What are land biomes?
Lesson 1
Lesson Objectives
• I can recognize that the climate of an area
determines which biome will develop there.
• I can identify characteristics of each of the six
major land biomes in my country (U.S.).
• I can compare the adaptations of species that
help them survive in different biomes.
Did you know….
• Reptiles and small rodents escape the daytime
heat of the desert by burrowing under ground
where temperatures are about 85 degrees
cooler.
• During the winter hibernation, the curled-up
jumping mouse sleeps so soundly that you
could roll it across the floor without
awakening it.
Let’s Investigate!
• Color the North American Climate Zones Map
with the corresponding colors on the table
from page B63 in your book.
• Color the North American Biomes Map with
the corresponding colors from the table on
page B63 of your book.
Drawing Conclusions
• How do areas on the climate map compare to the
areas shown in the same color on the biome
map?
• If an area is too wet to be a desert but too dry to
be a forest, what biome would you expect to find
there?
• Order the biomes from wettest to driest.
Let’s Explore Land Biomes!
• Read “Earth’s Biomes” on page B64 and B65
with your table. STOP when you get to the
end of page B65.
• What biome do you live in?
– Deciduous Forest
Tropical Rain Forest
• Read about Tropical Rain Forests on page B66.
Take time to look at the pictures on the page
and read the captions. STOP when you get to
the end of the page.
What factors contribute to the diversity of plant
and animal life in a tropical rain forest?
– Direct sunlight, warmth, and heavy rainfall.
What do you hear?
• Listen to the sounds of the rain forest.
• What type of sounds do you hear?
Let’s Explore the Rain Forest More!
• Watch this video. Be ready to answer
questions about the video for an exit slip from
class today.
www.unitedstreaming.com
Let’s Explore Deciduous Forests!
• Read about the deciduous forest in your book
on page B67. STOP at the end of the page.
Take time to look at the pictures and read the
captions.
• What characteristics of deciduous forest trees
is most obvious?
– Most trees lose their leaves in the fall.
Watch This Video to Learn More!
• Watch this video about the deciduous forest,
you will be asked to answer questions at the
end of class.
www.unitedstreaming.com
Let’s Explore the Grasslands!
• Read about the grasslands on page B68 in
your book. STOP when you get to the end of
the page. Take time to look at the pictures
and captions.
• How are grasses adapted to the grassland
climate?
– Grasses have long slender leaves that conserve
water, and spreading shallow roots that take in
much of the rain that falls.
Let’s Explore the Desert!
• Read about the desert on page B69 in your
book. Take time to look at the pictures and
read the captions. STOP when you get to the
end of the page.
• How are desert organisms adapted to a dry
climate?
– Desert plants have thick stems or leaves that store
water. Desert animals come out only at night,
when it’s cooler.
Let’s Learn More!
Watch this video about the desert. Be ready
to answer questions when the video is over.
www.unitedstreaming.com
Let’s Explore the Taiga!
• Read about the Taiga in your book on page
B70. Take time to look at the pictures and
captions.
• Name two differences between deciduous
forest and the taiga.
– The taiga winter is longer, the diversity varies
seasonally, and there are only two layers of plants.
Let’s Explore the Tundra!
• Read about the tundra on page B71 in your
book. Take time to look at the pictures and
read the captions. STOP at the end of the
page.
• How are the tundra plants adapted to the cold
climate?
– They grow low to the ground, where they are
protected from strong winds. They also have
densely matted, shallow roots that take water
from the thawing ground.
Biomes Project
• With your assigned group you will research a
specific biome more closely. You will create an
informative poster about your biome to
present to the class. Make sure all aspects are
covered according to your scoring rubric.
HAVE FUN!