Chihuahuan Desert Journaling Activity

Introduction

Chihuahuan Desert Map The Chihuahuan Desert is the easternmost, southernmost, and largest North American desert. For background information on the Chihuahuan Desert go to:

The purpose of this activity is to have the students get a feel for the Chihuahuan Desert. Each of your students will be gathering sensory information. This lesson should be done in conjunction with the biotic and abiotic studies.

Student Outcomes

Students will be working individually.
Students will record sensory information.
Students will illustrate observations.
Students will discuss their findings in a large group.

Content Area and Grade Levels

This lesson can be used with second graders and up. The teacher will need to model the use of the equipment used and the Chihuahuan Desert Personal Reflections Log.

Content Standards

Science Standards

Standard 1 - Understands basic features of the Earth.
Standard: 7 - Understands how species depend on one another and on the environment for survival.
Standard: 4 - Knows about the diversity and unity that characterize life.
Standard: 14 - Understands the nature of scientific knowledge.
Standard: 15 - Understands the nature of scientific inquiry.

Thinking and Reasoning Standards

Standard: 3 - Effectively uses mental processes that are based on identifying similarities and differences (compares, contrasts, classifies).
Standard: 4 - Understands and applies basic principles of hypothesis testing and scientific inquiry.

Implementation Overview

This lesson is set up for use in one class with a minimum duration of twenty minutes. You may do the activity as often as possible, and at least once per season. Students will work individually. They will record their reflections and observations of how the biotic and abiotic realms interact in the Chihuahuan Desert. This lesson can be part of a larger project or stand alone as a project in itself, but should always be done in conjunction with biotic and abiotic studies. The procedures for the journaling activity follow:

Each student should have a Chihuahuan Desert Personal Reflections Log.
Each student should go on a short walk (within eye contact) and find a personal space to study.
Each student should settle down at an area of his/her choice and record and illustrate observations made.
Each student should write down questions s/he may have about his/her area of study.
Each student should write down knowledge s/he has about his/her area of study.
Debrief the individuals in one large group:
a) allow each student to share his/her log entry with the large group;
b) ask questions about their logs;
c) compare and contrast their reflections;
d) ask the students to make inferences and hypotheses.

Resources Needed

Each student will need the following materials:

Chihuahuan Desert Personal Reflections Log
clipboard, paper and pencils

Entry Level and Skills

Students will need the experience of journaling and making observations. Students will use a Chihuahuan Desert Personal Reflections Log which needs to be printed out. Teachers will need some experience in organizing students and keeping them on task.

Evaluation

Students can be evaluated on observational skills, on group collaboration and participation, on effective use of time, and on their preservation of information for future use or reference. Students can also use forms of self and peer evaluations. For further methods of assessment or evaluation, see the National Science Standards of Assessment.

Conclusion

This lesson will teach students how to collect data through their senses, how to analyze, organize and present information to others. It will help the teacher establish the 'prior knowledge' each student has of the Chihuahuan Desert.

This lesson created by Miriam Martínez and DoloresVarela-Phillips, Los Padillas Elementary School.