Science · Grades 3–6
Deciduous Forest
Reading comprehension lesson about deciduous forests — the four-season biome famous for brilliant fall foliage and rich woodland wildlife.
Subject
Science
Grade Level
Grades 3–6
Resource Type
Worksheet
Access
Free lesson · PDF: Full Member
Reading Passage
Deciduous Forest
Temperate deciduous forests are biomes dominated by broadleaf trees that shed their leaves each autumn. They are found in eastern North America, most of Europe, and parts of eastern Asia, in regions that experience four distinct seasons. Annual rainfall is moderate — between 30 and 60 inches — and temperatures range from cold winters to warm summers. These forests once covered vast areas of the Northern Hemisphere and are home to some of the world’s most familiar wildlife.
The defining feature of deciduous forests is the seasonal change in the trees. As days grow shorter and temperatures drop in autumn, trees stop producing chlorophyll — the green pigment used in photosynthesis. As chlorophyll breaks down, the yellow and orange pigments that were always present in the leaves become visible. Some trees also produce red pigments in response to the cool temperatures. This creates the spectacular fall foliage display that draws visitors to forests across New England, the Appalachians, and other deciduous regions each year.
Deciduous forests are structured in distinct layers. The canopy of tall trees, typically 60 to 100 feet high, captures most of the sunlight. Beneath it is a subcanopy of smaller trees. A shrub layer grows in the gaps where sunlight reaches the ground, and a ground layer of herbaceous plants, ferns, and mosses covers the forest floor. In spring, before the canopy leafs out, wildflowers such as trillium and trout lily bloom rapidly in the brief window of full sunlight on the forest floor.
Deciduous forests support rich communities of wildlife. White-tailed deer, black bears, foxes, raccoons, squirrels, and wild turkeys are common in North American deciduous forests. Many birds migrate south for winter when insects and berries disappear. Animals that stay through winter prepare in different ways: squirrels cache food, bears hibernate, and deer grow thicker winter coats. Deciduous forests have been heavily logged and converted to farmland over centuries, but many forest areas have regrown as farms were abandoned.
Printable Worksheet
Printable PDF · 4 pages
Deciduous Forest Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Nonfiction passage about temperate deciduous forests, comprehension questions, and answer key. Printable PDF for classroom or home use.