Grade 6 Book 10. Biomes

Grade 6 Book 10 Biomes

1 Biomes Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. Rachel Carson

Book 10 - Biomes Grade 6 Term 4 (SS and NS) THEMES Biomes Forest Biomes Deforestation Mediterranean Regions Deserts, Tundras and Polar Regions ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS 1. Why does the extinction of one species have a drastic effect on all others? 2. How are ecosystems and biomes interconnected? SKILLS Summarising - working with written sources to find key points, brainstorming Thinking and Reasoning - analysing sources and answering questions insightfully Investigation - explore, deduce and record finds Interpreting Experiences - placing oneself in a new experience, showing empathy Creativity - creative thought processing, seeking new connections, self-initiated discovery CONCEPTS Adaptation - how animals and plants are adapted to the biomes in which they live Cause and Consequence - every action has a reaction Change - changes over time Conservation - conserving and protecting our peninsula and animals Evidence - working with evidence and finding connections ATTITUDES AND VALUES Empathy - listening with understanding, showing compassion, giving feedback Responsibility and Meeting Deadlines - tasks completed on time, group and peer respect Biomes (15) Forest Biomes (20) Deforestation Article (10) Deforestation Poster (10) Mediterranean Regions (25) Negative Effects Popplet (20) ASSESSMENTS, TASKS AND PROJECTS 2

Biomes A biome is a large area on Earth that has a certain climate. All places within a biome have similar temperatures and rainfall patterns. Each biome has a collection of plants and animals that are unique because these living things thrive in the biome s climactic conditions. For example, succulent plants (like cacti) grow in hot, dry deserts. Polar bears adapt to the cold conditions of the Arctic tundra. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have identified fifteen biomes: WWF defines a biome (or ecoregion) as: "a large unit of land or water containing a geographically distinct assemblage of species, natural communities, and environmental conditions". Biomes have changed many times during the history of life on Earth. Different biomes have different effects on the planet. The world's oceans have an even greater effect on global climate than forests do. More recently, human activities have drastically altered these communities. Thus, conservation and preservation of biomes should be a major concern to all. We must understand how human activity affects these biomes. 3

Biomes can be loosely grouped into EIGHT different categories: Forest: Tropical rainforests, pine forests, deciduous and evergreen forests. Savanna/Grasslands: Lots of grass, some trees. Deserts: Hot and dry, plants that can survive with little water. Tundra: Very little soil, lots of frozen ground, no trees, tiny flowers in summer. Alpine/Mountain: Small bushes and high, rocky areas. Mediterranean: A wide variety of bushes and flowers, rain in winter. Wetlands: Ice/Polar: Marshes and swamps, often where birds feed and breed. Ice all year long. Extension - Why do we have different biomes? 4

Adaptation/Thinking and Reasoning Task - Biomes 1. Label these pictures by using the words given below: (8) forest grassland desert tundra mountain mediterranean wetland polar a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. 2. In which biome do you think these animals probably live? (7) a. An eagle can live high up in rocky areas. b. A camel can live without water and stores fat in its body. c. An elephant eats grass and plants most of the day. d. A monkey easily climbs and jumps around trees. e. For protection, an arctic fox is white in winter when it snows. f. Water birds have webbed feet for wading or swimming in water. g. Salamanders like to shelter under logs and in bushes. Total: 15 5

Forest Biomes What is a forest biome? Forest biomes are vast areas of land that are filled with large trees and other, smaller plants. Forest biomes can be found in cold, tropical and temperate areas. Forests are very important to the Earth. Trees use up large amounts of carbon dioxide to make their food. Carbon dioxide is produced when humans breathe out. It is dangerous to people and animals when there is too much of it in the air. Forests regulate this by using carbon dioxide to produce the oxygen which we use to breathe. Throughout the ages people have depended on forests for shelter, food and wood (for weapons, tools, energy, paper and houses). People burn and clear trees for timber, firewood and to make way for farmland, mines, roads and houses. This is called deforestatation. When trees are cleared, forests and wildlife disappear. There are different types of forests: Rainforests... These are one of the most important types of ecosystems. Tropical rainforests are found near the Equator, between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn, where it is hot and wet all year round. Rainforests have the widest variety of trees. Most are evergreen which means that they do not lose their leaves during certain seasons. Palms and ferns are also found in these forests. Rainforests support over 1 500 000 species of animals and plants. Few people live here because vegetation is so dense. A tropical rain forest has FOUR main levels or layers: The forest floor receives the least sunlight. The understory is hot, damp, and the air is still. Only a few very tall trees break through the canopy into the emergent layer. Each layer is home to many plants, animals and insects. 6

Temperate forests... A temperate forest is found in a climate with mild temperatures - warm summers and cold winters. Temperate forests can be found in eastern North America, northeastern Asia and western and central Europe. There are THREE kinds of temperate forests: deciduous, evergreen and mixed forests. Deciduous forests have trees with broad leaves. These trees lose all their leaves during a certain season because there is not enough rain or sunshine to make food. Evergreen forests include pine trees. These trees are also called coniferous trees because of their cones. Evergreen forests thrive all year round, growth does not depend on the season. Mixed forests include both evergreen and deciduous trees. A mixed forest in North Yemen. Extension - Explore a tropical rainforest... 7

Evidence and Investigation Task - Forest Biomes 1. Answer the following questions in your work book by deciding whether each statement is true or false. (10) a. Forests are not very important to the earth and humans. b. Trees use up large amounts of oxygen to make their food. c. Carbon dioxide is a gas that can be dangerous if there is too much of it in the air. d. We use wood to make paper. e. Evergreen trees with cones are called conifers. f. Deforestation means planting forests. g. There are two major types of forests: rainforest and temperate. h. Temperate forests can be found around the Equator. 2. Answer the following questions: a. Identify the forests shown in the pictures below: (3) 1. 2. 3. b. What is evergreen tree? (1) c. What is the opposite of an evergreen tree? (1) d. On which continents do you find temperate forests? (3) e. Which forests do you think would have a large human population? Why? (2) f. What are the negative effects of deforestation? (2) Total: 20 8

Deforestation Deforestation is the cutting down of trees and the destruction of forests. All over the world forests are being cut down. They are cut down for many reasons. In Europe and the Middle East there are very few forests left. North America was once covered by some of the largest forests the world has ever seen. Yet, by 1860, 90% of the forests in the United States of America had been cut down. It is especially bad in the tropical rainforests. Tropical rainforests can be found in the Amazon Basin, West Africa, the Zaire Basin and South East Asia. Almost half of the world s rainforests have been cut down. Those that remain are being torn up at a rate of 400 000m² every minute. That means that a forest the size of a soccer field disappears every second! Why do people clear forests? Forests are cut down for many reasons. Wood is a valuable material and is exported to developed countries. It can be used in many ways. It can be used to make housing, furniture, paper and can even be used for heating purposes. Forests are also cleared to make way for roads, dams, mines, towns, homes and farms. Some forests are even destroyed by natural causes like forest fires or storms. 9

Why are forests so important? Trees are homes to many different birds, insects, reptiles and mammals. Plants and trees create oxygen through a process called photosynthesis (using the sun s energy to make the energy they need to grow). The forests on Earth provide us with all the oxygen we need in order to be able to breathe. Leaves intercept raindrops and give water vapour to the atmosphere. This has an important effect on climate and rainfall. Tree roots bind soil. Rainforests supply ingredients used in medicines and are homes to indigenous tribes. What are the negative impacts of deforestation? Clearing rainforests causes loss of animal and plant life. Many animals lose their homes and some species may even become extinct. Trees bind soil. When trees are cut down they no longer protect the soil. The soil is washed away during heavy rainstorms. This is called soil erosion. The Earth s oxygen supply is diminished. Deforestation destroys the traditional way of life of the people who live there. Some may have to move and are then exposed to foreign diseases. The Amazon rainforest covers an area about twice the size of South Africa. It is the largest rainforest in the world and has over 40 000 kinds of plants and animals. It is always hot and wet in this rainforest as it rains most days. Between 1960 and 1990, large parts of the Amazon rainforest were cleared of trees. An area the size of 15 soccer fields was cleared every minute. At that rate, the entire Amazon rainforest would have disappeared by the year 2005. Luckily, people have realised the dangers of chopping down so many trees. Fewer trees are removed now but the rainforest is still disappearing. 10

Cause and Consequence/Interpreting Experiences/Creativity/ Conservation Task - Deforestation 1. Imagine you are an environmentalist. You have just returned from a trip to the Amazon rainforest and you are very sad after seeing the negative effects that deforestation has had there. A local newspaper has asked you to write a short article about the deforestation of rainforests. The article should be about 1 and a half pages in length. Remember to include the following important information: - In which countries rainforests can be found. - How important rainforests are to the Earth. - The negative impact that deforestation has. - How we can help stop deforestation. Digital Extension: Complete this article using the Pages app on your ipad. Total: 10 2. On a piece of A4 paper, create a poster protesting against deforestation. Make your poster as colourful and attractive as possible. Include a catchy slogan. You may draw pictures by hand or find pictures (magazine or internet) to paste onto your poster. Total: 10 Timelapse: Devastating Deforestation What is deforestation? In this NASA timelapse, satellite images show the rapid deforestation of the amazonian rainforest. Malayan students created this informative video to shed light on deforestation. 11

Mediterranean Regions Mediterranean biomes can be found in the FIVE Mediterranean climate zones. These zones are found in the Mediterranean Basin (the lands that surround the Mediterranean Sea) such as California in the USA, central Chile in South America, Southwest Australia and the Western Cape in South Africa. Mediterranean climate zones have dry summers and mild winters. Mediterranean regions are home to many biomes such as; forests, grasslands and savannas, mountains and wetlands. Grasslands and Savannas Grassland biomes are covered with grass, shrubs and a few trees. Most types of trees cannot grow in grassland biomes because there is not enough rainfall. Natural fires often occur. The tropical grassland biome is known as the savanna. It is hot and dry for more than half of the year. These regions normally have low rainfall and poor soil. Some of the largest animals in the world live in the savanna. Herbivores such as elephants, giraffes and wildebeest feed on grass, small shrubs and trees. Savanna herbivores are hunted by predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. Farmers replace grasses with crops such as maize, peanuts and sunflowers and their cattle graze the grasslands. New, indigenous plants do not grow because farming takes important nutrients from the soil. People also destroy these areas by chopping down the few trees for firewood. 12

Mountains Mountains exist on all of the continents. They are usually found in groups called chains or ranges, although some stand alone. A mountain biome is very cold and windy. The higher the mountain, the colder and windier the environment. There is also less oxygen at high elevations. Mountain animals are adapted to the rugged landscape. Animals that are found here include goats, sheep, mountain lions, pumas and yaks. These animals are all excellent climbers which serves them well as the terrain is steep and rocky. Plants vary depending on geographic location. Lower elevations are commonly covered by forests, while higher elevations are usually treeless. Wetlands All wetland biomes have waterlogged soil. Wetland biomes are found all over the world. Conditions are normally moist and humid. They are often situated near lakes and rivers, but also develop in sunken areas of grassy plains. Wetlands are important wildlife areas because millions of plants and animals make them their permanent or temporary homes. Many birds make temporary homes in the wetlands while raising their babies. Fish and shellfish lay eggs that hatch among the roots of plants. Snakes, turtles, frogs and salamanders can find plenty of food here. Grasses, reeds, mosses and evergreen trees can grow in wetlands. Some plants, such as the water hyacinth, help remove pollution from water. Pesticides from farms and pollution from towns wash into the wetlands and damage the delicate ecosystems at work. Wetlands also disappear when they are drained for new development such as housing. 13

Adaptation/Thinking and Reasoning/Change/Cause and Consequence/ Evidence and Investigation Task - Mediterranean Regions 1. Redraw the table below and summarise the information found on pages 12 and 13. (16) BIOME REGION IN WHICH IT CAN BE FOUND CLIMATE OF BIOME VEGETATION FOUND IN BIOME ANIMALS FOUND IN BIOME Mediterranean Region Grassland and Savanna Biome Mountain Biome Wetland Biome 2. Discuss the environmental challenges faced by inhabitants (plants and animals) of the grassland and savanna biomes. (3) 3. What negative impact has human interference had on grassland/savanna biomes? (3) 4. How are humans putting wetland biomes out of balance? (3) Total: 25 Finished with your work? Can you help the polar bear get to the fish? 14

Deserts, Tundra and Polar Regions Deserts Deserts are found in places where rainfall is very low. Winters are extremely cold and summers are extremely hot. Some deserts are huge areas of sand. Others are bare patches of rock. Most of the plants in this biome are succulents. They have thick, waxy skin and needles for storing water. Animals that live in deserts are adapted to the harsh climactic conditions found there. Some live underground during the heat of the day and come out to look for food at night. Others have tough skin or hide that can withstand the heat. Animals such as the aardvark, snakes and camels live in the desert. Africa is home to THREE deserts, namely the Sahara, the Kalahari and the Namib deserts. Tundra and Polar Regions The tundra is found mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. This biome is like a cold desert. It is almost impossible for plants to survive as the soil is frozen for most of the year. Vegetation includes moss plants, ferns and other flowering plants. Animals that can survive these terribly cold conditions include seals, walruses, wolves and reindeer. Even during summer, when daylight is continuous, the sun's rays hit the ground at such a shallow angle that very little warmth is felt. The hottest month of the year ranges between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius! Summer, autumn and spring are very short. Winter lasts for approximately 9 months. Over time, people have had a negative effect on the tundra biome. Hunting and fishing is very popular. Hunters almost wiped out Canada s reindeer between 1949 and 1958. Commercial hunters hunt large numbers of walrus for their ivory tusks and so walrus numbers have fallen. The tundra is also mined for mineral resources. People damage the tundra by driving over it and throwing their rubbish on it which poisons the few animals and plants. Tyre tracks take 50 years to disappear. Polluted area from nearby cities kills arctic plants. Polar regions are always covered with a thick coating of ice. The tundra is often cold and icy but not necessarily covered with ice. 15

Conservation/Summarising/Change/Cause and Consequence Task - Negative Effects Humans have on Biomes We have learned about the devastating effects that human beings have had on the Earth and the environment whilst studying various biomes. Create a Popplet to summarise the following areas: Damage to Tundra Biomes (5) Damage to Grassland Biomes (4) Damage to Wetland Biomes (2) Damage to Forest Biomes (5) Ways to Conserve Natural Biomes (4) Use point form instead of long sentences. You can also add relevant pictures to enhance your brainstorm. Total: 20 Consolidation - My Tundra Don t... Finished with your work? This video was created by high school learners to create awareness about the negative effect that humans have on a tundra biome. Can you find all of the words? 16

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