Temperate Forests

Temperate forests are a type of biome characterized by four distinct seasons, moderate climate, and a diversity of flora and fauna. These forests are found in regions with moderate rainfall and a range of temperatures.

Climate

Temperate forests experience all four seasons - spring, summer, fall, and winter. The average annual temperature ranges from 5°C to 20°C. The annual precipitation ranges from 75 to 150 cm. The moderate climate and rainfall support the growth of a variety of plant and animal species.

Flora

The flora of temperate forests includes a diverse range of trees such as oak, maple, beech, and chestnut. These forests also contain shrubs, ferns, mosses, and lichens. The trees in temperate forests shed their leaves in the fall, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor and support the growth of a variety of plants.

Fauna

Temperate forests are home to a variety of animal species including deer, bears, foxes, squirrels, birds, and insects. The diverse plant life supports a rich food web, providing habitats and food for a wide range of creatures.

Study Guide

What are the characteristics of temperate forests?
Describe the climate of temperate forests.
What are some common tree species found in temperate forests?
Explain the seasonal changes in temperate forests and their impact on flora.
Name some animal species that inhabit temperate forests.

◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Sixth Grade. Our impact on earth

Vocabulary/Answer key

Our impact on earth

The resources above cover the following skills:

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

Earth’s Systems

Analyze and interpret data (e.g., tables, graphs, maps of global and regional temperatures; atmospheric levels of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane; rates of human activities) to describe how various human activities (e.g., use of fossil fuels, creation of urban heat islands, agricultural practices) and natural processes (e.g., solar radiation, greenhouse effect, volcanic activity) may cause changes in local and global temperatures over time.

Earth and Human Activity

Analyze evidence (e.g., databases on human populations, rates of consumption of food and other natural resources) to explain how changes in human population, per capita consumption of natural resources, and other human activities (e.g., land use, resource development, water and air pollution, urbanization) affect Earth’s systems.

Implement scientific principles to design processes for monitoring and minimizing human impact on the environment (e.g., water usage, including withdrawal of water from streams and aquifers or construction of dams and levees; land usage, including urban development, agriculture, or removal of wetlands; pollution of air, water, and land).