Pupils amidst undergrowth at Eden Project

School Workshop: Rainforest Rangers

This workshop invites students to learn what it takes to survive in the Amazon rainforest.

You may also be interested in the online version of this session, delivered live to your school by our team.

Workshop overview

What happens in the workshop

Students must embark on a quest of discovery through the Rainforest Biome that reveals how the rainforest can provide what they need to survive.

Surrounded by expedition survival equipment, maps and plant samples, the Education Officer assists the students in their preparation for this survival challenge. Students will undergo basic training through role play and careful examination of plant specimens to consider how they could be used.

By observing what grows in the Rainforest Biome, the students identify plants for survival. The information they gather is used to complete their Rainforest Rangers’ notebook. This activity encourages students to think about how plants are adapted for life in the tropics, how they can be used for human survival and how indigenous people have adapted them for their own everyday use. On returning to the classroom, we reflect on what’s been learnt, and why the rainforest is important for all of us.

A visiting teacher

“ The children are so lucky to have the opportunity to touch, feel and smell the rainforest. It really helped the children appreciate how different the rainforest environment and climate is. ”

Practical information

This workshop enables students to:

understand our basic dependence on plants for survival
experience the rainforest environment and a sense of awe and wonder in the natural world
begin to consider the importance of rainforest conservation

We've designed the workshop to help teachers cover the following subject areas:

In Geography, pupils should learn about the location of the Amazon Rainforest, South America as well as the physical and human characteristics of that region. They should consider the essential requirements of humans in order to survive and how they can meet those needs and use fieldwork to observe and record features of the rainforest biome.

In Science, pupils should consider ways in which the rainforest is under threat and how it can be conserved. They should be encouraged to use scientific and geographical terms correctly and report their findings giving clear oral explanations.

The workshop costs £8.25 per pupil, with a minimum charge of £165 per group (includes VAT). Maximum group size is 35. The cost includes:

a facilitated workshop with our Education Team
free access to the Eden site for the day
all equipment needed for the workshop
free teaching resources enabling your class to prepare for the workshop and to follow up on the activity (download a sample copy)
a personal welcome from the Education Team at the entrance
a base for your bags in our purpose-built education centre, The Core
a space to eat your own lunch

The price includes free entry for accompanying adult helpers, whose participation is essential to the success of the day (please note our suggested adult/pupil ratios are as follows: Early Years Foundation Stage, 1:3; Key Stage 1, 1:6; Key Stage 2 and 3, 1:10; Key Stage 4, 1:15; Key Stage 5, 1:20). You’re welcome to bring more helpers if you’d like. Additional helpers are charged at our group booking rate.

We also offer a free preparatory visit to Eden for teachers wanting to plan their school trip, which should be booked in advance.