Watch the following video all about what lives in a desert! While you are watching, try to remember some of the plants and animals that you see in the video.
Deserts
Learn about the plants and animals that live in deserts.
Driving Questions
Look at the three Driving Questions below and in your groups, decide which question you would like to answer. Each group can answer the same question or each group can answer different questions. The choice is yours!
Desert Museum Puppet Show Desert Diorama
How can we teach others about deserts?
Possible Idea: Desert Discovery Museum
Activities:
Create artifacts for a classroom “Desert Museum,” including:
- Mini-dioramas
- Drawings of desert landscapes
- Posters with facts about desert plants, animals, and climate
Students then act as tour guides, explaining their displays to visitors (e.g., other students, parents). Students experience working in groups and being hosts for functions.
How can we show others how desert animals survive in such harsh conditions?
Possible Idea: Desert Puppet Show
Activities:
- Students pick a desert animal to research (e.g., camel, lizard, scorpion).
- Create puppets using paper bags, socks, or craft materials.
- Write a short script where animals talk about how they adapt to the desert environment.
- Perform the puppet show for classmates or another grade.
How can we create a model that shows the unique features of a desert?
Possible Idea: Desert Diorama
Activities:
- Build a desert diorama in a shoebox, including plants, animals, and landscape features.
- Use craft supplies (sand, clay, paper, and small figures) to make it realistic.
- Label key elements like cacti, sand dunes, and desert animals.
- Present the dioramas to classmates or parents, explaining what they included and why.
Thinking Time
What will your group do or make to answer your Driving Question? Use the space below to draw some ideas with your group. Remember to download or save your picture for future use!
Need To Knows
Now that you’ve chosen your question, think about your “Need To Knows.” These are the questions that you need answers to in order to help you answer your Driving Question. Follow the steps below to help you create and refine your questions.
