DESERTS&RAINFORESTS:
Lessons 1-3

 

DESERTS

I will be listing reading assignments we used for each day. If you could not locate 
the books we've used, just supplement with other materials on the topic. 

LESSON 1:
Supplies needed:
• Deserts (Earth in Action), Bible Atlas, tracing paper and markers/colored pencils

I. INTRODUCTION OF 'DESERT' & THE LAND OF MIDIAN:

A. Read pgs. 4-15 in Deserts (Earth in Action)

B. Locate the land of Midian on a map. This is Saudi Arabia today. Point out the distance Moses would have traveled from the area of Ramses to Midian. The trip to Midian would have taken Moses some time to complete. The terrain would be rough, consisting of many mountains, dry land conditions, and hot, dry days.
 

1. PROJECT! Trace a map of these areas. Include the land of Midian, the area of Egypt from which Moses came and the Sanai Peninsula. Include a compass rose and desert/ mountain regions. Make a map key to indicate various geographical elements.

LESSON 2:
Supplies needed:
• Earth (Usborne), The Usborne Geography Encyclopedia, multi-colored paper

I. CLIMATE:

A. Read pgs. 32-33, 176-177 & 188 in Earth (Usborne)

B. Read pgs. 46-47+ in The Usborne Geography Encyclopedia

C. PROJECT! Create a "Painted Desert" with ripped strips of overlaid tissue paper. Include sky, sand dunes, mountains, cactus, sun, etc... Be creative!

 

LESSON 3:
Supplies needed:
• Deserts (Earth in Action), Wild Places (Usborne), Terrarium supplies (clear container, sand, gravel, cactus, etc...)

I. PLANT LIFE:

A. Read pgs. 18-19 in Deserts (Earth in Action)

B. Read 2-9 in Wild Places (Usborne)

C. PROJECT! Create a 'Desert Terrarium':

1) Using a midsize, clear plastic Rubbermaid container (14" long, 12" deep, 9" high), fill the bottom approx. 1" deep with gravel or small stones. Fill the next 2-3" with sand. Fill terrarium with various cactus. Embellish with plastic bugs and snakes (appropriate to desert wildlife, that is!) This is a neat project and one the children enjoyed immensely. I wish I had a digital picture of this one to upload! We also made a snake, scorpion with babies and a trap door spider out of clay to 'live' in our desert.

D. Read One Day in a Desert

Questions or Comments?  Email us at: amypak ("at" sign) homeschoolinthewoods.com

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