Sort the Seashells

Materials

10 to 15 seashells

Instructions

. Read the children a book about the desert climate (see the list to the left for
suggestions) and then engage the children in a discussion about desert plants.
2. Talk about succulents and the fact that all cacti are succulents, but not all
succulents are cacti.
3. Show the children the materials. Invite the children to cut out pictures of cacti
and paste them onto construction paper, making a collage of their choosing.
Also encourage the children to draw and color cacti.
4. When finished, help the children sign their names and put the children's
papers on the wall for the children's parents and family members to see.
Teacher - to - Teacher Tip
l Children who don't live in the American Southwest may not understand that
there is little rain during the summer.
Assessment
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
l Do the children understand that cacti prepare for the hot summer by storing
water?
l Can the children identify which plants are cacti and which are not?