Sizzlin’ in the Desert

Kristine Burke

Characteristics of a Desert

• Less than 10 in. of rain per year

• Poor soil

• Extreme temperatures

It’s Getting Hot Out Here

• Daytime temperatures can be over 100F.

• Nighttime temperatures can be as low as 40F.

• Extreme temperatures are caused by the desert’s dry climate.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

• Receives less than 10 inches of rain a year.

• Very arid and dry• The evaporation rate is 20 times

more than the annual precipitation rate

• Flash floods are common

Animals

• Snakes

• Coyotes

• Jack rabbits

• Owls

• Woodpeckers

• Kit Foxes

• Desert Tortoise

Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are!

• Hide in a cactus• Rest in the shade• Dig burrows

underground• Come out at night

Animals have to adapt to stay alive!

Plant Life

• Plants have to adapt to stay alive

• Must be able to collect and store water

• Must be able to withstand extreme heat.

Provides many things to animals

• Shelter

• Food

• Water

• Shade

Just The Facts!• Can live 200 years• Takes 75 years to

grow an arm• The trunk of the

cactus sucks up water with its shallow roots

• Water is stored in the trunk of the cactus

• Flowers only open at night

Arm

Trunk

Something about the Desert

• Deserts have been given different nicknames: “Death Valley”, “the empty quarter”, and “the place from where there is no return”

• 1/3 of the Earth is a desert• The Sahara is the largest desert in the

world.• Most Saguaros have 5 arms and are about

30 feet tall.

Comprehension Questions

1. About how much rain does the desert receive in one year?

2. How hot are the daytime temperatures in the desert?

3. True or False. Flash Floods are not common.4. Name two animals that live in the desert.5. Name one way an animal stays out of the heat.6. Name two things a plant must do to survive in

the desert.7. What are two things that a saguaro cactus

provides to animals.8. How old must a cactus be before it grows an

arm?

• California State Standards – 3rd Social Studieshttp://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/hstgrade3.asp

• California State Standards – 3rd Science • http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/fd/documents/sci-stnd.pdf

• Desert Landscape• http://mandos.org/Photos/Nature/Desert%201.jpg

• Saguaro Cactus• http://www.arizona-horses.com/art/cactus.jpg

• Lizard• http://www.nps.gov/whsa/69s.jpg

• Desert picture• http://www.dade.k12.fl.us/ohes/Student%20Internet%20Projects/Williams/

Biome/Desert4.htm

• Saguaro cactus - cartoon• http://www.bettyssunsetthreads.com/images/Saguaro/Ribbed%20Saguaro.jpg

Works Cited

• Desert mozilla• http://dmoz.org/img/moz/saguaro.gif

• Saguaro Cactus• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saguaro

• Cactus arms• http://www.three-seasons.com/Journal_October/Journal_10_05.htm

• Saguaro flowers/life cycle of a cactus• http://www.nps.gov/sagu/Saguaros/saguaro.htm

• Cartoon Scactus• http://www.discoverseaz.com/Wildlife/Saguaro.html

• Desert Life• http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/desert/index.htm

• Animals of the Desert• http://www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/ontheline/explore/nature/deserts/deserts.htm

Works Cited

• burrow rat• http://www.desertusa.com/ratb.jpg

• cactus - home• http://search.msn.com/images/results.aspx?q=saguaro+cactus&FORM=QBIR

Desert Clip Art• http://www.wildlife-art-creations.de/Ausstellung-Bild-Saguaro-e.JPG

• http://abkldesigns.com/catiln2.gif

• http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/local/images/saguaro_sunset.jpg

• http://www.jedh.com/artsy/cactus01.JPG

• http://www.tedytravels.org.uk/arch_amer/Col_scrapbook/images/cactus%20forest.jpg

• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/label/desert/

• http://www.terragalleria.com/images/np-desert/sagu1225.jpeg

Works Cited

The End!