Types of Deserts, Ages 3-9

For primary learners ages 3-6, our self-corrective intuitive puzzle can be a perfect introduction to deserts.  It is a manipulative and visual tool that depicts different types of deserts: hot and dry deserts, cold deserts, coastal deserts, and semi-arid deserts. Each piece of the puzzle represents a different type of desert, showcasing distinct features and typical flora and fauna: Polar desert, rain shadow desert, coastal desert, subtropical desert, and interior desert. When presenting the puzzle, bring the puzzle and its control chart to the working space. Remove all the pieces from the frame of the puzzle.  Point at the control chart,  name the first desert at the top left corner, and select the corresponding wooden piece that you place back on the frame. You may ask your learners to describe the characteristics of each desert to help them make connections between the visual information and the real-world deserts.

Following the puzzle, introduce your learners to our 3-part Nomenclature Cards.  There are 5 sets containing three parts: a control card with a picture and a label, a picture card, and a label card.  Invite your learners to test their knowledge using this new challenge. The kinesthetic and visual nature of the nomenclature cards provide an additional opportunity for learners to reactive and consolidate knowledge in a new context. Align the control cards from top to bottom on a mat, and invite your learners to match the images and labels to their corresponding control cards.  A control chart is provided with the nomenclature card sets, which can be hung on a wall for the time this topic is being studied.  A booklet is also provided and can be explored by learners at any time.

Types of Deserts Research Cards are the springboard for introducing the topic at the elementary level.  They contain interesting facts, images, and raise questions that stimulate curiosity.  We like to remind our readers that our graphics are hand-drawn by our talented artists who understand the power of realistic pictures.  In effect, elementary learners have vivid memories, therefore, we provide realistic images that are not fixed images and that can be re-applied in any other real-life experience in the future. When working as a group, spend time reading the research cards together, and ask questions to initiate discussions.  This reinforces the information and encourages critical thinking. 

Nomenclature cards are a staple in Montessori education, aiding in vocabulary development and classification skills. For elementary learners, we developed 6-part Nomenclature Cards which consist of two control cards, a picture card, a cloze-test card, and two label cards. Remind your learners that the cloze-test cards are the final step.  After your learners have had sufficient practice, they may read a cloze-test card which is missing the word that corresponds to the description. For example, the “Subtropical Desert” close-test card says, “____ are hot and dry all year long. These deserts receive a lot of sunshine and are located close to the equator.  One example of a _____ is the Sahara Desert.”  Children are expected to place the correct label below the cloze-test card. 

Our Task Cards on Types of Deserts provide structured activities and challenges that guide elementary learners in exploring desert topics more deeply. Our set of Task Cards contains 49 cards and is divided into 5 sections: Introduction, Advanced, Differences, True/False, and Research Work.  You may demonstrate how to use the Task Cards after children had sufficient work with the research cards, and/or nomenclature cards. Use the first part of the Task Cards, Introduction, with the students, and invite them to continue with part 2 in a small group or individually. They may record their answers in a journal.