Desert Discovery Programs

A Walk in the Desert (Preschool and Kindergarten)

Let's take an imaginary walk through the desert to discover hidden animals and plants. While meeting some of these fascinating desert dwellers, students will identify the special adaptations each has for survival in the desert environment.

Class Objectives:

Through the examination of live animals, artifacts and interactive demonstrations students will:

Develop an understanding of the physical characteristics of a desert.
Identify some common Sonoran Desert plants and animals.
Determine the adaptations of specific desert plants and animals that enable them to live in the Sonoran Desert environment.
Develop an appreciation for our desert and the creatures that inhabit it.
Determine measures they can take to help conserve our desert ecosystem.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 1: Inquiry Process: Concept 3: Analysis and Conclusions
Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior

All About Bats! (3rd - 12th Grade) New

What animal is blind, gets tangled in your hair, and is basically just a flying mouse? Whatever it is, it's not a bat. Myths about bats are plentiful, but the facts about these fascinating creatures are far more interesting. Bats are shy, gentle and hard working. A single little brown bat can catch between 600 and 1200 mosquito-sized insects in just one hour! Other bats help new plants grow. The interrelationships between bats, plants, insects and other animals are vital to the function of this, and other ecosystems. Learn the truth about bats and discover just how important these creatures really are!

Class Objectives:

Describe at least 5 characteristics of bats.
Demonstrate understanding of bat diversity.
Describe a variety of interrelationships between bats and other living and nonliving things within an ecosystem.
Develop an appreciation for the importance/value of bats to humans and the ecosystem as a whole.
Describe ways in which humans impact bat populations.
Describe dangers to bats.
Explain strategies for species preservation.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 3: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Concept 1: Changes in Environments
Concept 2: Science and Technology in Society
Strand 4: Life Sciences: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms /Structure and Function of Living Systems
Concept 2: Life Cycles
Concept 3: Organisms and Environments/ Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem/ Interdependence of Organisms
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior

Amazing Arthropods

Introduce students to the incredible diversity of Sonoran Desert insects, spiders, and other fascinating arthropods. Examine live and preserved specimens to learn about habitats and adaptations. Determine the roles of various arthropods in desert food chains.

Class Objectives:

Through the examination of live animals, artifacts and interactive demonstrations students will:

Describe features used to classify arthropods.
Identify organisms from the five classes of arthropods.
Develop an appreciation for a diverse group of Sonoran Desert arthropods.
Explain the importance of arthropods in living systems and reasons to promote their conservation.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 3: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Concept 1: Changes in Environments
Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Concept 2: Life Cycles
Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior

Arizona Rocks and Minerals

Have you ever wondered ... What's the difference between a rock and a mineral? Who needs minerals anyway? How rocks "travel" through the rock cycle? If so, then this is the program for you.

Class Objectives:

Through the examination and analysis of rock and mineral specimens, common household materials and live animals, students will be able to:

Distinguish between a rock and a mineral and describe characteristics of each.
Identify the three main categories of rocks and describe the conditions by which they travel through the rock cycle.
Explain how minerals are formed.
Identify different minerals from the Sonoran Desert Region using physical property tests.
Understand that minerals are important nutrients necessary for a variety of function within the body of humans, other animals and plants.
Recognize how minerals are used in everyday life.
Become familiar with some minerals that provide raw materials for specific man-made items.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Structure and Function in Living Systems
Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem
Interdependence of Organisms
Strand 6: Earth and Space Science: Concept 1: Properties of Earth Materials
Concept 2: Earth's Processes and Systems

Creatures of the Night

The desert is the place to be for lively night-life! From bats to kangaroo rats, meet the creatures that wake up once the sun has set. Find out about adaptations these creatures have for nocturnal living.

Class Objectives:

Through the examination of live animals, artifacts and interactive demonstrations students will:

Develop an understanding of the physical characteristics of a desert and how nocturnal life is an adaptation for desert survival.
Understand the challenges and conditions posed by nocturnal living.
Develop an appreciation for a diverse group of Sonoran Desert wildlife.
Identify some ways humans impact life in the Sonoran Desert and measures that are being taken to conserve and protect it.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior

Desert Reptiles

From lizards to tortoises and snakes, meet the awesome reptiles of the Sonoran Desert. Compare their diverse strategies for movement, defense, and feeding. Discover their unique adaptations to desert life.

Class Objectives:

Through the examination of live animals and artifacts students will:

Identify the characteristics that separate reptiles from other vertebrates.
Learn about the desert adaptations of several Sonoran reptiles.
Understand how ectothermic animals function.
Acquire an appreciation for our desert and the creatures that inhabit it.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Concept 2: Life Cycles
Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior

Drawing Desert Life

Hone your powers of observation as you learn techniques for drawing desert plants and animals. As you sketch live animals and plants, Desert Museum educators will answer your questions about the structure and function of the features you observe, and the role of these organisms in our Sonoran Desert ecosystem.

Class Objectives:

Through the careful observation and analysis of living Sonoran Desert plants and animals, students will be able to:

Observe detailed features of the anatomy of Sonoran Desert plants (saguaro) and animals (barn owl or desert tarantula) and identify, distinguish, and connect geometrical shapes in order to sketch a tridimentional color drawing of the living object using oil pastels.
Understand anatomical structures of plants and animals, their functions, and the important role they play in desert adaptations of the organism.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Arts Standards: Articulated for 4th grade - Middle School and High School

Strand 2: RELATE: Concept 2: Materials, Tools and Techniques
Concept 4: Meanings or Purposes
Concept 5: Quality
Strand 3: EVALUATE: Concept 2: Materials, Tools, and Techniques
Concept 3: Elements and Principles

Science Standards: 4th - 8th grade

Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Structure and Function in Living Systems
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation, and Behavior

Science Standards: High School

Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem
Interdependence of Organisms
Concept 4: Biological Evolution

Endangered and Threatened Species

Meet some Sonoran Desert native plants and animals that are in trouble, learn about their habitat requirements and identify changes that are causing some to disappear. Find out what you can do to help.

Class Objectives:

Through the examination of live animals, artifacts, and interactive demonstrations students will:

Understand the use of the terms Endangered and Threatened Species.
Describe the purpose of the Endangered Species Act.
Become familiar with some endangered or threatened species in the Sonoran Desert Region .
Describe reasons for those species becoming endangered or threatened.
Identify some ways humans affect life in the Sonoran Desert and measures that are being taken to conserve and protect it.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 3: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Concept 1: Changes in Environments
Concept 2: Science and Technology in Society
Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior

Feathered Friends

Compare the feet, wings and beaks of different birds to discover their role in desert food chains. Meet live birds and find out what makes them incredibly well adapted to life in the Sonoran Desert.

Class Objectives:

Through the examination of hands-on artifacts, live birds, and interactive demonstrations, students will:

Describe at least four characteristics that are common to birds.
Demonstrate three different types of bird flight.
Observe at least three Sonoran Desert birds and determine their adaptations for feeding and movement.
Describe the unique adaptations of birds of prey.
Explain how habitat changes affect birds and other wildlife. Describe at least three ways humans affect habitat and how they can improve it.
Develop an appreciation for the intrinsic value of birds of the Sonoran Desert region.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 1: Inquiry Process: Concept 1: Observations, Questions, and Hypotheses
Concept 3: Analysis and Conclusions
Strand 3: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Concept 1: Changes in Environments
Concept 2: Science and Technology in Society
Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior
Strand 5: Physical Science: Concept 1: Properties of Objects and Materials

Hunters and Hunted

Meet the carnivores of the desert and their prey. Study the skulls and body structures of these animals. Determine how predators are successful hunters, and how their prey is often able to escape!

Class Objectives:

Through the examination of live animals, artifacts and interactive demonstrations students will:

Develop an understanding of predator/prey relationships.
Identify adaptations of predators for hunting, catching, and eating prey.
Describe adaptations of prey animals for avoiding and escaping predators.
Develop an appreciation for a diverse group of Sonoran Desert predators and prey.
Explain interactions and interdependence among predator/prey populations.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 3: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Concept 1: Changes in Environments
Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior

Plant and Animal Partners

Investigate pollination and seed dispersal to discover how plants and animals depend upon each other. Learn about the special adaptations of hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators that help them gather nectar from specific flowers. Students will meet live animals that help plants or are helped by plants.

Class Objectives:

Through the examination of live animals, artifacts and interactive demonstrations students will:

Identify the structures of flowers important to pollination and plant reproduction.
Describe the process of pollination.
Describe relationships and interdependence between pollinators and the plants they pollinate.
Identify and model relationships between groups of plants and animal pollinators.
Understand the role of animals in plant reproduction as pollinators and seed dispersers.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 1: Inquiry Process: Concept 1: Observations, Questions, and Hypotheses
Concept 3: Analysis and Conclusions
Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior

Saguaro Tales

Discover the desert plants and animals that interact with the saguaro and meet the animals that depend upon this giant for shelter and food. Learn how the saguaro and other desert plants are adapted to life in the Sonoran Desert.

Class Objectives:

Through the examination of live animals, artifacts and interactive demonstrations students will:

Identify the basic plant structures of the saguaro and describe their functions.
Trace the life cycle of a saguaro.
Identify adaptations of the saguaro that allow it to live in the Sonoran Desert environment.
Describe relationships between the saguaro and other desert plants and animals.
Discover how Native Americans have used the saguaro for thousands of years.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Concept 2: Life Cycles
Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior
Strand 6: Earth and Space Science: Concept 3: Changes in the Earth and Sky

Sonoran Supermarket

Today, basic survival for most of us means regular trips to the supermarket. But imagine living in the Sonoran Desert five hundred years ago. Everything you needed came from right here. This program explores local resources that native peoples of the Sonoran Desert - Tohono O'odham, Yaqui, and Seri - have traditionally used for food, medicines, fibers, and more. Students will experiment with ethnobotanical materials to make their own cordage and discover foods and tools they might find in their own backyards.
(No live animals used in this program)

Class Objectives:

Through the examination of ethnobotanical materials, artifacts and interactive demonstrations students will:

Compare three Native American groups of the Sonoran Desert region, Tohono Oâodham, Yaqui, and Seri, in terms of resource use and related cultural traditions.
Locate traditional homelands of these three groups on a Sonoran Desert map.
Identify plants, animals, and minerals of the region that can be utilized for products required for human survival.
Describe applications and uses of regional natural resources.
Describe the impacts of Native Americans on the cultural identity of the Sonoran Desert region today.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 3: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Concept 1: Changes in Environments
Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem

Social Studies Standards:

Strand 1: American History: Concept 2: Early Civilizations
Concept 5: Westward Expansion
Concept 10: Contemporary U.S.
Strand 4: Geography: Concept 1: The World in Spatial Terms
Concept 2: Places and Regions
Concept 4: Human Systems
Concept 5: Environment and Society

Web of Life

Piece together an ecological "circle of life" to reveal the basic concepts of photosynthesis, food chains, food webs and energy flow. Discover the intricate nature of their interrelationships. Meet the "living links" from some desert food chains.

Class Objectives:

Through the examination of hands-on artifacts, live animals, and interactive demonstrations, students will:

Develop an understanding of the concept of energy flow.
Classify Sonoran Desert species according to trophic levels.
Create a simple food web using Sonoran Desert plants and animals.
Identify physical and behavioral adaptations that allow animals and plants to survive within their ecological niche.
Understand the interactions and interdependence among producer and consumer populations within an ecosystem.
Understand the interactions and interdependence among living and nonliving components within ecosystems.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 3: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Concept 1: Changes in Environments
Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Populations of Organisms in an Ecosystem
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior
Concept 5: Matter, Energy, and Organization in Living Systems (Including Human Systems)

Who Dung It?

Although it may be difficult to see some desert animals, they do leave many clues behind. The challenge is to figure out who left those clues. Students will become detectives to help solve the mystery of just who "dung it" in the desert. Students will identify and learn about various desert species through hands-on discoveries and live animal presentations.

Class Objectives:

Identify 3-6 Sonoran Desert animals by the signs they leave behind.
List 3-6 different categories of animal signs.
Infer behavior and/or characteristics of specific animals by their signs.
Draw conclusions based on their comparison of animal signs and explain their reasoning.
Define specific terms such as carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, incisor, molar and scat.

Arizona Academic Standards Correlation:

Science Standards:

Strand 1. Inquiry Process: Concept 1: Observations, Questions, and Hypotheses
Concept 2: Scientific Testing (Investigating and Modeling)
Concept 3: Analysis and Conclusions
Concept 4: Communication
Strand 2: History and Nature of Science: Concept 2: Nature of Scientific Knowledge
Strand 4: Life Science: Concept 1: Characteristics of Organisms
Concept 3: Organisms and Environments
Concept 4: Diversity, Adaptation and Behavior

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