Year 4 have been learning about the different layers found within the rain forest, and how these influence the animal environment that lives within each layer. We have learnt that the rain forest layers can be broken down into four groups: the emergent layer at the top, the canopy layer, the understory layer and the forest floor at the base.

We have been learning how different amounts of light are able to penetrate through at each level. There is plenty of light towards the top of the rain forest, but little at the forest floor. This means that animals or plants can decay faster at the bottom. We then produced a diagram of the layers, and thought about which animals live at each level. Butterflies may live towards the top, with snakes at the bottom.

A selection of our Year 4 children explain more about their rain forest work in the podcast below.