Weather, Flora and Fauna
Primary 4 · Social and Religious Studies
Weather, Flora and Fauna
Lesson 4 of 5
14 min
On a school trip to Nyungwe, Keza looks up at trees taller than her school, ferns as big as umbrellas and tiny orchids on the branches. The park guide spreads out his arms. "All of these plants together," he says, "are the flora of this forest."
Flora means all the plants that grow in a place: trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, ferns and water plants. Some plants grow naturally on their own. This is called natural vegetation. Others are planted by people, like crops and planted forests.
| Type | What grows there | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain rainforest | Tall trees, ferns, orchids, mosses | Nyungwe (south-west), Gishwati-Mukura (west) |
| Bamboo and mountain forest | Bamboo, giant plants on the volcano slopes | Volcanoes National Park (north-west) |
| Savanna | Grass with scattered acacia trees | Akagera and much of the east |
| Swamps and wetlands | Papyrus, reeds and water plants | Along rivers and lakes, for example the Rugezi wetland and the Nyabarongo valley |
| Planted forests and farms | Eucalyptus, pine, crops like bananas, beans and tea | All over the country |
When too many trees are cut and nothing is planted again (deforestation), or when bushes are burnt:
Tip
FLOra = FLOwers and all plants. FAUna = animals
And remember: cut one, plant two. If a tree must be cut, plant more to replace it.
Answer: All the plants that grow in a place.
Answer: Papyrus.
Answer: In the east, for example in Akagera National Park.
Answer: The roots hold the soil together, so heavy rain cannot wash it away easily.
Answer: Any two: plant trees; use an energy-saving stove or gas; never start bush fires; protect wetlands; mix trees with crops.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The rest of the lesson, including the practice questions, is written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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