Sonoran Desert Safari Webquest Designed by M' Pierce

1
Sonoran Desert Safari WebquestDesigned by M.
Pierce

• Mississippi Science Curriculum Framework Second
  Grade
• 2. Research the diversity and interaction of
  living things. (L)
• a. Define and recognize endangered species.
• b. Compare and contrast physical and
  behavioral characteristics of different species.
• c. Analyze the suitability of different
  environments in meeting the needs of plants and
  animals.
• d. Classify animals in vertebrate categories
  (fish, bird, mammal, amphibian, and reptile).

2
Process

• This webquest was designed to provide students
  with multiple opportunities to use the internet
  as a research tool. The tasks require students to
  search, analyze, and record information in a
  variety of formats.
• Title Page
• Introduction to the Sonoran Desert
• Task 1 Safari Dictionary
• Task 2 Desert Animal Comparison Chart
• Task 3 Safari Journal - Animal Adaptations
• Task 4 Culminating Activity Desert Creature
• Evaluation Rubric - The tasks in this webquest
  are designed to be completed using the computer.
  Teachers may prefer to print the activities and
  have students complete each task on paper. The
  rubric can be modified to include an evaluation
  for handwriting.
• Teacher Resources - The websites listed as
  resources were used to gather information, create
  hyperlinks, or provide resources to supplement
  the webquest.

3
Introduction

• You are about to go on a Sonoran Desert Safari.
  During your safari, you will have the opportunity
  to explore the desert biome. You will learn about
  the animals that live here and how they adapt to
  survive in this environment. You have been given
  4 Tasks to complete during your expedition. Get
  ready for a very hot adventure! Youll need
  plenty of water and a way to stay cool!

Video clip of Sonoran Desert
4
Task 1 My Safari Dictionary

• Click here to find these words in an
  online dictionary.
• Safari Journal Click on the notebook to
  type these definitions in your Safari
  Dictionary.

1. adapt 2. burrow 3. desert 4. endangered
species 5. habitat 6. nocturnal
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Task 2 Desert Animals
Daytime Desert Animals
Nighttime Desert Animals
During this part of your expedition, you must
find some desert animals. Click on the pictures
above to search for daytime desert animals and
nighttime desert animals (nocturnal). When you
find an animal, click on it to read its Animal
Fact Sheet.

• Safari Journal Use the information in the
  Animal Fact Sheets to complete the Animal
  Comparison Chart.doc

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Task 3 Animal Adaptations
Watch Animal Adaptations video.

• Safari Journal Explain at least 3 ways
  that desert animals adapt to their environment in
  order to save water and stay cool. Remember to
  write complete sentences using capital letters
  and punctuation. You will need to print the
  Animal Adaptations page to complete Task 4.

Read Seasons of Saguaro
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Task 4 Conclusion and Culminating Activity

• Congratulations! You have been on your first
  Desert Safari. After exploring the Sonoran Desert
  and its habitat, you have become an expert on the
  desert biome.
• Culminating Activity Draw your own animal in its
  desert habitat. Show at least 2 ways your animal
  adapts to save water and stay cool. Your animal
  may be real or imaginary.

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Evaluation Rubric
4 3 2
1 0
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
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Teacher Resources

• www.desertmuseum.org/kids
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/desert/d
  esert.shtml

http//www.co.pima.az.us/cmo/sdcp/kids/color/sd
kColor.html
http//www.co.pima.az.us/cmo/sdcp/species/fsheet
s/facts.html
http//www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/whatis.htm
http//kids.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/engli
sh
http//kids.yahoo.com/animals
http//streaming.discoveryeducation.com/index
.cfm
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Seasons of Saquaro A story of a Saquaro cactus
and her desert friends.
Once Saguaro was very small. She began life as
a tiny seed, where a bird dropped her at the foot
of a tree. Saguaro grew slowly, safe in the
shade of her nurse tree. As she grew, Saguaro
got to know her desert neighbors. Coyote ran by,
looking for rabbit and prickly pear fruit to eat.
Javelina tromped by on his pointed hooves,
munching prickly pear pads. Kangaroo Rat hopped
around Saguaro at night, putting seeds in her
cheek pouches to take back to her burrow under
ground. Rain fell in winter and summer. Saguaro
drank up the rain with her roots. She stored the
water inside her stem, swelling to take it all
in. In the summer, the sun was very hot. Coyote
got a drink at a small water hole. Javelina
rested in the shade of the trees. Kangaroo Rat
slept in her burrow where it was cooler. But
Saguaro could not go to the water hole for a
drink. She could not lie down in the shade of
the trees. She could not crawl into a cool
burrow. She had to stand under the hot sun. She
got thinner and thinner as she used the water
inside her. Until one day, tall clouds formed
above the mountains. Thunder boomed. And cool
burst down onto the desert. The summer rain had
begun! Once again, Saguaro swelled as she drank
up the rain with her roots.
Return to Task3