Lesson overview

In this lesson students will complete research about the Tundra and Taiga biomes. They will use a variety of sources of information to learn about the location and some of the characteristics of the people, plants and animals of the Tundra and Taiga.

Learning outcomes

• Describe the Tundra and Taiga biomes
• Locate the Tundra and Taiga biomes
• Plan a journey through both biomes

Lesson steps

1. Introduction (10 mins)
   Explain to the class that during the lesson the students will be focusing on the Tundra and Taiga scenes within the Biome expedition.
   Students to examine the map of the North Pole on the Student Sheet found in the Lesson resources section.
   Student to use the links in the Lesson resources section to gather more information about the Tundra and Taiga biomes. Students will then use that information to shade the map to illustrate the location of Tundra and Taiga biomes using highlighter or coloured pencil.
2. Expedition (20 mins)
   Encourage students to imagine themselves travelling through the landscapes of the Tundra and Taiga.
   As students are completing the Google Expedition, they should think about the following questions: How will you travel? What challenges will you need to overcome? What will you eat? What will you wear?
   Students are to make notes on the plants, animals, temperature and precipitation of the two different biomes.
3. Activity (30 mins)
   Students are to write a two-page account of their imaginary journey through the different biomes. Students are to draw on all of their knowledge gathered about the Tundra and Taiga landscapes.
   Students work should include a description of the clothes they are wearing, a detailed description of the mode of transport and descriptions of the landscape they pass through and the animals they are likely to encounter.
   Students are to research the start and finish points of their journey and mark them on their map.
   
4. Extension
   Students use the map and their written account to make a story map of their imaginary journey.
   Students contact a school in the Tundra or Taiga biome and organise a video call to share their experiences.

England

Key Stage 4 Geography

• Extended their locational knowledge of different environmental regions
• Understand physical processes relating different environmental regions
• Understand how human activity relies on effective functioning natural systems