1. THE LIVING DESERT
Kyle Middleton
Grade: First
Length of Lesson: One school day
Objective:
The student will be able use a map to locate animals, exhibits, restrooms etc…
The student will be able to plot the location of certain animals on a map.
The student will learn about the desert wildlife and their origins.
California Standards:
2. Plants and animals meet their needs in different ways. As a basis for understanding this
concept:
a. Students know different plants and animals inhabit different kinds of environments and have
external features that help them thrive in different kinds of places.
c. Students know animals eat plants or other animals for food and may also use plants or even
other animals for shelter and nesting.
National Geography Standards:
1. How to use maps and other geographic representations, tool, and technologies to acquire,
process, and report information.
Materials:
Pencil
Clipboard
The Living Desert Map
Lunch/Money

2. Anticipatory Set:
Before leaving for The Living Desert each student will be handed a worksheet with four animals
on it. Each animal will have it’s name and a brief description followed by questions. They will
asked to complete and turn in the worksheet before leaving.
Activity:
The class will spend the day at The Living Desert viewing the plant and animal exhibits. They
will learn where the animals live, eat, and their classification (mammal, reptile, etc...). The
students will also label the map with the location of the animals from the earlier worksheet.
Closure:
Once back at school we will recap what was learned, then the worksheet will be returned to
them. The students will correct any mistakes on the worksheets.