Deserts: Land of Extremes

What You'll Learn

Deserts receive less than 25 centimeters of rain per year. Hot deserts have extreme daytime temperatures, while cold deserts like Antarctica are dry but freezing.

Key Words

condensation
water cycle

Materials Needed

spray bottle
cups
thermometer
rain gauge
cotton balls

Safety First

Adult supervision recommended.
Do not taste any materials.
Wear safety goggles when mixing liquids.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read the introduction and identify the main idea of this lesson.

Step 2 — Do

Build a working model of a volcano using baking soda and vinegar. Observe the eruption and explain what causes real volcanic eruptions.

Step 3 — Observe

Note any unexpected results and think about why they happened.

Step 4 — Record

Share your findings with the class or a partner and discuss what you learned.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is a watershed?