Step 1
Retrieval quiz — 10 minutes
Test what you already know from lessons 1–3. No booklet for this part.
Select one answer for each question. When you've answered all 10, press Check all answers to see your score.
Step 2
Why do rainforests matter? — 25 minutes
Use your SOW booklet (Figures 1–3) and your own knowledge.
📗 Open your booklet. You'll use Figure 1 (pages 2–3) and Figure 3 (pages 6–7) for this task. Write your answers in your exercise book under the heading: Why do tropical rainforests matter?
Geographers think about importance at three different scales. Use the boxes below as a guide — then answer the questions in your book.
Local scale
Impacts on people and places within and directly around the rainforest — e.g. indigenous communities, local food supply, soil and water.
National scale
Impacts on the country as a whole — e.g. medicines, timber, tourism revenue, government income, food exports.
Global scale
Impacts on the whole planet — e.g. carbon sink, climate regulation, biodiversity, pharmaceutical research.
Each card below is a reason rainforests matter. They'll help you think before you write.
Biodiversity
Over 60% of the world's biodiversity. One hectare contains 1,500 fish species, 2,000 bird species, 30,000+ insects.
Medicine
120 prescription drugs from rainforest plants. 25% of Western pharmaceuticals use rainforest ingredients. Two-thirds of cancer-fighting drugs.
Carbon sink
Stores vast amounts of carbon, slowing climate change. Deforestation releases this carbon into the atmosphere.
Climate regulation
Influences rainfall patterns locally and globally. Reduces erosion and flooding risks for local communities.
Indigenous peoples
Over 1,000 indigenous tribes depend on the rainforest. Half a million people in Peru alone directly depend on it for survival.
Resources
Provides fibres, resins, dyes, rubber, timber and food — for local use and global trade.
📗 Answer these questions in your exercise book.
1
Local, national and global importance
Using the scale framework above, give one example of why rainforests are important at each of the three scales. For each example, write a sentence explaining the importance in your own words.
Scaffold: At a local scale, rainforests are important because... / At a national scale... / At a global scale, perhaps most significantly...
2
Medicine and biodiversity
Using evidence from Figure 1 in your booklet, explain why the loss of tropical rainforests could be a serious problem for human health worldwide. Use at least two pieces of data in your answer.
Scaffold: Tropical rainforests are sometimes called the world's medicine cabinet because... The loss of these forests could be serious because... For example, the data shows that...
3
The rainforest and climate change
Explain how tropical rainforests help to slow down climate change. In your answer, refer to the carbon cycle and describe what happens when rainforests are destroyed.
Scaffold: Tropical rainforests act as a carbon sink, which means... When forests are destroyed, this carbon... This is a problem for the global climate because...
4
Conflict of interests
The booklet states that rainforests are "both a local and global resource." Using Figure 2, explain why this creates a conflict between different groups of people. Who might disagree about how the rainforest should be used, and why?
Scaffold: Some people believe the rainforest should be conserved because... However, others argue that... This creates a conflict because...
Step 3
Reflection — 10 minutes
Prioritise and justify.
You've explored six reasons why rainforests matter. Now you need to make a judgement.
Click to select what you think is the single most important reason to protect tropical rainforests:
Your selection will appear here.
📗 Write your reflection in your exercise book.
R
Justify your choice
Write a short paragraph (4–6 sentences) explaining which reason you selected and why you think it is the most important. Consider: who is affected? At what scale? How serious would the consequences be if this were lost?
Scaffold: I believe the most important reason to protect tropical rainforests is... This matters most because... Without this, the consequences would be... Some people might argue that [another reason] is more important, but I disagree because...
Extension
Looking ahead — if you finish early
A bridge to the next part of the topic.
The road debate is coming — start thinking now
In the next lessons, you'll be deciding whether Peru should build new roads through the Amazon rainforest. The Peruvian government argues that roads will reduce poverty and bring development to rural areas. Conservationists argue the environmental cost is too high.
Before you've been taught that part of the topic, use what you already know to start forming a view.
Extension question (write in your book):
Turn to Figure 3 in your booklet (pages 6–7). Read it carefully.
1. List two reasons why Peru might want to build the road.
2. List two reasons why building the road might be a problem.
3. Based only on what you've read so far, write one sentence giving your initial view: should Peru build the road? Explain your reasoning briefly.
Keep your answer — you'll be able to compare it with your final decision at the end of the topic.
Turn to Figure 3 in your booklet (pages 6–7). Read it carefully.
1. List two reasons why Peru might want to build the road.
2. List two reasons why building the road might be a problem.
3. Based only on what you've read so far, write one sentence giving your initial view: should Peru build the road? Explain your reasoning briefly.
Keep your answer — you'll be able to compare it with your final decision at the end of the topic.