Grasslands for kids
See it on Peabody
- Planet Earth: open the Biomes view (under Nature) and fly to the African savanna, home of lions, zebras and elephants.
- Open the What covers the land view to see grass and farm fields in the US Midwest.
- The Rain & snow view shows why: grasslands sit in the middle, between the wet forests and the dry deserts.
Five facts about grasslands
| Fact | What to know |
|---|---|
| Mostly grass | Grasslands have grass and flowers but few trees. They get enough rain for grass, but not enough for a forest. |
| Different names | The savanna is a warm grassland in places like Africa. The prairie is in North America, the steppe in Europe and Asia, and the pampas in South America. |
| Grazers and hunters | Bison graze on North American prairies. Zebras and wildebeest graze on the African savanna, where lions hunt them. |
| Grass grows from the bottom | A blade of grass grows from its base, so it keeps growing even after an animal bites off the tip or a fire passes over. |
| Good soil | Grasslands have deep, rich soil, so much of the world's wheat and corn now grows where grasslands once stretched. |
Questions parents ask
What is a grassland?
A big open area where grass is the main plant. It rains enough for grass but not enough for many trees.
What is the difference between a savanna and a prairie?
Both are grasslands. A savanna is warm and has a few scattered trees, as in Africa. A prairie is a grassland in North America.
What animals live in grasslands?
Zebras, giraffes, elephants and lions in the African savanna; bison, prairie dogs and hawks on the North American prairie.
Why are grasslands good for farming?
Their soil is deep and full of nutrients from the roots and leaves of grass that grew and died there for thousands of years.
Is it free?
Yes. Peabody is free through the end of 2026, with no ads and no sign-up to start. Nothing on these pages asks for a child's name.
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Checked against how Peabody works on 29 October 2026. Written with help from AI, from Peabody's own code and library. Peabody is a learning app, not an assessment: if you're worried about your child's learning, talk to their teacher. How Peabody's pages are made.