The Amazon rainforest for kids
See it on Peabody
- Planet Earth: open the Forests view (under Nature) and fly to the Amazon, which the view lists as the biggest rainforest on Earth.
- Open the Biomes view to see the rainforest as a color, and the Rain & snow view to see why it is green: the rainy belt round the equator.
- Be the Weather Reporter has a level that asks why a rainforest gets so much rain.
Five facts about the Amazon rainforest
| Fact | What to know |
|---|---|
| The biggest | The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world. It spreads over parts of nine countries in South America, and more than half of it is in Brazil. |
| A river through it | The Amazon River carries more water than any other river on Earth. Its water drains the land for thousands of miles before it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Warm and wet | It is warm all year, with no winter, and it rains a lot, often more than 80 inches (about 200 centimeters) a year. |
| Four layers | From high to low: the emergent layer (the tallest trees poking out), the canopy (a leafy roof), the understory, and the dark forest floor. |
| Animals everywhere | Jaguars, sloths, toucans, macaws, river dolphins, anacondas, piranhas and countless insects all live in the Amazon. |
Questions parents ask
Where is the Amazon rainforest?
In South America, mostly in Brazil, and it also spreads over eight other countries. It sits near the equator, which is why it is warm all year.
Why does the Amazon get so much rain?
It is near the equator, where the Sun heats the land and sea strongly. Warm, damp air rises, cools, and makes clouds and rain nearly every day.
What animals live in the Amazon rainforest?
Jaguars, sloths, monkeys, toucans, macaws, pink river dolphins, anacondas, caimans and piranhas, plus an enormous number of insects.
Is the Amazon the same as the Amazon River?
No. The Amazon rainforest is the forest. The Amazon River is the river that flows through it.
Is it free?
Yes. Peabody is free through the end of 2026, with no ads and no sign-up to start. Nothing on these pages asks for a child's name.
Teacher? Share this page to Google Classroom. Children open it with no sign-up.
Checked against how Peabody works on 29 October 2026. Written with help from AI, from Peabody's own code and library. Peabody is a learning app, not an assessment: if you're worried about your child's learning, talk to their teacher. How Peabody's pages are made.