Video summary
Focusing on tropical grasslands in Africa, along with it’s plants and animals.
Ferne Corrigan looks in-depth at the climate of the African savanna grasslands, describing the rainfall distribution and the benefits of fires in the dry season.
The adaptations made by the baobab tree to survive in the Savanna are explained.
The focus then shifts to the unique features of different types of grass, along with the survival skills developed and adaptations made by lions, the black mamba and the mongoose.
A final look is taken at how humans have used the savanna grasslands.
This clip is from the series Ecosystems and Biomes.
Teacher Notes
Key Stage 3
This could be used to introduce students to the ecosystem of the tropical savanna and how people, plants and animals adapt to the conditions.
The first 30 seconds could be used within a weather and climate topic to describe the climate of the region.
Students could be given a list of plants and asked to decide which ones would be best suited to survive in these conditions.
Students could look at the impact humans have had on the ecosystem and whether we are doing enough to conserve these regions.
Key Stage 4
This could be used to refresh students knowledge of the ecosystem of the tropical savanna and how people, plants and animals adapt to the conditions.
The first 30 seconds could be used within a weather and climate topic to describe the climate of the region.
Students could be given a list of plants and asked to decide which ones would be best suited to survive in these conditions.
Students could look at the impact humans have had on the ecosystem and whether we are doing enough to conserve these regions.
This clip will be relevant for teaching Geography at KS3 and GCSE.
This topic appears in OCR, Edexcel, AQA, WJEC KS4/GCSE in England and Wales, CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland and SQA National 4/5 in Scotland.
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