Activities

Did You Know?

• VapoRub®, and other similar products, contain oil form the leaves and/or wood of camphor tree (Cinnamomum comphora).
• Bay Leaves, used as a spice, come from the laurel tree (laurus nobilis), which originates in the Mediterranean.
• Cough drops often include oils from eucalyptus trees native to Australia and New Zealand.
• Cloves are actually dried flower buds of the Eugenia Stopper (Eugenia aromatica) tree, native to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.
• Chocolate is made from the seeds of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), native to tropical Africa and South America.
• Cork is derived from the bark of the cork oak tree, and natural rubber comes from the sappy latex rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis), found in Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India and China.
• Rayon is a purified cellulose product, derived from the primary component of wood fiber.
• Cellulosegum is used to make toothpaste and gum base (from the sapodilla tree) also used in the manufacture of chewing gum.
• Pine Sol® gets its name, smell and cleansing capabilities from the resin of pine trees.

The Vertical Forest
The rainforest is a four-tiered biohabitat, comprised of an emergent layer, canopy, understory and forest floor. Students can illustrate the rain forest and identify animals that inhabit each tier. Include a discussion of the elements of the layers and the rainforest in general. Also identify the areas ideally suited to the animal’s needs.

Student can:

• Design the perfect animal habitat dwelling
• Create a real estate ad for the ideal dwelling
• Distinguish why a tropical forest animal may not find it easy to relocate to our regional trees and forests (or wetlands)

Tropical Rainforest Ecology

• Launch an exploration of animal to plant/tree to human interaction in this environment. Include: a definition of the forest: primary trees, climate and geographic features.
• Description of native trees.
• Review the animal populations.
• How do individual animals interact with the forest?
• Catalogue human impacts on animals, vegetation and trees in the region
• Predict environmental future of the region and outcomes for the animal population.

Forest as Habitat
Animal species have a range that is directly related to the elements of their local habitat, for example animals live where they can breed and thrive. Suggested activity:

• Choose a local Florida species and assign research to connect the animal’s physical needs to our native habitat (especially to trees, forests and wetlands).
• Choose an endangered or threatened species and have students compare:
  how deforestation, and fragmentation, environmental factors have imperiled the endangered or threatened animal.

Expand research to include a discussion of how reduced genetic diversity weakens animal colonies and makes them vulnerable to disease, decline and death.

Resources for Teachers

Let us know how we can help you and what we can do to provide an edge for your students.

Forestry Division of Sarasota County Government
1001 Sarasota Center Blvd.
Sarasota, Florida 34240
(941) 861-0844

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