Desert Biome Bundle for Special Education Nonpolar and Polar Deserts

This bundle contains 4 units relating to the desert biome (Deserts, Meerkats, Camels, and Penguins)  that are specifically designed for students with special learning needs, especially autism who are in middle and high school.

These units address the characteristics of this desert biome (nonpolar and polar/Antarctica) including plants and animals in a simplified but rigorous way for students with diverse learning needs to make meaningful and authentic connections to the material.

With 6 weeks of instruction, there are many opportunities for students to engage in activities about what makes this desert biome unique. This repetition encourages a true understanding of this region.

In addition, many of these activities and assessments include more than one version, suggestions for differentiation, and options for presentation.

✩✩✩ This desert bundle includes print and digital versions of the activities. There is a set of google slides for each unit that include a differentiated set of slides. There is a movie version of the book included as well. THESE WOULD MAKE A GREAT INDEPENDENT LEARNING CENTER FOR YOUR CLASSROOM.

See the preview for a more detailed look at the contents.

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Deserts Biome Bundle includes:

1. Deserts Biome (3 weeks) – Nonpolar and Polar
2. Meerkats (1 week)
3. Camels (1 week)
4. Penguins (1 week)

⭐ Each unit comes in 2 complete files. One is in color and one is in black and white.

In the zipped folder for each unit you will find:

• lesson plans
• Activities in color
• Activities in black and white
• Voice-recorded PowerPoint show
• Book (PowerPoint) to use with activities
• Links and directions to digital activities

Deserts Biome Activities:

• Vocabulary board
• Vocabulary cards and cut/paste activities (includes digital version)
• Circle maps (includes digital version)
• Maps to identify different biomes and habitats (includes digital versions)
• Venn Diagrams (includes digital version)
• Sorting activities (includes digital version)
• Writing prompts (includes digital version)
• Fill-in-the-blank worksheets (includes digital version)
• Sudoku puzzles (includes digital version)
• Word search
• Bingo cards
• Directions and cards for group activities
• Assessments (3 versions) (includes digital version)

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Much of what I have learned about curriculum development is incorporated into these units. For example, do not be afraid of repetition. It is critical that students with significant disabilities get to experience material over several days to be able to assimilate what is being taught fully. Also, adding visual supports to your printables and class activities helps students be able to pay more attention to the content you are presenting rather than the mechanics of what is expected. Finally, ask questions. Good questions!! Regardless of the material, if we can ask students good questions it will push them to think more deeply than before.