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School Project on the Jungle Habitat

The term "jungle" refers to a special type of forest. A damaged tropical or rain forest gives birth to a jungle when human or natural forces damage the taller plants, allowing sunlight to reach the normally sparse plant growth of the tropical or rain forest floor. The sunlight allows the plant life on the forest floor to grow profusely, producing the mass of tangled plant life characteristic of a jungle. A jungle school project is the perfect opportunity for helping kids learn about the origins, locations and characteristics of jungles.
  1. Location

    • Teach students the origins of a jungle, explaining that it only develops under certain conditions in a tropical deciduous forest or in an existing tropical rain forest that has been damaged. Instruct students to start the project by planning a brochure, computerized or hand-created, or a trifold presentation board. Students place a map of worldwide jungles on one portion of the brochure or board, appropriately labeling all locations.

    Characteristics

    • Once students learn the conditions that must be present for a jungle to develop in a tropical rain forest or tropical deciduous forest, direct them to add a detailed description of a jungle to the brochure or trifold board project. Require that students include at least three characteristics of the biome that must be present to be considered a jungle. Students should include items such as reduced upper-level tree cover, profuse growth of ground-level plant life and adequate sunlight to the forest floor. Instruct students to include both text and diagrams in the description.

    Animal Life

    • Though a jungle differs from a rain forest due to increased forest floor plant growth, the animal life remains mostly arboreal, or tree dwelling, in both environments. Assign students the task of creating a part of the brochure or trifold that lists and describes these arboreal animals. These might include a variety of birds, reptiles and frogs along with mammals such as lemurs and sloths. Have students create artwork or use computer printed graphics along with the text descriptions.

    Plant Life

    • Require that students also include a portion in the project that discusses plant life. The plants that distinguish the jungle from the rain forest are those that grow profusely alongside the taller plant life of the rain forest in the light that filters to the forest floor. Students should include a description of the tangled mass of vines, ferns, small trees and shrubs that cover the jungle floor. Advise students to include both pictures and text in this portion of the project as well.

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