The steppe - feeding the world
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why temperate grasslands are well-suited for farming and why the steppe is important to Russia.
Key learning points
- Temperate grasslands are called ‘breadbaskets’ for producing much of the world's wheat and cereals.
- Temperate grassland have characteristics which make them especially good agricultural land: climate, soil and terrain.
- Russia’s main agricultural areas are found in the west of the country and within the steppe.
- The Russian steppe is vital to the nation’s domestic food supply. Russia is largely self-sufficient in grain production.
- Russia is the world's top wheat exporter, generating US$11 billion from wheat exports in 2023.
Keywords
Chernozem - a rich, dark soil full of nutrients and found in temperate grasslands
Export - selling goods or products to other countries
Steppe - a large, flat area of land with grass and few trees, found in regions with dry climates and cold winters
Common misconception
Temperate grasslands are the only places in the world where cereal crops are grown.
Whilst temperate grasslands are significant providers of much of the world’s wheat and other cereal crops and referred to as 'breadbaskets', they are not the only places in the world where these crops are grown.
Teacher tip
Russia is not self sufficient with all of its food needs. Pupils could research what foods Russia has to import and where the food comes from.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
the line where one country ends and another begins
a large continuous area of land on Earth
a region with the same standard time
the ratio between the distance on a map and in real life
Q2.Which continent does most of Russia lie in?
Q3.Russia borders how many countries?
Q4.Which ocean lies to the north of Russia?
Q5.Which of these countries does not share a border with Russia?
Q6.Russia is the country in the world by area.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the keyword to its correct definition:
Nutrient-rich, dark soil in grasslands
Selling goods to other countries
Large, grassy area with few trees
Q2.Which biome is described as a large, flat grassland with few trees?
Q3.Russia is a leading exporter of which crop?
Q4.Why is the idea that “temperate grasslands are the only places where cereal crops grow” incorrect?
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: The steppe - feeding the world, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 geography lesson on: The steppe - feeding the world, 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 Russia: How does geography shape the country? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.