Biomes of the World | Worksheet - Free Printable

To solve this worksheet, we need to look at the map of "Biomes of the World" and match the colors on the map to the legend provided in the top right corner.

Step 1: Analyze Question 1
* Question: "What type of biome covers most of Australia?"
* Observation: Look at the continent of Australia on the map. The majority of the land is colored in a yellowish-orange shade.
* Legend Check: Look at the legend on the right. The color yellow/orange corresponds to "Desert".
* Answer: Desert.

Step 2: Analyze Question 2
* Question: "Most of the northern part of North America is made up of what biome?"
* Observation: Look at North America (the continent in the top left). The northern part (Canada/Alaska area) is colored in a light green/teal color.
* Legend Check: The legend shows this color represents "Taiga".
* Answer: Taiga.

Step 3: Analyze Question 3
* Question: "What type of climate, then, should you pick if you decide to visit there?"
* Observation: This refers back to the previous answer (Taiga). The text box at the top explains that biomes are defined by climate and vegetation. Taiga is a cold, forest biome.
* Answer: Cold climate (specifically, a subarctic climate with long, cold winters).

Step 4: Analyze Question 4
* Question: "Do you think you would see a lot of the same types of plants and animals as you see traveling all over South America? Why?"
* Observation: Look at South America. It has a large green area (Tropical Rainforest) in the middle, but also brown areas (Grassland) and yellow areas (Desert) in the south. North America also has grasslands, deserts, and forests.
* Reasoning: Because biomes are defined by climate, similar climates exist in different parts of the world. For example, deserts exist in Australia, Africa, and South America. Therefore, you would find similar plants (like cacti) and animals (like lizards) in the desert parts of South America as you would in the desert parts of North America or Africa.
* Answer: Yes, because similar biomes exist on different continents, meaning they have similar climates and therefore similar plants and animals.

Step 5: Analyze Question 5
* Question: "Where is the tundra biome found?"
* Observation: Look at the legend for "Tundra" (it's the lightest blue/grey color). Now look at the map. You can see this color at the very top of North America and Eurasia (the landmass on the right).
* Answer: It is found at the very top of the Northern Hemisphere (Arctic region).

Step 6: Analyze Question 6
* Question: "What do you think the weather is like there?"
* Observation: "There" refers to the Tundra found in Step 5.
* Reasoning: The Tundra is near the North Pole. It is known for being extremely cold, windy, and having very little precipitation (snow).
* Answer: It is very cold, windy, and dry.

Step 7: Analyze Question 7
* Question: "Name two types of biomes that cover a large part of Africa."
* Observation: Look at the continent of Africa. There is a large yellow area in the north (Sahara Desert) and a large light green area in the south/central part (Grassland/Savanna). There is also some tropical rainforest in the center.
* Answer: Desert and Grassland (or Tropical Rainforest).

Step 8: Analyze Question 8
* Question: "Name three biomes that are found in South America."
* Observation: Look at South America again.
* Central part is dark green -> Tropical Rainforest.
* Southern part is brown -> Grassland.
* Far west coast is yellow -> Desert.
* Answer: Tropical Rainforest, Grassland, Desert.

Step 9: Analyze Question 9
* Question: "How big, then, would most of the plants be in Africa? Why?"
* Observation: This question likely refers to the dominant biomes identified in Question 7 (Desert and Grassland).
* Reasoning: In deserts, plants must be small and hardy to survive lack of water (e.g., cacti). In grasslands, the dominant vegetation is grass, which is relatively short compared to trees in a rainforest. While there are trees, the vast open spaces are dominated by smaller vegetation adapted to dry conditions.
* Answer: Most plants would be small (like grasses or shrubs) because much of Africa consists of deserts and grasslands, which have dry climates that cannot support massive forests.

Final Answer:
1. Desert
2. Taiga
3. Cold climate
4. Yes, because similar climates exist on different continents, leading to similar plants and animals.
5. At the very top of the world (Arctic region).
6. Very cold and dry.
7. Desert and Grassland (Tropical Rainforest is also correct).
8. Tropical Rainforest, Grassland, and Desert.
9. Small (like grasses), because the dominant biomes are dry (desert and grassland).