TEKS & Objectives
7.3.B use models to represent aspects of the natural world such as human body systems and plant and animal cells
7.1 Organisms and environments. The student knows that there is a relationship between organisms and the environment. The student is expected to:
7.10.A observe and describe how different environments, including microhabitats in schoolyards and biomes, support different varieties of organisms
We will explore the desert habitat.
I will model how cactus plants absorb and conserve water.
1. Watch video.
2. Review vocabulary and complete quiz.
Hot Desert These deserts are very hot during the day and cold at night. There is very little rain and shade.
Cold Desert These deserts can have freezing temperatures in the winter, but not much snow.
Cactus This is a plant with thick stems used to store water.
Jackrabbit These rabbits live in deserts in America and Mexico. They get most of their water from plants they eat.
3. Simulate how a cactus absorbs and saves water.
- Cut two sponges into the shape of a cactus.
- Fill two cups between 1/4 and 1/3 full of water.
- You can add food coloring to the water to make it easier to see in the sponge.
- Place the sponges upright into the glasses.
- Watch as the water is pulled up the sponge.
- If you were to leave it overnight, the entire sponge would be wet!
Optional Extention:
- Wrap one of the two sponges in waxed paper.
- This represents the waxy skin that protects cactus plants.
- Use a hair dryer to try to dry out each sponge.
- When you are finished, see how much water you have left in each sponge by squeezing them out.
- Compare!
Speaking of the desert…
Why should you never go hungry in the desert?
Because of all the sand, which is there (sandwiches there)
4. “Desert Animals”
Optional: Try a bonus desert search!
