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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      You can explain why rainforests are important, identify some of the threats to rainforests, and describe some ways in which people are taking action to protect rainforests.

      Key learning points

      1. Rainforests regulate Earth’s climate and are important for life on Earth in many different ways.
      2. Rainforests face a variety of threats.
      3. People are taking action to protect rainforests in different ways.

      Keywords

      • Climate - Climate is an average of weather conditions (e.g. rain, sun, wind) in a place taken over a long period of time (usually 30 years or more).

      • Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere that traps heat.

      • Water cycle - The continuous movement of water on, above and below Earth's surface is known as the water cycle.

      Common misconception

      Pupils think that nobody is taking action to protect the Amazon rainforest.

      Many people around the world are taking action to protect the Amazon rainforest.

      Teacher tip

      Task 1: If possible, pupils should complete their consequence wheels in small groups. Task 2: Pupils could create and display a class "positive action tree" to share their learning with others in the school.

      Equipment

      Scissors, coloured paper for cutting out leaves (optional)

      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.
      Which of the following come from plants that grow in the Amazon rainforest? Select 2 answers.

      Correct answer: Brazil nuts
      apples
      Correct answer: bananas
      blackberries

      Q2.
      Which of the following are major causes of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest? Select 2 answers.

      Correct answer: cattle ranching
      offshore wind farms
      tree planting
      Correct answer: wildfires

      Q3.
      Climate describes ________________. Select 1 answer.

      what the weather is like today.
      what the weather will be like tomorrow.
      Correct answer: what the weather is like over a long period of time, typically 30 years or more.

      Q4.
      The major cause of climate change is ________________. Select 1 answer.

      volcanic eruptions
      Correct answer: the burning of fossil fuels
      changes in the earth's orbit
      changes in the amount of solar radiation

      Q5.
      Which of the following are ways people can take action against climate change? Select 2 answers.

      flying
      eating more meat
      Correct answer: walking and cycling rather than using a car
      Correct answer: insulating their homes

      Q6.
      Match each keyword with its correct definition.

      Correct Answer:climate change,a change in Earth's usual weather conditions over many years

      a change in Earth's usual weather conditions over many years

      Correct Answer:water cycle,the process by which water is recycled again and again

      the process by which water is recycled again and again

      Correct Answer:deforestation,complete removal of trees

      complete removal of trees

      Correct Answer:erosion,wearing away of land by forces such as wind and water

      wearing away of land by forces such as wind and water

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      True or false? It’s too late to take action to protect the Amazon rainforest.

      true
      Correct answer: false

      Q2.
      How much of the Amazon rainforest has already been lost?

      5%
      11%
      Correct answer: 17%
      34%

      Q3.
      Which of the following are reasons why the Amazon rainforest is important? Select 2 answers.

      Correct answer: provides a habitat for millions of plants and animal species
      provides land that could be used for growing wheat
      home to one billion people
      Correct answer: trees absorb and store carbon dioxide

      Q4.
      Which of the following is not an impact of deforestation of the Amazon rainforest? Select 1 answer.

      people may lose their homes and livelihoods
      burning and cutting down trees releases carbon dioxide
      Correct answer: more tourists will visit the rainforest on holiday
      plant and animal species may go extinct

      Q5.
      Who can take action to protect the rainforests? Select 1 answer.

      governments
      businesses
      individuals
      Correct answer: all of the above

      Q6.
      Which of the following are ways in which people are taking action to protect rainforests? Select 2 answers.

      cutting down trees
      Correct answer: campaigning for governments to take more action
      Correct answer: choosing responsibly sourced rainforest products
      building roads

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