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The Grassland Biome

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The grassland biome is found on all continents except Antarctica. With its vast areas of open spaces and unique and interesting animals, it is a fun biome to study with children.

Biomes are large areas of the Earth’s surface with distinct climates and ecosystems. They play a crucial role in shaping the planet’s biodiversity and sustaining life on Earth. Studying biomes in the classroom helps students understand the interconnectedness of living and nonliving components in the environment and the importance of conservation. But before you get into Biome studies with your students, make sure you have laid the foundation of helping children develop ecological consciousness in an age appropriate way. The Making Connections course by Tammy Oesting is a great place for teachers to start. You may also be interested in the Ecology Mini Unit printable pack from the Trillium Montessori Shop

One fascinating biome is the grassland, which is characterized by its vast expanses of grasses and other low-growing vegetation. Grasslands can be found in many parts of the world, including temperate regions with moderate climates and tropical regions with hot, dry seasons. These unique habitats are home to a variety of flora and fauna, and they provide many opportunities for hands-on learning and exploration. Scroll down for resources to help you create a unit study or lesson plan for your class.

About the Grassland Biome

Grasslands are found in many parts of the world, including temperate regions with moderate climates and tropical regions with hot, dry seasons. Temperate grasslands, also known as prairies, can be found in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Tropical grasslands, also known as savannas, can be found in Africa, South America, and Australia.

The climate of grasslands is characterized by moderate temperatures, moderate rainfall, and a long growing season. This creates ideal conditions for the growth of grasses, which are the dominant form of vegetation in grasslands. Other vegetation found in grasslands includes wildflowers, shrubs, and small trees.

The vast expanses of grasses in grasslands provide a critical source of food and shelter for a variety of wildlife. Animals that are commonly found in grasslands include prairie dogs, bison, antelopes, lions, giraffes, and many species of birds. These animals have adaptations that allow them to thrive in the grassland environment, such as long legs for running and grazing on tall grasses.

Unfortunately, grasslands are facing many threats, including conversion to agriculture and urban development, overgrazing by livestock, and the introduction of non-native species. Conservation efforts are underway to protect and preserve grasslands, including the restoration of degraded habitats, the protection of critical wildlife corridors, and the implementation of sustainable land-use practices.

By studying the grassland biome, students can learn about the importance of these unique habitats and the efforts being made to protect them. Through hands-on activities, projects, and observations, students can explore the plants and animals that call grasslands home and gain a deeper understanding of the interdependence of living and nonliving components in the environment.

The Grassland Biome: Fun Facts for Kids

  1. Grasslands are home to some of the world’s largest migrations, like the annual wildebeest migration in the African savanna, where millions of wildebeest and other animals move from one grassland to another in search of food and water.
  2. In grasslands, fire is a natural part of the ecosystem and plays an important role in maintaining the health of the grasses and other plants.The prairies of North America were once home to millions of bison, which used to roam the grasslands in huge herds.
  3. The prairie dog is a type of animal that lives in grasslands and is an excellent digger. They dig underground burrows that can be as long as 30 feet!
  4. Grasslands are home to many species of birds, including the roadrunner, which is known for its speed and can run up to 20 miles per hour!
  5. Some grassland plants, like sunflowers, can grow as tall as a house!
  6. The African savanna is home to some of the fastest land animals in the world, like cheetahs and gazelles.
  7. Grasslands play an important role in the water cycle by helping to absorb rainwater and prevent soil erosion. This helps keep the land healthy and fertile.

The Grassland Biome: Books and Materials

The Grassland Biome: Curriculum Resources

  • ​Grassland Education Project: Freshkills Park Many grassland lessons focus on the savanna or prairie, but this website shares information about 1000 acres of grassland found in a park in New York City. (Don’t be deterred by the suggested grades – there’s a lot here that could be useful and interesting for younger learners.)
  • ​360 Virtual Grassland Biome from Arizona State University would be exciting to explore with your class if you have a projector and screen in your room – an interactive, virtual grassland field trip!

The Grassland Biome: Printables

  • ​Grassland Food Webs from EcoLink in Australia. The “food chain role play” cards could easily be adapted for “Who am I?” or for an “I have/who has?” game.
  • ​Bison Nomenclature from Montessori Open Print on Etsy. Nearly hunted to extinction, bison are an important keystone species making a gradual comeback in the North American grasslands. This set shows 14 parts of a bison and includes blank copies to make a booklet.
  • TpT: You can find a variety of curriculum printables about the grasslands and biomes in general on Teachers pay Teachers.
  • Etsy: Find a range of biome and grassland printables by small creators.

The Grassland Biome: Crafts

  • This free Printable Cheetah Craft from LearnCreateLove features an apex grassland predator. This would make a fun diagramming project, set up on a tray as an individual activity.
  • ​In the Tall, Tall Grass craft from Creative Family Fun. This goes along with the book by the same name (which is a lovely story full of onomatopoeia but not necessarily a grassland book) and would be easy to adapt with any grassland animals your students are learning about. Who is hiding in the tall grass?

 

Free Trillium Resource​

  • Be sure to grab the Animals of Africa 3-Part Cards free printable from the Trillium Resource Library . Although a few animals in this set are not grassland creatures, many of these animals can be found in grasslands – with a little research you could easily edit these down to make a smaller “African Grassland Animals” activity.