Programs

• Desert Adaptations: Desert survivalist
• Geocaching: a modern-day treasure hunt for everyone everywhere!
• Roadrunners: the fast and the furious
• Yucca: The desert multi-tool
• Turkey Vultures: Nature’s clean-up crew
• Cacti: The ultimate desert survivor

Desert Adaptations: Desert survivalist

Length: 30-45 minutes.

How wildlife has adapted to the desert conditions; looking into physical and behavioral characteristics. Two presentations - one for plants and one for animals.

TEKS

• Science, 3^rd grade: organisms and environments
  • 3.10(A): Explore how structures and functions of plants and animals allow them to survive in a particular environment.

• Science, 4^th grade: organisms and environments
  • 4.10(A): Explore how structures and functions enable organisms to survive in their environment.

• Science, 5^th grade: organisms and environments
  • 5.10(B): Differentiate between inherited traits of plants and animals such as spines on a cactus or shape of beak and learned behaviors such as an animal learning tricks or a child riding a bicycle.

Geocaching: a modern-day treasure hunt for everyone everywhere!

Length: 1-1.5 hours

Geocaching is a popular activity worldwide that fills the gap between outdoor activity and technology.

TEKS

• Social Studies, 4^th grade: geography and culture
  • 4.6(A): Apply geographic tools, including grid systems, legends, symbols, scales, and compass roses, to construct and interpret maps.

• Social Studies, 5^th grade: geography and culture
  • 5.6(A): Apply geographic tools, including grid systems, legends, symbols, scales, and compass roses, to construct and interpret maps.

Roadrunners: the fast and the furious

Length: 15-20 minutes

These feisty predators can outrace a human, kill rattlesnakes, and have adapted to survive in the harsh desert conditions.

TEKS

• Science, 2^nd grade: organisms and environments
  • 2.10(A): observe, record, and compare how the physical characteristics and behaviors of animals help them meet their basic needs.

• Science, 3^rd grade: organisms and environments
  • 3.10(A): Explore how structures and functions of plants and animals allow them to survive in a particular environment.

• Science, 4^th grade: organisms and environments
  • 4.10(A): Explore how structures and functions of plants and animals allow them to survive in a particular environment.

• Science, 5^th grade: organisms and environments
  • 5.10(A): Compare the structures and functions of different species that help them live and survive in a specific environment such as hooves on prairie animals or webbed feet in aquatic animals.
  • 5.10(B): Differentiate between inherited traits of plants and animals such as spines on a cactus or shape of a beak and learned behaviors such as animal learning tricks or a child riding a bicycle.

Yucca: The desert multi-tool

Length: 30-45 minutes

Details: Hands-on activity included but needs outdoor space.

Yuccas are truly desert’s multi-tools, historically providing food, soap, and tools needed for survival in the desert.

TEKS

• Social Studies, 2^nd grade: geography and culture
  • 2.7(C): Explain how people depend on the physical environment and natural resources to meet basic needs.

• Social Studies, 4^th grade: history
  • 4.1(D): Compare the ways of life of American Indian groups in Texas and North America before European exploration.

Turkey vultures: Nature’s clean-up crew

Length: 10-15 minutes

Turkey vultures, despite their looks, are majestic birds at flight and are considered nature’s clean-up crew.

TEKS

• Science, 1st grade: organisms and environments
  • 1.10(A): Investigate how the external characteristics of an animal are related to where it lives, how it moves, and what it eats.

• Science, 5^th grade: organisms and environments
  • 5.10(B): Differentiate between inherited traits of plants and animal such as spines on a cactus or shape of a beak and learned behaviors such as an animal learning tricks of a child riding a bicycle.

Cacti, the ultimate desert survivors

Length: 15-25 minutes

Cacti, the ultimate desert survivors, employ some of the same methods as you and I to ward off the damaging effect of the heat and sun.

TEKS

• Science, 3^rd grade: organisms and environments
  • 3.10(A): Explore how structures and functions of plants and animals allow them to survive in a particular environment.

• Science, 4^th grade: organisms and environments
  • 4.10(A): Explore how structures and functions of plants and animals allow them to survive in a particular environment.

• Science, 5^th grade: organisms and environments
  • 5.10(B): Differentiate between inherited traits of plants and animals such as spines on a cactus or shape of a beak and learned behaviors such as an animal learning tricks or a child riding a bicycle.