All Sunshine Makes a Desert: A WebQuest on Deserts
by Karen O'Sullivan
Introduction ·
Question ·
Background Info ·
Individual Roles ·
Group Process
Rubric ·
Conclusion ·
Teacher's Guide
Introduction ·
Question ·
Background Info ·
Individual Roles ·
Group Process
Rubric ·
Conclusion ·
Teacher's Guide
Introduction
The title of this WebQuest, “All sunshine makes a desert” is an old saying about the desert from the country of Saudi Arabia. The deserts of the world, including those in North America, are special and beautiful places. In this WebQuest, you will find out about the different deserts of the world, but it will be the deserts of North America that get special attention.
The deserts of North America can be placed into two groups: three of the deserts - the Chihuahuan, the Sonoran and the Mojave - are hot deserts because of their high temperatures during the long summer. The Great Basin Desert is a cold desert because it doesn't get as hot and actually gets cold in the winter.
During this WebQuest, your task is to learn about the deserts of the world and particularly, those in North America. First, everyone in the class will get some Background Information on deserts. Then you will find out about one part of the desert by taking on the role of a zoologist, botanist or climatologist. As a part of your role, you will make a product that shows what you have learned. Later, you will teach people who had different roles about the part of the desert you studied. Finally, you and some classmates will answer the main question of this WebQuest.
The Question
The main question you will be asked to find an answer for is:
In what ways have plants and animals adapted to survive in the desert?
Background Information
We'll begin by getting some background information on deserts. To do this, find information in books, digital encyclopedias and on the sites in this WebQuest. Complete the activities (below) assigned by your teacher:
1) First, find out about the major deserts of the world and where they are located. Click on the MAJOR DESERTS ON EARTH link (below). This will bring up a world map showing the deserts, but they will not be labeled. Get an enlarged copy of the map from your teacher. Click the ANSWERS link on the page to see the same map with the deserts labeled. Label the following deserts on your map:
- Sahara
- Kalahari
- Arabian
- Australian (Simpson, Great Sandy)
- Gobi
- Atacama
2) On a printed map, show the four deserts of North America. Use the link, NORTH AMERICAN DESERTS to find out where the deserts of North America are located. Then click on the link, MAP OF NORTH AMERICA, print the map and label the following deserts on it:
- Sonoran
- Chihuahuan
- Mojave
- Great Basin
3) Answer these questions about deserts in your notebook:
a. What is a desert?
b. Where are deserts located?
c. What is a rain shadow desert and how is it formed?
d. Describe the weather and climate of the desert like.
e. What landscapes can be found in the desert?
f. What kinds of plants live in the desert?
g. What kinds of animals live in the desert?
4) Using the information from HOT DESERTS and COLD DESERTS sites, complete an Inspiration diagram that compares hot deserts to cold deserts. Open Inspiration, go to the FILE menu, select TEMPLATES, open the DESERT COMPARISON template and complete it. Save it in your home directory.
Below are some Web sites about deserts that will help you complete the above activities. There are other links in the WebQuest that you can use for information. You can also use digital encyclopedias, books and other Web sites.
Hot Deserts Background Activity #4 (Inspiration)
Cold Deserts Background Activity #4 (Inspiration).
Types of Deserts Scroll down to find the information.
North American Deserts For background Activity #2
Deserts of the World A map showing their locations.
Desert Facts and Figures
Major Deserts on Earth For background Activity #1
Where are deserts located?
Landscapes of the Desert
Weather and Climate of the Desert
Desert Plant Life
Desert Animal Life
Map of North America Get an enlarged copy of this map from your teacher.
Habitat Awareness Desert
How Weather Helped Form the Desert
Individual Roles
Now that you have some background information, it's time to find out more about deserts by joining a team and taking on one of the roles described below. You will do some research and create a product to show what you have learned. Use books, digital encyclopedias and Web sites to gather information you need.
Zoologist
A zoologist is a scientist who studies animals. As a zoologist, you will find out about the animals that live in the desert and make a booklet that has information on these animals. Your booklet should have the following information on at least four animals:
1. the name of the animals
2. pictures of the animals
3. their class (mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, insect or arachnid)
4. a description of the animal (size, color)
5. what they eat
6. how they adapt and survive in the desert
7. some interesting facts about them
The Web sites (below) have information on animals that live in the desert.
- Desert Tortoise Natural Area Virtual Field Trip
- Desert Animal Printouts
- Animals and Wildlife
- Desert Animals
- Sonoran Desert Birds and Creatures
- The Living Desert: Animals
- Click on the link for animals.
- Desert Animal Photo Quiz
- Desert Animal Pages
- Animals of the Fort Worth Zoo
- Animals of the Desert
Botanist
A botanist studies plants. As a botanist, find out about the wildflowers, cacti, trees, shrubs and grasses that are found in the desert. Create a booklet on desert plants. You need the following information on each plant:
1. the name of the plant
2. where it grows or can be found
3. a description of it (size, color etc.)
4. how the plant adapts and survives in the desert
5. some interesting facts about it
The Web sites (below) have information on plants of the desert.
- DesertCacti.com
- Desert Plants and Wildflowers
- Plants of the Desert
- Phoenix Botanical Gardens
- The Living Desert: Plants
- Click on the link for plants.
- Desert Plant Pages
- Desert Vegetation
- Flowering Plants of the Sonoran Desert
Climatologist
A Climatologist is a scientist who studies how the weather and climate affects the land. As a Climatologist, find out about the weather, climate and landforms of the desert. Create a poster that explains the following:
1. the weather and climate of the desert, including: temperature, rainfall and seasons.
2. the landforms in the desert, including: mesa, butte, columns, arroyo, canyon, sand dunes, playa, arch and oasis (divide these landforms up between all climatologists so each has different ones to find out about).
3. how the weather and climate affect the plants, animals and landforms of the desert.
The Web sites below have information you can use:
- Deserts (The World’s Biomes)
- Desert Geologic Features
- Desert Geology
- Desert Features
- Types of Dunes
- Desert Weather Center
- Desert Landscape Photos
- Sand Dunes: A Phenomenon of Wind
- Arches and Bridges
- Playas
- Slot Canyons
- Columns (Hoodoos) in Bryce Canyon National Park
Deserts of the World
Use the links below to learn more about deserts around the world.
- Principal Deserts of the World
- Exploring Deserts
- Explains how deserts form; looks at plants and animals of the desert.
- The Sahara (Learning Network)
- Desert (Encyclopedia.com)
- Deserts of the World Photographs
- Windows on the Universe: Desert Ecosystem
Deserts of North America
Use the links below to learn more about the deserts of North America.
- Mojave Desert State Parks
- The Chihuahuan Desert
- The Great Basin Desert (Desert USA)
- The Great Basin Desert
- The Mohave Desert
- The Sonoran Desert (Desert USA)
- The Sonoran Desert
- Sonoran Journey
- Habitat Guide to North American Deserts
- The Chihuahuan Desert
- Desert Ecosystems
- Saguaro National Park
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
- Desert Life
- Chihuahuan Desert Region
Group Synthesis
Congratulations! Each person has become an expert on a different part of the desert. You've all learned a lot of information.
First, join a mixed group (people with different roles) and teach everyone about the part of the desert you studied. Use the product you made to help you teach.
Then, your mixed group should carefully read the main question and come up with an answer that you all agree on. Plan how you will present your answer to the class.
The WebQuest will end by with the whole class discussing all the answers to the main question and coming up with one answer that everyone likes.
Real World Feedback:
Karen O'Sullivan, Eastchester UFSD, ko'sullivan@eastchester.k12.ny.us
Conclusion
During this WebQuest you learned about an important and interesting place: the desert. You learned about some of the deserts in the world. You became an “expert” on one part of a desert: the plants, animals or climate. Working as a member of team, you were responsible for your individual work and had to help your team answer the main question. This was hard work, but now you should have a real understanding of plants and animals have adapted to survive in the climate of the desert.
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created by Karen O'Sullivan email: KO'Sullivan@eastchester.k12.ny.us http://www.web-and-flow.com/members/kosulliv/deserts/webquest.htm |