Tundra and Desert Worksheet

What words best describe the tundra biome? Match them!

• polar zones

• precipitation

• less than 10 inches per year

• location on Earth

• thin layer of soil on top of deep permafrost

• type of soil

• very cold most of the year

• temperature

What words best describe the desert biome? Match them!

• sandy and rocky

• precipitation

• midway between the equator and poles

• temperature

• less than 10 inches per year

• type of soil

• hot in day, cold at night

• location on Earth

Both Tundras and Deserts have very low precipitation. Which of the following is NOT a type of precipitation?

• thunder

• snow

• rain

• hail

Tundras are sometimes called Deserts, because of their very low amounts of precipitation. What is the main difference between Tundras and Deserts?

• Tundras have no seasons, while Deserts do.

• Tundras are far away from the equator, which makes them MUCH colder than Deserts.

• Tundras have trees, while Deserts do not.

• Tundras have no animal life, while Deserts have a few animals.

Tundras are known for having something called permafrost. What is permafrost?

• A layer of frozen soil underneath the topsoil that never melts, even in the summer.

• Mountains that are always covered with snow on top.

• Lakes and rivers that are frozen solid all year round.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which of the following is something that tundras and deserts HAVE IN COMMON?

• They both support a large number of trees.

• They both have a cold winter and a cool summer.

• They both receive very little precipitation.

• They both have extremely high temperatures during the day.

What is different about the Desert biome at night?

• Desert animals are very active during the day, but sleep most of the night.

• Deserts are very dry during the day, but get a lot of rainfall at night.

• Deserts are extremely hot during the day, but they get cool at night.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Cool facts about plants! Did you know that plants in the ​ (a)   have to stay short because the ​ (b)   is frozen all year? Frozen soil is called ​ (c)   . Contrast that with plants in the desert. Their main trouble is storing ​ (d)   . They have ​ (e)   coatings on their stems and leaves to hold in water.

• tundra
• soil
• permafrost
• water
• waxy

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Read each clue. Decide if it is tundra or desert.

• tundra soil

• sandy, rocky soil

• desert temperature

• permafrost, frozen soil

• tundra temperature

• hot during the day, cold at night

• desert soil

• extremely cold most of the year

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Read each clue. Decide if it is tundra or desert.

• tundra soil

• sandy, rocky soil

• desert soil

• hot during the day, cold at night

• desert temperature

• permafrost, frozen soil

• tundra temperature

• extremely cold most of the year

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4