In the Desert - The Complete Series (6 lessons)

Desert Locations

This lesson teaches your class that there is more to deserts than sand dunes! They will learn what the definition of a desert is, and how this can apply to both hot and cold climates. They will then use different maps to identify, and name, the major deserts of the world, from large deserts like the Sahara and Great Australian Deserts to smaller deserts such as the Sechura and Somali Deserts.

A detailed lesson plan is provided, alongside an engaging slideshow for the teaching input, differentiated activity ideas for adaptive teaching and a range of printable resources for independent learning, including differentiated worksheets, a World Map, a Deserts of the World Map and Fact Cards.  

Desert Climates

Now that your class knows that deserts are places that receive very little precipitation, this lesson gives them the chance to further explore and compare the various climates of deserts around the world. During the included slideshow presentation, children will learn about how temperatures vary from night to day and season to season, exploring some of the extreme temperatures found in deserts around the world.

During their independent learning activities, they can then use Data Cards to answer differentiated questions on the provided worksheets, or carry out their own research on the climate of particular deserts, using Location Cards to support them.

Lesson 3

Desert Formations

This lesson starts by showing your class fascinating photos of different desert formations on the teaching input slideshow for them to discuss, before finding out about how erosion and other factors create desert formations such as arches, mushroom rocks, and mesas.

They can then use Picture Cards and differentiated Booklet Templates to write their own definitions of each different type of desert formation, or use the Challenge Card to help them create a group presentation.

Lesson 4

Desert Uses

Deserts appear to be desolate, useless places at first glance but this lesson encourages your class to dig a little deeper as they find out about some of the ways in which deserts are used by humans. The slideshow presentation introduces some of the natural resources found in deserts, such as oil, salt, gold and diamonds, as well as how deserts are used for recreation, testing and other purposes.

Children can then use the differentiated worksheets and Mind Map provided to express their learning in different ways.

Lesson 5

Desert Dwellers

This lesson looks at the various people, towns and cities of deserts and explores how they survive in such a harsh environment. They will learn about oases, nomads and small desert towns, before exploring how large cities such as Las Vegas and Dubai get the water they need to survive.

The included slideshow presentation allows your to introduce this information to your class, before children can tackle a variety of differentiated activities. Worksheets and Challenge Cards are provided to support them with this.

Lesson 6

Desertification

The final lesson in this series investigates what desertification is and why it is happening to deserts around the world. Your children will find out how over-farming and over-grazing, as well as pollution, are causing deserts to grow and swallow up fertile farmland, and what can be done to prevent this.

This topic is presented in a thought-provoking way during the teaching input slideshow. Children can then use what they have learnt to create a poster campaigning against desertification, prepare and perform interviews with someone affected by desertification, or work as a group to answer questions about all they have learnt about deserts. A worksheet, Interview Questions sheet and Question Cards are all provided to support these activities.

An End of Unit Quiz is also available with this lesson to assess children's learning across the unit both in slideshow and worksheet format.