Make Your Own Rainforest

• Line the bottom of a fish tank or plastic container with a layer of sand about 3 inches deep, and then cover with a light layer of dirt. Plant four tropical plants in the soil mixture, choosing plants that need similar amounts of sunlight. Decorate the terrarium with a few small, colorful rocks, moisten the soil and place a lid atop of the container. Place the container in a sunny spot and monitor it. Over the next month, you should only need to moisten the soil again one time (unless you notice it is remaining too dry). The terrarium should act as the rainforest does, watering itself.
  
  

Nature's Sponge

• To compare how the rainforest reacts to rainfall contrasted with other places in the world, fill two pie pans with about 2 inches of soil apiece. In this experiment, the first pan represents the rainforest; the second pan represents a regular forest. Place an unused sponge atop the soil in pan one, leaving pan two without a sponge. Pour three cups of water from a measuring cup into pan one, allowing the sponge to soak up the water, and then pour over into the soil, stopping when the soil is slightly wet. Do not flood the soil. Pour the same amount of water from a measuring cup into pan two. Monitor the pans to determine which set of soil becomes dry first. The soil in pan one should remain moist longer.
  
  

Erosion in the Rainforest

• To compare how erosion affects a rainforest and desert differently, place about 2 inches of soil in one pie pan, and about 2 inches of sand in another pan. Pan one, with the soil, will represent the rainforest in this example; pan two, with the sand, will represent the desert. Root a dozen blades of grass or a few small plants into the soil of pan one, but add nothing to pan two. Place paper towels over the tops of two empty pie pans, and secure the paper towels to the pans with rubber bands. Prop pan one up against a book so that one end is elevated, and place the other end on top of one of the paper-toweled pans (this will catch any displaced soil once the experiment begins). Do the same with pan two, ensuring each pan is angled to the same degree. Pour water into pan one, taking note of how the soil and plants react to the water. Repeat with pan two, taking note of how the sand reacts to the water. Pan two should displace more sand, proving that erosion in the rainforest takes longer to occur than erosion in the desert.
  
  

Plant Discovery

• The rainforest is filled with many plants that have different jobs. The bromeliad is one such plant that is recognized for its ability to hold up to two gallons of water within its core, and providing this water for animals who need it to survive. In turn, the bromeliad soaks up the nutrients from these animals when they die or leave droppings. You can monitor how this works in a much smaller degree with a pineapple. Choose a fresh pineapple with healthy green leaves, and cut off the top, leaving about 3 inches of the body attached to the leaves. Allow it to dry out for several days. Cut off the fruit, but leave the core attached to the leaves. Plant the core in a pot filled with soil, leaving the leaves to grow out of the soil. Place the plant in a sunny place, and water it daily. As weeks progress, notice how collected water pools at the center of the leaves, and make note of any worms or bugs that begin to live in the plant, and of anything else that collects in the leaves.