Section 1
Biomes Shape Life on Earth
Six major land biomes—desert, tundra, taiga, rain forest, deciduous forest, and grassland—create unique ecosystems where specific plants and animals adapt to different climate and soil conditions.
In this Grade 5 lesson from Science: A Closer Look, Chapter 3, students learn to identify and compare the six major land biomes on Earth — tundra, taiga, desert, tropical rain forest, deciduous forest, and grassland — and understand how each biome's climate, soil, and other characteristics determine which organisms can survive there. Students also investigate how nutrient levels in soil vary and how those differences affect plant and animal life across ecosystems.
Section 1
Biomes Shape Life on Earth
Six major land biomes—desert, tundra, taiga, rain forest, deciduous forest, and grassland—create unique ecosystems where specific plants and animals adapt to different climate and soil conditions.
Section 2
Organisms Adapt to Survive Harsh Environments
Plants and animals develop special features to thrive in extreme biomes. Desert cacti store water, tundra animals grow thick fur, and rainforest species occupy different canopy layers.
Section 3
Forests Breathe Carbon Dioxide Differently by Season
Carbon dioxide levels in forest air fluctuate with seasonal changes. Summer shows large day-night differences due to active photosynthesis, while winter shows minimal variation as trees lose leaves.
Section 4
Soil Nutrients Determine Plant Success
Richer soils support more diverse plant life than nutrient-poor environments. While desert soil contains minerals but little organic material, forest and grassland soils provide abundant nutrients for plant growth.
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Section 1
Biomes Shape Life on Earth
Six major land biomes—desert, tundra, taiga, rain forest, deciduous forest, and grassland—create unique ecosystems where specific plants and animals adapt to different climate and soil conditions.
Section 2
Organisms Adapt to Survive Harsh Environments
Plants and animals develop special features to thrive in extreme biomes. Desert cacti store water, tundra animals grow thick fur, and rainforest species occupy different canopy layers.
Section 3
Forests Breathe Carbon Dioxide Differently by Season
Carbon dioxide levels in forest air fluctuate with seasonal changes. Summer shows large day-night differences due to active photosynthesis, while winter shows minimal variation as trees lose leaves.
Section 4
Soil Nutrients Determine Plant Success
Richer soils support more diverse plant life than nutrient-poor environments. While desert soil contains minerals but little organic material, forest and grassland soils provide abundant nutrients for plant growth.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter