1. Resources Main skills Links to the spec
Text book page
Worksheet grids to complete
Main skills
Visual literacy – describing the global distribution of these biomes
Interpreting & explaining a climate graph
Links to the spec
4.1 Understand the concept of an ecosystem being the interdependence of climate, soil, water, plants and animals
4.1 Understanding the global distribution of these two biomes and an overview of the climate, flora and fauna within these ecosystems

2. Understanding the features of the world’s tropical grasslands & temperate grasslands.
Learning Objectives:
To describe and explain the distribution and characteristics (flora & fauna) of the world’s tropical grasslands ecosystems
To describe and explain the distribution and characteristics (flora & fauna) of the world’s temperate grasslands ecosystems

3. Review - with your neighbour
Describe the global location of tropical rainforests
Describe the general climate of the rainforest
Explain why they are located there
Name the 4 layers of the rainforest ecosystem
Describe the typical flora & fauna found in the rainforest.
What is coral?
What conditions are needed for coral to form?
Why are coral reef ecosystems described as the ‘rainforest of the oceans’?
Around the equator – in Amazonia, Congo, Indonesia.
Very hot and very wet (humid) all year round.
Overhead sun, high evaporation rates, convection currents, daily rain.
Emergents, canopy, under canopy, shrub layer.
Hard wood trees, epiphytes, lianas, insects + many more.
A living rock (exoskeleton) – formed around polyps.
Students to mind-map or similar everything they can remember about ecosystems in 3 mins.
Ask the class for any information they can provide on:
the 4 aspects of ecosystems (atmosphere, plants, soil, and animals)
Food chains
Naming any types of ecosystems
Clear, warm, shallow water.
Because they are so productive and diverse.

4. Tropical grassland ecosystem aka - savannah

5. Where are tropical grasslands located?
Venezuela
Brazilian Highlands
Central Africa
Parts of north Australia
Could add colour around each picture matching the key. Must draw a line to each
Using the laminated sheet as guidance, students to describe the global distribution of temperate deciduous, rainforest, desert plus one other biome.
Tasks:
Mark on your map the location of the world’s tropical grasslands.
Draw a line to show the position of the Equator & label.
Describe the distribution of tropical grasslands.

6. Example. Tropical grasslands (savannah) are found between latitudes 5 and 30 north and south of the equator. The main regions of the world are parts of central Africa surrounding the Congo Basin, parts of Venezuela, the Brazilian Highlands and parts of northern Australia.

7. What is the climate like?
With your neighbour – identify the distinctive features of this climate?
Two ‘peaks’ of high temperature
Minimum temp is still very warm (20)
Short wet season (heavy rain June to Sept.
Long dry season (Low rainfall & drought October to May)
Task: Describe the tropical grassland climate. Refer to temperature max, min, range and amount of rainfall.

8. Why does the tropical grassland have this climate?
The pattern of seasonal rain is all to do with the movement of the overhead sun. The sun does not remain over the equator all year. It migrates north to the Tropic of Cancer (overhead on 21 June), back to the equator and south to the Tropic of Capricorn (overhead on 21 December).
The overhead sun brings low pressure. This is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) or heat equator and brings heavy rain.
Therefore places north of the equator will have rain in May to Sept and a dry season for the rest of the year when the sun has migrated to the southern hemisphere.
Could add colour around each picture matching the key. Must draw a line to each
Using the laminated sheet as guidance, students to describe the global distribution of temperate deciduous, rainforest, desert plus one other biome.
Take it further Task: Explain why tropical grasslands have a short rainy season and a long dry season.

9. What flora and fauna are found in tropical grasslands?
Flora: Plants have to adapt to the short rainy season and to the long dry season. This means they have to store water when available and be resistant to drought (xerophytic) and high temperatures.
An example is the baobab tree.
The Baobab Tree
Very few branches and spikey leaves to reduce moisture loss
Thick trunk and bark, to store and retain moisture
Very long roots, to access water deep in the ground
Could add colour around each picture matching the key. Must draw a line to each
Using the laminated sheet as guidance, students to describe the global distribution of temperate deciduous, rainforest, desert plus one other biome.
Fauna: The grasslands are home to many plant eaters (herbivores) and carnivores.
Task: Choose one plant e.g. baobab and explain how it has adapted to the climate.

10. Temperate grassland ecosystem aka - savannah

11. Where are temperate grasslands located?
The prairies of N. America
Steppes of Asia
Argentine Pampas
Veldt of
S. Africa
Could add colour around each picture matching the key. Must draw a line to each
Using the laminated sheet as guidance, students to describe the global distribution of temperate deciduous, rainforest, desert plus one other biome.
Tasks: Mark on your map the location of the world’s temperate grasslands.
Describe the distribution of temperate grasslands.

12. What is the climate like?
With your neighbour – identify the distinctive features of this climate?
Most rain in summer
Very high summer temperature
Winter precipitation may be snow
Very cold winter temperature (below freezing)
Task: Describe the climate of temperate grasslands. Refer to temperature max, min, range and amount of rainfall.

13. Why do temperate grasslands have this climate?
Despite the name ‘temperate’, these grasslands tend to have a more extreme climate. Winters are cold and summers are hot. Why?
The main reason is that these biomes are inland, away from the moderating influence of the sea.
In summer the land warms up and temperature become very high.
In winter the land cools down and temperature tend to fall below freezing. This is typical of a ‘continental’ type climate
Could add colour around each picture matching the key. Must draw a line to each
Using the laminated sheet as guidance, students to describe the global distribution of temperate deciduous, rainforest, desert plus one other biome.
Task: Explain why temperate grasslands have hot summers and cold winters.

14. What flora and fauna are found in temperate grasslands?
Flora: The growing season is limited to summer. Grasses will not be as tall as those in tropical climates.
Fauna: The grasses provide a habitat for herbivores such as – kangaroo (Australia), bison (N.America) and antelope (S.Africa) Carnivores include coyotes, wolves and large birds such as eagles and hawks.
Could add colour around each picture matching the key. Must draw a line to each
Using the laminated sheet as guidance, students to describe the global distribution of temperate deciduous, rainforest, desert plus one other biome.
Task: Explain why tropical grasslands have a short rainy season and a long dry season.