Weather, Flora and Fauna
Primary 4 · Social and Religious Studies
Weather, Flora and Fauna
Lesson 3 of 5
13 min
Uwase's family has dug their field and bought bean seeds. Every evening, her father looks at the sky. "We plant when Umuhindo brings the first good rain," he says. "If we plant too early, the seeds will dry up in the soil."
Weather decides many things people do. Let's see how.
Rwanda's mild climate, with two rainy seasons, helps us in many ways. These are called favourable (good) effects.
| Harmful weather | What it can do | How people protect themselves |
|---|---|---|
| Very heavy rain | Floods and landslides on steep hills | Dig terraces, plant trees, do not build on very steep slopes or in valleys that flood |
| Long dry spell (drought) | Crops dry up and there is little water, mostly in the east | Irrigation, collecting rainwater in tanks, planting crops that need little water |
| Lightning | Can hurt or kill people | Go inside a building; keep away from lonely tall trees, open fields and water |
| Strong wind | Blows off roofs, knocks down banana plants | Tie roofs down well; plant rows of trees to break the wind |
Listening to the weather forecast helps everyone get ready in time.
Tip
Rain says "plant!"; sun says "dry and harvest!"
When lightning flashes: get in, stay in. A building is safer than any tree.
Answer: So that the seeds get enough water to grow.
Answer: In the dry season, when the sun is strong.
Answer: Any one: two harvests a year; tea and coffee grow well; rivers give electricity and water; tourists visit.
Answer: Go inside a building quickly and stay away from lonely tall trees and open fields.
Answer: They slow down the water running down the hill, so the soil is not washed away and landslides are less likely.
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.
Quick check
When does Uwase's father plant the bean seeds?
