2nd Grade- Exploring the Sonoran Desert as Experts

Grade Level: 2nd

Lesson Plan Developer: Brittany Hill

Lesson Plan Title: Exploring the Sonoran Desert as Experts  

Concept / Topic To Teach: The anatomy, life cycle, and habitat of Sonoran Desert wildlife.

Standards Addressed:
  • 2nd Grade Science Standard Strand 2: History and Nature of Science, Concept 2: Nature of Scientific Knowledge: PO 1.
  • Science Standard Strand 4: Life Science, Concept 2: Life Cycles: PO 2.
  • Writing Standard Strand 3: Writing Applications, Concept 1: Expressive: PO 2.
  • Arts Standard Strand 1: Create, Concept 2: Materials, Tools, and Techniques- The student will use materials, tools, and techniques in his or her own artwork: PO 102.


General Goal(s): Students will be able to understand the life cycle of various wildlife native to the Sonoran Desert, the habitat in which it lives, what it eats/how it survives, and understand the parts of its body as well as its distinguishing characteristics.

Specific Objectives: Students will demonstrate their knowledge of their assigned wildlife’s habitat by creating their own model and its anatomy by correctly building their wildlife. Their story the will write will also demonstrate their knowledge on their wildlife.

Required Materials: Pencil, notebook paper, crayons, computer with Internet, different colors of clay, sticks, rocks, paint, colored paper, different colors of fabric and felt, leaves, small cardboard box, clue, tape, scissors.

Anticipatory Set (Lead-In): Students will be asked to come up with animals they think live in the desert. The teacher will then read the book A Desert Scrapbook: Dawn to Dusk in the Sonoran Desert by Virginia Wright-Frierson.

Step-By-Step Procedures:
  1. Using the Internet for video clips and pictures as well as picture books, the teacher will explain the habitat of the chosen Sonoran Desert wildlife.
  2. The teacher will explain the main body parts/characteristics of the wildlife and the distinguishing factors between males, females, and juveniles.
  3. The teacher will explain the life cycle of the wildlife.
  4. Students will draw an animal out of a hat to do their project on.
  5. Students will be given a cardboard box and various materials to construct their animal and its habitat.
  6. Help students with anything they might need help doing.
  7. Have students write a short story about the animal they created.


Plan For Independent Practice: Students will construct a model of the yellow headed blackbird’s habitat and then print out a picture of the bird and make it out of clay, paper, felt, or any other material they would like to. Once students completed this the will write a short story about their blackbird.

- Closure (Reflect Anticipatory Set): Students will present their habitats and stories.

- Assessment Based On Objectives: The accuracy of the habitat the students created and the story they came up with.

- Adaptations (For Students With Learning Disabilities): Students will be aided when writing their story.

- Extensions (For Gifted Students): Students will write a longer story about their animal.

- Possible Connections To Other Subjects: Students will be practicing their writing and comprehension skills.
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