Create a Desert Animal

Outcomes Assessed:

·  Knowledge of a desert environment

·  Understanding of adaptations required for survival in an environment.

1.  Your task is to create an imaginary ideal desert animal that can:

• survive the hottest of days and very cold nights

• control water intake and loss

• avoid, and hide from, predators

• avoid having its eyes, ears and mouth blocked up with sand and dust

• eat adequately in a desert environment.

You need to:

2.  Draw either a picture, create a model or computer animated design of your animal and label all the adaptions that it has for a desert lifestyle.

3.  Write a short story about how it gathers its food. (Approximately 200 words)

4.  Describe the desert environment that they live in and name and describe at least three geographical features.

NB: If you wish to present this information in another form please discuss with your class teacher


Useful information

In the desert, animals have to survive extremes of heat and cold as well as sparse shade, thin or stunted vegetation and water shortage. As well, many are hunted by predators. To adapt and survive, they have taken on some strange characteristics:

• Some store extra water in their bodies.

• Some change colour to hide in their environment.

• Some can dig quickly below the surface.

• Some hardly sweat.

• Some control their body temperature.

• Some run quickly over short distances.

• Some hibernate.

• Some survive a long time on very little water.

• Some seek shelter all day and are active at night.

• Some have enlarged ears and/or nostrils that are extra sensitive.

Stage 4 Create a Desert Animal Assessment

Marking Criteria

Name: ______Class: ______

Marking Criteria / Mark / Student Mark
Has created an imaginary desert animal and labelled at least 4 adaptations for a desert lifestyle / 6
Short story about the animal is approx. 200 words and describes in detail how the animal gathers its food. / 5
Describes the desert environment that the animal lives and its name. / 2
Describes at least three geographical features of the desert environment. / 3
Displays imagination and creativity in the animal design / 4

Mark: ___/20