Select 1 answer.

      canopy
      understory
      Correct answer: emergent layer
      forest floor

      Q2.
      Which is the darkest layer of the rainforest? Select 1 answer.

      canopy
      understory
      emergent layer
      Correct answer: forest floor

      Q3.
      Which of the following are features of the understory? Select 2 answers.

      made up of the taller trees in the rainforest
      Correct answer: dark, hot and humid
      Correct answer: made up of smaller trees and shrubs
      receives the most sunlight, wind and rain

      Q4.
      Which of the following describe features of a tropical climate? Select 2 answers.

      Correct answer: hot
      Correct answer: humid
      cold
      dry

      Q5.
      Which of the following describe features of a temperate climate? Select 2 answers.

      hot
      Correct answer: not too cold or hot
      Correct answer: moderate rainfall
      dry

      Q6.
      Which of these fruits are not widely grown in the UK? Select 2 answers.

      apple
      Correct answer: banana
      strawberry
      Correct answer: pineapple

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What climate does the UK have? Select 1 answer.

      Correct answer: temperate
      tropical
      dry
      polar

      Q2.
      Which of these come from a plant that grows in tropical rainforests? Select 2 answers.

      blackberries
      Correct answer: chocolate
      Correct answer: bananas
      pears

      Q3.
      Which of the following are widely grown in the temperate climate zone? Select 2 answers.

      pineapples
      rice
      Correct answer: carrots
      Correct answer: oats

      Q4.
      How long have people been trading for?

      10 years
      95 years
      hundreds of years
      Correct answer: thousands of years

      Q5.
      Select 1 answer. Goods and services bought by a country from elsewhere are called...

      Correct answer: ...imports.
      ...exports.
      ...impels.
      ...expels.

      Q6.
      Which of the following are important tropical rainforest exports? Select 2 answers.

      wheat
      Correct answer: rubber
      Correct answer: Brazil nuts
      potatoes

      To help you plan your 5 geography lesson on: Foods from tropical rainforests, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...