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2 Climate: a measure of conditions of the environment over a long period of time Ephemeral plants: plants that only last a short time in the desert - as long as there is water available Erosion: is the removal or wearing away of surface material by wind or water Deposition: occurs when material, that is either blown away by wind or washed away by water, settles in another location Infiltration: the movement of water from the surface, into soil Insulation: cloud cover which acts like a blanket or a lid and traps the heat in the air, keeping it warm Nocturnal: animals that only come out at night and sleep during the day Transpiration: occurs when plants loose water from their leaves into the atmosphere (air) Weather: the day to day conditions of the environment including temperature, rainfall, air pressure and humidity (moisture in the air) Xerophytic plants: desert plants that have adapted themselves to help them survive in the desert 1

3 What does the word DESERT mean to you? List as many words as you can around this page 2

4 Vocabulary Below is a list of words that you need to know when we are studying the topic of Deserts. Use the table below to help you learn to spell the words. To help learn these words you should: Look at the word an try to remember how to spell it Cover the word Write the word in the next box (to the right) Check you spelt it right In other words that means: 1. Look 2. Cover 3. Write 4. Check REPEAT THIS 3 TIMES FOR EACH WORD Word desert hot cold dry sand arid semi-arid Sahara 3

5 climate harsh wind storm dust heat erosion deposition water landform badlands butte mesa inselberg vegetation escapers resisters animals adapt survive human farming oasis irrigation community Bedouin 4

6 Activities: 1. Group work: Create a poster with pictures and words describing deserts. 2. Research Task: Use the websites provided at the end of this unit to help you research Deserts. Use the scaffold/table below to help guide your research. Fill this table in with your findings Question Research Findings What is a Desert? What type of Deserts are there? Where are Deserts found? 5

7 What is the weather like in a Desert? What landforms do you find in Deserts? What plants live in Deserts? What animals live in Deserts? 6

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9 Deserts: o An area where rainfall is less than 250mm per year and vegetation covers less than 50% of the ground o Cover around 35% of the earths surface o Surface can vary, includes surfaces such as sand dunes, rocky and mountainous, stony with light soils, covered in ice o Described as an arid area (little rainfall to support vegetation) o Semi-arid areas have mm of rainfall a year and are usually the areas around a desert o There are two types of deserts hot deserts and cold deserts o 4% of the worlds population live in hot deserts o The worlds biggest hot desert is the Sahara o Cold deserts are places of permanent ice and snow, and are found near the poles In this unit we will be studying HOT Deserts 8

10 Activity: write your own definition of a desert using what you have learnt about Deserts from the past two pages. Draw a picture to go with your definition. A Desert is 9

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13 Hot deserts are usually found around the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer. Deserts are found in many different countries. The table on the right lists just some of the world s deserts. The map on the next page shows where these deserts are located. Activity: Use the table to answer the following: 1. List the names of 3 deserts found in Australia: i. ii. iii. 2. In which country is the Sahara desert located? 3. What is the name of a desert that is located in Egypt? 4. Name two deserts that are found located in China: 12

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15 Activity: Use the map above to help you label the map on the next page and complete the following activities: 1. Label each of the deserts on the next page 2. Colour the line that shows the Tropic Cancer red 3. Colour the line that shows the Tropic of Capricorn purple 4. Colour the line that shows the Equator black 5. Colour the deserts yellow 6. Colour the rest of the countries green 7. Colour the oceans blue 14

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17 Australian Desert Facts o The Australian deserts listed on the next page make up about 18% of this continent, but a full 35% of Australia receives so little rainfall, it is classified as desert. o 70% of the country is classified as arid or semi-arid, which means it gets less than 500 mm of rain a year. o That makes Australia the driest inhabited continent on Earth. Only Antarctica is drier. o Only 3% of the Australian population live in those dry 70% of the continent, the rest of our people is concentrated on the coasts. o The main reason for the formation of the Australian deserts is their location. o Like most major deserts across the world the Australian deserts can be found around a certain latitude (roughly 30 north/south of the equator) where the weather phenomena create a dry climate 16

18 Australian Deserts - Size And Location Great Victoria Desert: 424,400 km 2 Great Sandy Desert: 284,993 km 2 Tanami Desert: 184,500 km 2 Simpson Desert: 176,500 km 2 Gibson Desert: 156,000 km 2 Little Sandy Desert: 111,500 km 2 Strzelecki Desert: 80,250 km 2 Sturt Stony Desert: 29,750 km 2 Tirari Desert (South Australia): 15,250 km 2 Pedirka Desert (South Australia): 1,250 km 2 Information and map taken from Outback Australia Travel Guide Activity: Use the information and map to complete the following activities. 1. What is Australia s largest desert and where is it located? 2. How much of Australia is desert? 3. Why is Australia classified as a desert? 4. What percentage of Australia s population actually live in the desert? 5. Explain in your own words where deserts are located in Australia. 6. Locate the five largest deserts in Australia on the map on the next page. Label them and shade them in yellow. 17

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20 What is the Different Between Weather and Climate? 19

21 Activity: Copy down the definitions of Weather and Climate in the spaces below. You may also like to illustrate your definition 20

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23 Desert Rainfall It rarely rains in the desert. On the few occasions that it does, it is usually a quick, heavy storm. The water pounds the hard, dry earth and does not have time to soak in. It causes the land to flood, and gathers in the streams. It flows away before the earth can drink it (infiltration). This means the land is mostly dry and barren (plants cannot grow there). They are called arid lands as they do not have much rainfall. Deserts at Night It is cool in the desert at night. It cools down rapidly after sunset due to two factors: o There is not enough vegetation and trees to hold the heat during the night o There is no cloud cover to trap the heat in the atmosphere which usually acts like insulation These factors also cause the desert to warm up quickly once the sun rises. 22

24 Activity: Draw a diagram of what happens when it rains in deserts and deserts at night using the information on previous page. Draw your diagrams in the spaces provided. 23

25 Activity: Cloze Passage. Using what you have read over the last two pages complete the passage below about the Desert Climate Word Bank harsh heat Arid clouds dust rain sunshine 10 C environments temperatures time regular winds downpour less compared to most other reasons: lands, or deserts have a climate. This is due to the following o Deserts receive than 250mm of a year. o The rain that does fall is generally not it is unpredictable, and can often fall in a huge over a short period of. o Days are hot as there are few and direct is received. Daytime can rise above 50 C. o Nights are cold (less than ). This is due to the lack of cloud cover which allows the to escape to the sky. o There are strong dry, easterly in most continents which cause sand and storms. 24

26 Landforms are the mountains, valleys, plains and plateaus of the earth s surface. Most people think that sand dunes are the main type of landforms found in deserts, but they only cover 25 per cent of the worlds deserts. The remaining 75 per cent of the worlds deserts are covered with exposed (uncovered) rock or stone-covered plains. The picture above shows just some of the landforms that are found in deserts The landforms of the desert are shaped by wind and water. The landforms can be caused by erosion or deposition. Erosion is the removal or wearing away of surface material. Both wind and water can erode the surface of deserts quickly especially when it is dry with little vegetation (plants). The loose material is then either blown away by wind or washed away by water. This material then settles in another location. This is known as deposition 25

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32 Many people think that deserts have no living things. Even though deserts are very hot, plants do still grow there. Hot deserts have less than 50 per cent of vegetation covering the ground. The plants that do exist in deserts have to find ways to survive in the rough conditions. Desert plants that have adapted themselves to help them survive in the desert are called xerophytic plants. They can withstand long dry periods of time. There are two main ways that desert plants survive and to deal with the dry conditions. These are: Drought Escapers These plants try to escape the dry conditions. The seeds of these plants may lie sleeping or dormant for a long time. They are waiting for the rain and when it does, the seeds begin to germinate (develop) and grow quickly. These plants do not last long only as long as there is water available. These are called ephemeral plants as they only last for a little while. Drought Resisters These are plants that have developed different ways of resisting the lack of water and very hot temperatures. These plants work out the best way to use whatever water is available. Many plants lose water from the pores of their leaves. This water then goes into the atmosphere. This is called transpiration. Some desert plants have worked out ways to help stop or decrease this moisture loss by having spiky or waxy leaves. Other plants have developed underground root systems that store water in their stems or search for water. Some use these root systems to help them store water so they can survive a long time without water. Most types of cactus survive like this. 31

33 Activities: Use the information and pictures of Desert Vegetation from the to complete the following activities. 1. Answer true or false to the following statements: a. Deserts have no living things b. Vegetation covers less than 50% of the surface of the desert 32

34 c. Xerophytic plants do not know how to survive in the desert d. Conditions in the desert ideal for all plants e. Some plants work out ways to survive in the desert f. Drought escapers try to escape the dry conditions of the desert g. Ephemeral plants last a long time in the desert h. Drought resisters work out ways of storing and searching for water i. Cactus plants are examples of drought escapers j. Some drought escapers have spiky and waxy leaves to help stop them losing water into the atmosphere k. Drought escapers have root systems to store and search for water 33

35 2. Sketch one of the desert plants in the picture. Label all parts of the picture. Underneath explain if it is a drought escaper or a drought resister and in your own words explain what this means. 34

36 Desert animals have also developed ways that they can survive the heat and dry of deserts. Desert animals have adapted to the desert environment by developing different characteristics to help them cope in harsh conditions. For example: o Some animals only come out at night. These are nocturnal animals. They do all their hunting at night when it is cooler. o Some animals are venomous (poisonous) so other animals do not come near them. These include animals such as snakes, scorpions and tarantulas. o Some animals have big ears that help them to hear their prey (animals they hunt for food). These ears also help them to get rid of heat out of their body. A kit fox is an example of this. o Some animals have thick skin covering their body so that they do not lose much water through evaporation o Most animals are small which helps them not gain too much heat The most famous desert animal is the camel. It is one of the few large animals found in the desert The picture on the next page shows how animals adapt to the desert environment. 35

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38 Activities: 1. Design the perfect desert animal. You may combine different characteristics or ways that the animals adapt to the desert environment. Things to think about when designing your desert animal: o How does it survive the hot days? o How does it survive the cold nights? o How does it get food? o How does it get water? Does it need much water? o How does it stop sand blowing in its eyes, ears and mouth? o How does it protect itself from predators? Draw your animal on the next page. You must label all of its special characteristics. 2. Choose a desert animal. Research the animal and write a report about it. Use the scaffold provided on page Design and create a multimedia presentation. Use all that you have learnt all about a desert animal through your research in activity 2 to help you create a multimedia presentation on a desert animal. You could use a programs such as Photostory or Microsoft Powerpoint to help you. 37

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40 INFORMATION REPORT SCAFFOLD Words to Think General Statement Desert animals Animal name Words to Write Adapted Characteristics What does it look like? How does it escape the heat? How does it escape the sun? Description Classification What is it? The (name of animal) is an animal that lives in the desert. It. Description What does it look like? Characteristics Heat Sun Food Water Does it defend itself? If so how? How does it get food and water? Description What can it do? Description What are its special features? 39

41 An ecosystem is a natural system which is made up of living things, such as plants and animals, and the environment in which they live. You have just learnt about the desert ecosystem. The desert ecosystem includes: o desert climate including the hot days and cold night o wind and rain which causes erosion and deposition o desert landforms o desert animals o desert plants Activity: Sketch a desert ecosystem on the next page using what you have learnt about deserts. Look back on what you have learnt carefully and try and put it all together. Also look at the list above to help you. 40

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43 Not many people live in deserts compared to other places in the world such as cities and towns. We say that deserts have a low population density meaning not many people live there. Humans do still use the desert is a number of different ways. The information on the next few pages show some of the different ways human interact with deserts. Glossary: Hunters and Gatherers: a low technology form of farming combining the gathering of fruits, nuts, roots and leaves with the hunting of wild animals Arable: able to be farmed or turned into land which can be farmed Irrigation farming: the supply of water to arable faming land which allows farming to take place that would not usually be able to without this water supply Oasis: an area in a desert that has a permanent water supply, usually from a well, bore or spring we call more than one oasis - oases Nomadic herders: a system of farming where animals (such as cattle, sheep, horses, goats, camels) are herded (guided) from place to place over a large area in search of pasture and water Commercial grazing: farming with the aim of producing animal products to sell 42

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46 Activities: 1. The table on the next page summaries the information you have just read on how humans interact with deserts. Complete the table by filling in the description of how each group uses the desert. Some have already been done for you. 2. Design a poster showing the different uses of deserts. Use pictures, diagrams or cartoons where needed. 45

47 Human Users or Uses Hunters and gatherers Description of How Human Uses Deserts These people search for food in the desert. They hunt animals and gather plants that can be eaten. Bushmen from Africa and Indigenous Australians are some examples of hunters and gatherers. Farming NASA Nomadic Herders These people move their animals such as camels and goats from place to place to find water or land to graze on. These people live off the milk and meat of their herds. Weapons Testing and Defence Practice Tourists Commercial Grazing Mining Minerals such as gold, copper, lead and iron ore have been found in deserts. Poor countries have become rich from these discoveries especially through the discovery of oil. 46

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52 Activity: Read Communities in the Sahara: The Bedouin. Use what you have learnt to help you answer the following questions: Communities in the Sahara: The Bedouin 1. Who are The Bedouin and where do they live? 2. What does the word Bedouin mean? 3. What has brought change to the Bedouin s lives? What is Life Like for The Bedouin? 1. Explain in your own words what the environment of the Bedouin is like: 2. What do the Bedouin do for work? 3. The Bedouin have foods they eat all the time and foods that they only eat occasionally. a. List some types foods they eat all the time. b. List the foods they eat occasionally. 51

53 Water They Key to Desert Life 1. The lack of water can make it hard for the Bedouin. What things do they do to try to make sure they have water? 2. What has there been conflict over? 3. What has the government done to help solve these disputes? Bedouin Beliefs and Cultures 1. The Bedouin follow a strict set of what? 2. What religion forms the basis for their rules, social structures and beliefs? 3. List some of their rules, social structure and beliefs. The Bedouin Tent A Family Home 1. What do the Bedouin camp in? 2. How long do they camp in one place for? 52

54 3. Explain how the black tent helps the Bedouin adapt to the desert environment. 4. Explain what the inside of the tent is like. What is their Future? 1. Where do many Bedouin live now? 2. What has changed the Middle East, making some people very rich? 3. Why might some Bedouin live in urban areas? 4. What is a longhouse? Empathy Task Imagine you are a Bedouin child. Write 5 diary entries about your life. You must talk about the following topics in your entries: o The desert o What you eat o Water and wells o Beliefs o Your home 53

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57 Activity: Locate the Sahara Desert on the map below. Colour the Sahara Desert in Orange. 56

58 Activity: Find pictures of the Sahara Desert and its community. Paste them in below or draw them. Or you may like to paste them on a poster. Make sure you label each picture. 57

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60 Activity: Find a picture of a desert on the internet or in a book (GeoActive 1 and Geography for Global Citizens textbooks may be useful for pictures). Use the above information to help you draw a line drawing of a desert on the next page. 59

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63 Use this map to complete the activities on the next page 62

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69 Complete the activities from the previous page in the space below

70 Types of Map Scales This worksheet will cover sentence scale and linear scale 69

71 Linear Scale Use the map of Cape Beauty to answer the following: 70

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73 The two main elements used to describe climate are: o Temperature o Rainfall (sometimes called precipitation ) Precipitation includes all forms of moisture which reaches the surface of the earth and can be measured in a rain gauge including: o Rainfall o Snow o Hail o Sleet o Dew o Frost The average or mean temperature is used to describe climate. Thermometers measure the daily maximum and daily minimum temperature. The monthly mean temperature is calculated using all the daily mean temperatures. These figures together with the monthly average rainfall provide the climatic data or statistics which can be used to compare climates of places all over the world. Why would we use mean (average) temperature and rainfall to describe climate? Climatic data can be shown as a climate graph which is sometimes called a climograph 72

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75 The table above contains climate data for a desert climate, Wadi Halfa in Sudan. Answer the questions below using this table: 1. What is the temperature of the warmest month? 2. What is the temperature of the coldest month? 3. In what months did it rain? 4. What was the total rainfall for the year? 5. Calculate the annual range of temperatures. (Range = Highest Lowest) 6. Construct a climatic graph for Wadi Halfa, Sudan using the table on the next page. Look back at the climate graph of Sydney and the information of the previous page to help you 74

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79 Find each of the following words. HEAT EROSION CLIMATE HARSH RESISTERS ARID DROUGHT HOT PLANTS ADAPT MESA ESCAPERS SAND STORM LANDFORM WIND INSELBERG WIND DRY BUTTE DUST DESERT WATER DEPOSITION ANIMALS N I W L P L N D L A N D F O R M D T A H D W S A M R T O R T E S C A P E R S S E L S G H A A C L R W A A R E I I A E F H E O P I W A L T R L L N A N R T R N E N R A E E U O N I Y H E T I B A E S I T T S R I O O A D O S P N S T R W M M S H T D W O E H M S O T B R I L D G E D S A D A P T I L D L I A I I D R E T A N I I D N T M A S A N D R B I L O O R M S I N P A E C S E S A O D N H O E U S N H Y D I O T I D N I R S I R L O T I U R O L E A O U S N S W E R R L S T O R M D T G G M D P R D S T L T I S S I B R T A R H E Y H E H O T S A T E T S N E S A I T D M R O L H T R I A M H S D R I E D R E T Y I M E S A P S S D M S E S F A S E A N T A A C U A S I N D Y B U T T E H T O S H T O S N S D H A D E T E A S P D A R O G N O S S E L A T S 78

80 Match the following terms with their definitions. Write the correct term in the space provided: infiltration nocturnal Sahara erosion drought escapers oasis deposition insulation Inselberg drought resisters Term Definition The wearing away of surface material usually by wind and water A mass of hard rock Uluru is a type of this landform Plants that try to escape the dry conditions of the desert Animals that only come out at night and sleep during the day A permanent supply of water in the desert, usually either a well, bore or spring Plants in the desert that work out the best way to use water This occurs when material, that is either blown away by wind or washed away by water, settles in another location The movement of water from the surface, into soil The largest hot desert in the world Cloud cover which acts like a blanket or a lid and traps the heat in the air, keeping it warm 79

81 Missouri Botanical Garden - Deserts Information on various aspects of deserts Deserts Enchanted Learning Including maps, details of animals and locations of deserts around the world Oxfam s Cool Planet - Deserts serts/deserts.htm Information on deserts Kids Connect.com - Desert Links to different websites on Deserts Deserts/Drylands deserts.html Links to websites on Deserts 80