Prairie

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/prairie

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Prairie?Millions of square kilometers/miles, forming a significant portion of North America's landmass
2. What is the location?Interior Plains of Canada, United States, and Mexico, including the Great Plains
3. What is the dominant vegetation?Grasses (shortgrass, mixed-grass, tallgrass), herbs, and shrubs; adapted to fire and drought
4. Why do prairie fires happen and why are they important?Fires happen naturally and stop trees from taking over. They help fire‑adapted grasses grow and keep the prairie healthy.
5. How do prairie grasses help the soil?Prairie grasses have deep roots that create rich, fertile soil called mollisols, which is one of the best soils in the world.

Biome: A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat.
Mollisols: Highly fertile soils rich in organic matter, characteristic of temperate grasslands.
Biodiversity Hotspot: A region with a high concentration of endemic species that is also under significant threat.
Conservation Biology: The scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting the natural world.