Deep in the Desert

Deep in the Desert might inspire a unique approach for creating a desert thematic unit!

Lucas-Donald, Rhonda.
Deep in the Desert.
March 2011.
Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Deep in the Desert provides educators and children alike with a great deal of knowledge about the wildlife residing in the desert. In a unique fashion, readers will learn about:

• bats
• meerkats
• desert tortoises
• fennec foxes
• thorny devils
• gila monsters
• ostrich
• camels
• javelina
• tarkawara

The story takes on a sing-songy fashion, as the information found within the pages is written to the tune of different well-known children's songs, such as "Pop Goes the Weasel" and "Yankee Doodle." Children will be familiar with the tunes, making the new songs easy to learn and the information easy to interpret! Teachers could have all sorts of fun planning for a desert thematic unit, setting the theme around the song tunes in the book. This would offer the opportunity to appeal to a learning style that is less seen in the classroom, reaching out to children who are interested in and learn well through music!

Sylvan Dell Publishing has put out a variety of reading and learning activities to use in collaboration with the book which can be downloaded below:

• For Creative Minds, which includes information about desert habitats, desert facts, maps of deserts around the world, and matching activities for students.
• Teaching Activities, which include sheet music for all of the adapted songs in the book, science journals, math cards, measuring & mapping activities and many, many more!
• Reading, Math and Comprehension Quizzes
  

Tweet

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!