Temperate Deciduous Forest: The Season-Changing Biome

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What Is a Temperate Deciduous Forest?

Where in the World Are They?

Temperate deciduous forests are found in many places across the globe. You can spot them on almost every continent! These forests grow in parts of the following continents.

• North America (like the eastern United States)

• Europe

• Asia

• South America

• Australia

That’s a lot of land covered in leafy trees!

What Does Deciduous Mean?

The word deciduous means “to fall off,” and that’s exactly what the trees in this biome do—they drop their leaves every fall.

These forests are also called broadleaf forests because most of the trees have wide, flat leaves (instead of needle-like ones, like pine trees).

Four Seasons of Change

Temperate deciduous forests go through four seasons every year.

• Fall: Leaves change colors and fall off. The weather gets cooler.

• Winter: Trees are bare, snow often falls, and it’s cold and dark.

• Spring: Rain showers help flowers bloom and trees grow new leaves.

• Summer: It’s hot, sunny, and full of green growth and animal activity.

This yearly cycle helps many plants and animals survive and thrive.

These forests get 30 to 60 inches of rain each year, which makes them perfect for plant growth.

Why They Matter

Temperate deciduous forests help clean the air, provide homes for animals, and give us oxygen to breathe. They also show us how amazing nature is when it changes, season after season.

Time to Try It Out!

Now that you’ve discovered where temperate deciduous forests are and how they work, it’s time to review what you’ve learned and explore it a little more.

Fall into the Got It? section!