Students read both fiction and nonfiction books with desert themes. Then they write desert stories and reports, reviewing texts for information to include in writing. Students also design desert scenes with details and setting elements...

Conduct an investigation on the plants used by the Hohokam tribe. To survive in the harsh desert environment the Hohokam used many natural resources. Learners read, research, map, and graph multiple aspects of Hohokam plant use as a...

Students explore earth science by completing several environment activities. In this desert lesson, students identify where the U.S. deserts are and what types of wild life inhabit them. Students utilize arts and crafts to create a...

Students do various activities to explain where the United States' desert region lies in relationship to the state in which they live, become familiar with plants and animals in the Sonoran desert, and make a story map of Roadrunner...

Students make observations of their own backyard. In this environment lesson, students keep records of the plants and animals they see in their home or school yard. Students make notes of how the weather and environment changes over...

Students explore world geography by researching a science book with their classmates. In this desert identification lesson, students utilize a U.S. map to locate the geographical locations of deserts. Students create an oral report based...

Second graders identify what constitutes as a desert by reading a habitat checklist.  In this environment lesson plan, 2nd graders read a nature website to discover facts about the desert and where they are located.  Students...

Students study the Anza-Borrego Desert. They complete the Patterns Project and survey the history of San Diego. They present their research to the class in the form of poster or report.

Third graders make alphabet cards that depict the wide variety of life forms found in the Sonoran Desert. A terrific lesson plan that combines language arts, visual arts, and life science all into one wonderful package. Each of the cards...

The saguaro cactus has an amazing ability to survive in a harsh environment. Learners identify the many adaptations for desert life that the saguaro employs. They look at each part of the saguaro and determine what role it plays in the...

Third graders identify ways that cactus plants survive in the desert. They distinguish between water acquisition and water conservation and create their own plant that could survive in a desert climate.

Learners illustrate scenes showing day and nighttime activities in the desert. They include plant and animal life including predators and prey.

Students view and discuss a Discovery Channel video that compares the animals found in four different habitats. They compare and contrast the characteristics of forests, deserts, wetlands and grasslands then choose one to depict in a...

Students explore their artistic skills. In this Sahara Desert instructional activity, students use the Internet to research the Sahara and paint a watercolor picture depicting the desert.

Students draw animals and plants that are described to them as they read passages of people who traveled across the Gila Trail in the Southwest. In this Gila Trail lesson plan, students also write a letter describing a plant or animal in...

Fourth graders examine habitats for animals by creating their own in class environment.  In this environment lesson, 4th graders research the Internet for information on certain wild animals and the places in which they live....

Third graders research Native American Cultures surrounding New Mexico. They analyze the history and geography of the state. They play a guessing game that incorporates the indigenous plants and animals of New Mexico. In groups, learners...

Second graders research a desert animal and create a 5 card HyperStudio stack including description, habitat, diet and an interesting fact.

Burrowing animals are busy! Get your middle school ecologists busy as well by having them create a scale model of a burrowing population. They also design a PowerPoint or poster to explain their models. 

Students examine the Nevada state quarter and discuss the Great Basin and the desert habitat. They draw a desert animal and write a sentence about its attributes and how they help the animal to survive in its habitat.

Fourth graders make a chart of animals and plants that live in either the desert, the ocean, or the tundra. In this environment lesson plan, 4th graders work in groups to discover characteristics needed for these animals to live in that...

Students create a desert biome to understand the abiotic and biotic factors of that biome. In this desert biome lesson plan, students include elevation, precipitation, temperature, plants, and more.

Students draw pictures of land animals in their habitats. In this animals in their habitats lesson plan, students read a book about animals and draw in their journals.

Students investigate the natural characteristics of animals by completing a coloring activity.  In this animal properties lesson, students investigate the reasons different animals have specific colors, and how it is essential for...