Janice VanCleave's Science Around the World

Fun facts and experiments about Earth's amazing and unique climaticregions!

Janice VanCleave's Science Around the World presents interestingfacts and fun experiments that relate to the different geographicalregions of the world-also known as biomes. Each differentbiome-forest, grassland, desert, and tundra-has its own uniqueplant life, animal life, and climate. The experiments, activities,and facts in this book help explain how the different biomes workand show the importance biomes play in keeping life on Earth sofascinatingly diverse.

You'll learn how the tilt of Earth affects the weather in differentparts of the world; how and why some animals migrate; why leaveschange color; and how cacti survive so long without rainfall. Fromthe South American rainforests to the African savannas to theChinese Takla Makan Desert, you'll find out how climate andgeography determine the way plants and animals look and behave-withsafe, inexpensive experiments for the home and classroom!

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction 1

FORESTS 3

Tropical Rain Forests 5

1. Rain Forest Humidity 7

2. Rain Forest Soil 10

3. Rain Forest Plants 13

4. Forest Canopy and Below 16

5. Rain Forest Animals 19

Deciduous Forests 22

6. Seasons 24

7. Broadleaf Trees 28

8. Deciduous Forest Animals 31

9. Leaf Colors 34

Coniferous Forests 37

10. Conifers 39

11. Adaptations of Coniferous Plants 41

12. Food Chains 43

GRASSLANDS 47

Temperate Grasslands 49

13. Grasses 51

14. Prairie Grasses 54

15. Prairie Animals 58

Tropical Grasslands 60

16. Savanna Plants and Animals 62

17. Savanna Animal Survivors 64

DESERTS 67

Hot Deserts 70

18. Sandy Deserts 72

19. Transpiration 74

20. Hot Desert Plants 76

21. Hot Desert Animals 78

22. Camels 81

Cold Deserts 84

23. Cold Desert Plants 86

24. Cold Desert Animals 88

TUNDRA 91

Lowland Tundra 93

25. Permafrost 95

26. Arctic Tundra Plants 98

27. Arctic Tundra Animals 100

28. Polar Bears 103

Highland Tundras 106

29. Snow 108

30. Winds 110

Glossary 112

Index 117

Janice VanCleave is a former science teacher who now spends her time writing and giving science workshops. She is the author of more than forty books that have sold over two million copies and a resident science fair authority on discovery.com

JANICE VANCLEAVE'S SCIENCE AROUND THE WORLD

Fun Facts and Experiments about Earth's Amazing and Unique Climatic Regions!

Janice VanCleave's Science Around the World presents interesting facts and fun experiments that relate to the different geographical regions of the world--also known as biomes. Each different biome—forest, grassland, desert, and tundra—has its own unique plant life, animal life, and climate. The experiments, activities, and facts in this book help explain how the different biomes work and show the importance biomes play in keeping life on Earth so fascinatingly diverse.

You'll learn how the tilt of Earth affects the weather in different parts of the world: how and why some animals migrate; why leaves change color; and how cacti survive so long without rainfall. From the South American rainforests to the African savanas to the Chinese Taakla Makan Desert, you'll find out how climate and geography determine the way plants and animals look and behave--with safe, inexpensive experiments for the home and classroom!