Deforestation in the tropical rainforest
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the causes and changing rates of deforestation.
Key learning points
- Tropical rainforests are threatened by deforestation.
- Rates of deforestation are changing.
- There are several causes of deforestation, such as commercial logging, agriculture and mineral resources.
Keywords
Deforestation - large-scale removal or clearing of forests
Biodiversity - a measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem
Subsistence farmers - farmers that grow only enough food for themselves
Common misconception
Deforestation is primarily caused by small-scale farmers cutting down forests for subsistence farming.
Deforestation is driven by large-scale commercial activities, such as industrial agriculture (like palm oil and soy), logging, and cattle ranching, which are often linked to global demand.
Teacher tip
The GIS lesson in this unit, 'Using GIS to visualise and analyse deforestation', gives pupils the opportunity to use GIS tools to engage with causes and impacts of deforestation.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Where are tropical rainforests located?
Q2.Why are ecosystems important?
Q3.What is the climate like in a tropical rainforest?
Q4.Order the layers of the rainforest from the highest above ground to the lowest.
Q5.What is deforestation?
Q6.Tropical rainforests are hotspots as they are home to over 50% of the world’s plant and animal species.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Globally, tropical rainforests are threatened by .
Q2.Tropical rainforests are __________ hotspots as they are home to over 50% of the world’s plant and animal species.
Q3.How is deforestation linked to climate change?
Q4.What kind of farming is used by subsistence farmers?
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Deforestation in the tropical rainforest, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Deforestation in the tropical rainforest, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 geography lessons from the Tropical rainforest unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.