Life on the Arctic Tundra

Science · Polar Regions · ages 7-9

Name ______________________ Date ____________

The tundra is covered with tall forests of trees.
Circle one: True False
What is permafrost?
- Ground that stays frozen all year
- Sand that blows across the desert
- Water that flows down a river
Which of these animals lives on the tundra?
- Kangaroo
- Caribou
- Elephant
Look at the chart. Which is longer in a tundra year: the growing season or the frozen months?
- Frozen months
- Growing season
- They are the same
Why do mosses, lichens, and grasses grow so fast in the tundra's summer?
- Because it never gets cold in the tundra
- Because the ground never freezes
- Because the growing season is very short, so plants must grow quickly
Which animal below would you NOT expect to find living on the tundra?
- Snowy owl
- Monkey
- Musk ox
A tundra year has 12 months. If plants can only grow for 2 of those months, how many months does the ground stay too frozen for plants to grow?
Answer: ______________
Cole says, 'The tundra has warm soil all year, so trees can grow long roots there.' What is wrong with what Cole said?
- The tundra actually gets too much rain for trees
- Cole is right, trees do grow tall on the tundra
- The ground stays frozen (permafrost), so roots cannot dig down deep

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

False · The tundra has no trees at all. It is a flat, open, treeless land.
Ground that stays frozen all year · Permafrost means permanently frozen ground. It stays frozen under the tundra all year long.
Caribou · Caribou, also called reindeer, live on the tundra, along with musk oxen, lemmings, and snowy owls.
Frozen months · The ground stays frozen for about 10 months. Plants only have about 2 months to grow.
Because the growing season is very short, so plants must grow quickly · Summer only lasts a few weeks, so plants rush to grow, flower, and spread seeds before the cold returns.
Monkey · Monkeys live in warm forests. Snowy owls and musk oxen are built for the cold tundra.
10 · 12 months in a year minus a 2-month growing season leaves 10 frozen months.
The ground stays frozen (permafrost), so roots cannot dig down deep · Permafrost stays frozen even in summer. Tree roots cannot grow through frozen ground, so no tall trees grow on the tundra.