Fact File: The Rainforest Habitat is a four-page research sheet for 2nd grade science on NGSS 2-LS4-1. Students draw the rainforest with as many kinds of plants and animals as they can. They fill a fact table on location, weather, plant life, animal life, and water and shelter, then count the living things in their drawing. A Did You Know box says one rainforest tree can be home to over 50 kinds of bugs, birds, and frogs. A short written summary closes the sheet.
2-LS4-1
“Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.”
The Diversity Check row asks students to count the kinds of living things they drew, and the plant and animal rows ask for three of each.
Students draw or stick a picture of the rainforest and show as many different plants and animals as they can.
Six rows ask for location, weather, three plants, three animals, how animals find water and shelter, and a Diversity Check count of the living things in the picture.
A fact about one tree holding over 50 kinds of creatures leads into a question asking for one other surprising fact.
Students write 2 to 3 sentences on why the rainforest is an important habitat and why it is good that so many living things live there.
Library research
Book a library slot or set out rainforest books. Students need a source for location and weather, which the sheet does not give them.
Model answers
The answer key suggests toucans, sloths, jaguars, orchids, and bromeliads. Share a few names with students who get stuck on the plant row.
Class display
Pin the finished picture boxes in a row and count the kinds of living things across the class. Compare the total with the 50 kinds on one tree.
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