- The Arctic tundra has short plants with shallow root systems that grow fuzzy or woolly to resist cold. They reproduce by budding and division due to the short growing season.
- Arctic terns eat high-energy food like fish and krill, nest in colonies in the Arctic summer, and migrate to Antarctica for the winter.
- Arctic woolly bear moth caterpillars bask in sunlight to warm up, spend 5% of their lives feeding, and freeze for most of their 90% hidden life.
- Arctic ground squirrels hibernate for 7–8 months, shiver every 2–3 weeks to create heat, and drop their body temperature below freezing—the lowest ever recorded in a mammal.
- Ermines lack body fat, grow soft fur in winter (brown in summer), and turn white to blend into snow for camouflage against predators.
- Snow buntings have mostly white plumage for camouflage in snow, feathered ankles, and migrate south in winter, returning each spring to nest in rocky cavities.
- People in the tundra wear thick layers of clothing, including animal skins and hoods, to protect against extreme cold.
- Tundra dwellings are often built low to the ground for insulation and protection from wind.
- Transportation in the tundra relies on sleds pulled by dogs or snowmobiles, adapted to snow and ice.
- Food habits include eating fish, meat, and berries; traditional diets rely on hunting, fishing, and foraging.
- Plants shown: buttercup, lichen, Arctic blueberry, cotton grass.
- Animals shown: musk ox, Arctic tern, Arctic ground squirrel, brown bear, snow bunting, ermine, black fly, Arctic wolf, tufted puffin, auk, ighteye flounder.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of tundra worksheet.
