THE ACHIEVERS, EXPLORERS, SCHOLARS (AES) PROGRAMME

SUBJECT: SOCIAL STUDIES

Lesson 9-The Grasslands- Prairies
Grade- 5

Learning Objectives:
• Locate and label the geographical location of the temperate grasslands of the world map.
• Examine the climate, vegetation and economy of the Prairies.
• Discuss the importance of the natural resources found in the Prairies.
• Examine the wildlife and life of the people in the Prairies.

A. Choose the correct options:

1) The grasslands of _______________ are called prairies.
a. South America
b. North America
c. Australia
d. South Africa
Answer: b. North America
2) Which of the following rivers flow through the Prairies?
a. Nile and Missouri b. Mississippi and Amazon c. Congo and Missouri d. Mississippi and Missouri
Answer: d. Mississippi and Missouri
3) Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about the climate of the Prairies?
a. The Prairies have an extreme climate.
b. The summers are hot in the Prairies.
c. The people of the Prairies experience heavy snowfall during the spring.
d. The winters are quite cold in the Prairies.
Answer: c. The people of the Prairies experience heavy snowfall during the spring.
4) The Prairies are also known as the ‘breadbasket of the world’ due to _________________.
a. surplus rice production
b. extensive import of wheat from India
Grades 5 & 6 Social Studies Dept. 2023-24 GEMS OOD
c. surplus wheat production
d. scarcity of wheat production
Answer: c. surplus wheat production
5) During her educational excursion to the United States of America (North America), Sherlyn visited a large
farm that is mainly used for agriculture and breeding & rearing of animals. Identify the farm visited
by Sherlyn in USA.
a. Barn b. Ranch c. Station d. Kolkhoz
Answer: b. Ranch
6) ‘Machines have almost replaced manual labour in the Prairies.’ – Which of the following
explanations justifies the given statement?
a. The cost of manual labour is quite cheap in the prairies.
b. The farmers are not competent for cultivation of variety of crops.
c. Presence of infertile farmlands in prairies made farmers entirely dependent on machines.
d. The entire work related to agriculture is done through machinery.
Answer: d. The entire work related to agriculture is done through machinery.
B. Define the following terms:
a) Prairies: The vast treeless grasslands of North America which are located in the interior of
the United States of America and Canada are called the Prairies.

b) Extinction: It is a state in which a plant or animal stops existing.

c) Cowboys: The farmers who live on the farm are called cowboys.

d) Ranch: A large farm in the United States of America, especially the one used for agriculture and breeding
& rearing of animals.
C. Answer the following questions:
1. Describe the climate and vegetation found in the Prairies of the USA.
Answer: Climate:
a. The prairies have an extreme climate with hot summers and cold winters.
b. This region receives moderate rainfall.
c. In winters, there is heavy snowfall and rainfall.
Vegetation:
a. The climate and soil of the prairies are suitable for the growth of grasses.
b. Very few trees grow on the prairies.
c. Grasses grow in spring and by autumn they turn to hay.
Grades 5 & 6 Social Studies Dept. 2023-24 GEMS OOD
2. Cattle and horse rearing is an important occupation in the western part of the Prairies. Give reasons.
Answer:
a. The hilly areas of the western part of the prairies are not suitable for growing crops as the soil is shallow
and infertile and the rainfall is low.
b. That is why the people in this region rear cattle and horses on farms, called Ranches.

3. Machines have almost replaced manual labour in the prairies. - Justify the statement.
Answer:
a. In the Prairies, machines have almost replaced manual labour as the entire farm work of ploughing, sowing,
harvesting, threshing, and winnowing is done through machinery. The storing of food grains in the silos is
also done through machines.
b. Big dairy farms have modern facilities for processing milk. The milking of cows is done with the help of
machines.
4. Compare the lifestyle of the Prairie farmers with that of Indian farmers.
Answer:
Prairie farmers Indian farmers
➢ Own huge farms. ➢ Own small farmlands.
➢ Use modern machines. ➢ Depend on traditional methods and
animals for agriculture.
➢ Enjoy good standards of living. They have ➢ Majority of Indian farmers are poor and
luxurious houses, cars and other amenities do not lead comfortable lives.
for a comfortable living.

5. My Challenge Questions: (Choose any one from the given questions and write down in the notebook
along with the answer.)
Achievers: Solve the crossword puzzle with the help of the given. Use the given link to solve the puzzle
online. https://crosswordlabs.com/view/achievers-group-crossword-puzzle-for-the-
grasslands-prairies

Grades 5 & 6 Social Studies Dept. 2023-24 GEMS OOD

 Across
3. Meaning of the word ‘Prairie’
4. One of the main rivers that flows through the
prairies of USA
7. The grasslands of Eurasia
8. Most of the grasslands of the world are found in
this climatic zone
Down
1. The temperate grasslands of South Africa
2. The grasslands found in the smallest continent of
the world
5. The grassland of South America
6. One of the main food crops that is found in
abundance in Prairies

Answer:

Explorers: The Prairies are called ‘the breadbasket of the world’. Justify the sentence.
Answer:
• The favorable climate, fertile soil and plenty of water provided by Mississippi and Missouri rivers
are conducive for cultivation of wheat in the Prairie regions of the USA.
• Wheat produced in the central and northern prairies is sufficient not only for the country, but the
surplus produce is also exported to other parts of the world. Therefore, the Prairies are called the
‘the breadbasket of the world’.

Scholars: Differentiate between the climate of the Prairies of USA and the desert region of the UAE.
Climate of the Prairies in the United States of Climate of the desert region of the UAE
America

i) The grasslands of North America have an
extreme climate with hot summers and cold
winters.
i) The United Arab Emirates has an arid climate
with very dry, hot and humid summers from
April to September and generally warm and dry
climatic conditions in winter from October to
March.

ii) The people of this region experience moderate ii) Most of the rainfall in the UAE happens during the
rainfall and heavy snowfall in winter. winter seasons.

Grades 5 & 6 Social Studies Dept. 2023-24 GEMS OOD

6. Cross-Curricular Link: Science
Why is Aquaponic considered as the future of sustainable agriculture?
Answer: Aquaponic uses 90% less water than a traditional farm. It is not only a tool used to prevent the most
severe effects of food insecurity and water shortages, but it is also a method of farming that can lead the world
into a future of sustainable agriculture.

7. Power Up Question: (To be done in the notebook)

Very few or no trees are found in the Prairies of USA. Give reasons.
Answer:

i) Low moisture level

ii) Less amount of annual rainfall

iii) Overgrazing of grasslands by herbivorous

animals
iv) Inadequate sunlight

8. Extension Task: (To be done in the notebook)

Write a dialogue between two friends on the threats to the prairies and possible solutions to protect the rich
natural resources of North America.

9. Map Task: On a given map of the world, mark and name the Temperate grasslands of the world.
(To be done in the notebook)

Grades 5 & 6 Social Studies Dept. 2023-24 GEMS OOD

Grades 5 & 6 Social Studies Dept. 2023-24 GEMS OOD
Answer:

Reflective Log: (To be done in the notebook)

My Reflection
I learnt………………………….

I wish to learn…………………….

Grades 5 & 6 Social Studies Dept. 2023-24 GEMS OOD