Totally Tundra

Summary
An overview of the characteristics of the tundra biome including plant and animal life.

Objectives
• Students will identify the climatic characteristics of tundra.

• Students will recognize the plant and animal life of the tundra along with their special adaptations.

Suggested Grades
4th Grade
5th Grade
6th Grade

Excerpt
Tundra is a huge biome located at the top of the world around the North Pole. It covers nearly 1/5 of the Earth?s surface. Tundra soil is characterized by permafrost. Permafrost is a permanently frozen layer of ground. This usually extends a meter below the surface. The plants and microorganisms that live in the tundra are dormant during the winter. During the short summer, the very top section of soil thaws out enough for them to grow and reproduce.

Organisms that can survive in the tundra are adapted to handle extremely cold weather! The temperature gets as cold as -60?F and is only an average of 32?F during the warmest month. For most of the year, water is not available and annual precipitation is usually less then 10 inches per year.

Continued...