The temperate deciduous forests
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can locate the temperate deciduous forests, describe their climate and explain the role of the nutrient cycle.
Key learning points
- Temperate forests are distributed across Europe, Asia and North America, within the temperate climate zone.
- The temperate forests have an average annual temperature of 10 degrees Celsius.
- There are four layers in a temperate deciduous forest; the canopy, sub-canopy, herb layer and the ground layer.
- The nutrient cycle means the soil in the temperate deciduous forest is nutrient rich.
Keywords
Temperate climate zone - the region between the tropics and the polar areas
Seasonal - things that relate to, occur during or depend on a particular time of year
Climate - an average of weather conditions in a place, taken over a long period of time (usually 30 years or more)
Adapt - to make changes to suit different conditions
Nutrients - substances that living things need to consume in order to live and grow
Common misconception
Rainforests must have the most nutritious soil as they have such a lot of plants and such tall trees.
Temperate deciduous forests have more nutrient rich soil than other forests as trees lose their leaves, meaning there is a lot of leaf litter and the climate is not too cold for decomposers.
Teacher tip
It would be useful for students to have access to a world map with country names.
Equipment
World map with country names.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the correct definition of climate?
Q2.Name the climate zone between the tropics and the polar climate zones.
Q3.Order the seasons found in a temperate climate zone, starting with spring.
Q4.Animals and plants (make changes) to suit different conditions.
Q5.What are nutrients in an ecosystem?
Q6.What is the temperature in degrees Celsius in Bath in January?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.What type of forests are found in the UK?
Q2.Select the continents in which temperate forests are found.
Q3.The temperate forests have an average annual temperature of degrees Celsius.
Q4.Order the layers in a temperate deciduous forest, starting with number one as the top layer.
Q5.The cycle means the soil in the temperate deciduous forest is rich.
To help you plan your 7 geography lesson on: The temperate deciduous forests, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 geography lesson on: The temperate deciduous forests, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Forest biomes: why are forests so important? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.