Tropical Rain Forest Biome in a Box Project

Diorama

• A diorama tells a story or explains a concept. A shoebox diorama contains an entire scene in a container no larger than a shoebox. According to the Diorama Man, the container for a shoebox diorama doesn't always have to be a shoebox. Often, the diorama is better served by using a container related to the diorama's theme. For example, a diorama about the coffee industry might use a coffee can instead of box. The container for a diorama about the rain forest might replicate the layers of the rain forest.

Rain Forest Layers

• Rain forests are divided into four layers. The emergent layer rises 200 feet above the ground and features broad-leafed, hardwood evergreens. This layer provides a home for butterflies, bats, monkeys and eagles. The roof-like canopy features trees with oval-shaped leaves that provide food and shelter for a wide range of animals such as frogs, toucans and snakes. The understory features relatively short trees with broad leaves and animals such as leopards, jaguars and frogs. The forest floor is extremely dark and features little plant life. A diorama depicting layers of the forest can feature trees, plants and animals and discuss the differences between the layers.

Rain Forest Animals

• Anywhere between 40 to 100 species of animals exist in a single hectare, or 2.47 acres, of rain forest land. Some animals found in rain forests around the world include sloths, gorillas, orangutans, macaws, cockatoos, leopards, jaguars, pythons, anacondas and dart frogs. A diorama about rain forest could depict a scene of animals interacting with each other and their environment such as a jaguar hunting a deer or orangutans swinging through the trees. The diorama could include information about the diversity of rain forest animals and their relationship to the environment.

Indigenous People

• According to the Rainforest Information Centre, approximately 500 million indigenous people live in rain forests around the world. Some of these include the pygmies of Central Africa, the Kuku-Yalanji of Australia, the Yanomami of Brazil and the Penan of Malaysia. A diorama about the indigenous people of the rain forest might depict the daily activities of an indigenous tribe such as their customs, livelihoods and beliefs. It could feature information about indigenous people losing their land and the struggles of some groups to preserve their land and culture.

Threats

• The world's rain forests are threatened by logging, agriculture, climate change, population growth, excessive tourism, mining and other human activities. According to the California Institute of Technology, about 6000 acres of rainforest are destroyed every hour. A diorama about the destruction of the rain forest might include a scene of loggers cutting down trees, ranchers clearing land for cattle or irresponsible tourism. It might include information on activities such as sustainable land use, responsible forms of eco-tourism and ways young people can help protect the rain forest.