Creativity in the Classroom: Rainforest KS1 Activity

Welcome to our Creativity in the Classroom series! In this series, we share some of our favourite activities, games and challenges to stimulate creative learning on curriculum topics. All ideas come from our online teaching resource, Uno. To find even more engaging activities and interactive videos, visit the Uno website and sign up for your free trial! 

When it comes to habitats, nothing captures young pupils’ imaginations quite like the lush and leafy rainforest! With sweltering temperatures and torrential downpours (it is called the rainforest, after all), the rainforest’s unique climate makes a happy home to an array of natural specimens.

From the sky-high trees to the weird and wonderful creatures that lurk on the forest floor, this Rainforest KS1 activity helps your pupils learn about the different layers of vegetation in the rainforest, plus the characteristics of each. How? Through a catchy tune, of course!

You can watch and enjoy our version that’s ready and waiting on Uno, with the wonderful Carly. Alternatively, why not try and make up your very own Rainforest Song? Here are some tips to get you started.

Rainforest KS1 Activity: Layers of the Forest Song

The outcome of this Rainforest KS1 activity is for your children to gain a better understanding of a typical rainforest’s layers. Therefore, before you get started on composing the song, have a think about which layers you want to focus on and in what order. We like to go from the Forest Floor, through the Understory, up into the Canopy and finally burst out into the Emergent layer! Once you’ve decided, it’s time to flex your creative muscles and start singing.

• Try to use a familiar melody your pupils will recognise. This allows them to concentrate on the content of the song, rather than memorising the tune. Popular nursery rhymes are a good choice!
• Give each layer a short verse and pick a few characteristics. Of course you’ll want to include the animals that live there, but what else could you sing about? Perhaps how light or dark it is, whether it’s low or high, or the sounds you might hear.
• Keep the verses simple! A few lines is fine and a remember to repeat key phrases.
• Once you’re ready to start teaching the song to your pupils, go slow so they can echo you one line at a time. Sing with confidence and gusto – it encourages your children to do the same.
• Take your time with the lyrics, promote articulation and stay nice and slow until everyone’s ready to speed up.

Once your class have nailed the lyrics and tune, it’s time to get even more creative! Create some simple movements to accompany the song, add in percussion instruments to mimic the ambient sounds of the rainforest (like rain falling or frogs croaking), or split the pupils into smaller groups to make up their own verses. Have fun!