Producers, Consumers, & Decomposers in Desert Ecosystems
Information About This Unit
Description of Learning Unit:
Now that you have a basic understanding about the desert ecosystem, you will begin to explore producers, consumers and decomposers in the desert ecosystem. Hands-on activities have you drawing a food web, experimenting with decomposition by building a decomposition terrarium, and observing worms. You will also visit a local pet store and plant nursery to observe desert plants and animals as well as write a desert poem and read a Dr. Seuss book that you will relate to producers, consumers, and decomposers. Online games, quizzes, charts, and videos help reinforce the objectives in this unit. The unit is designed to last one week, depending on how often you teach science. 
List of Objectives:
- Your child will learn about producers, consumers and decomposers in the desert.
- Your child will execute experiments involving decomposition.
- Your child will explore food chains and cycles.
List of Materials and Supplies Needed for This Pathway:
- Drawing paper
- Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
- A pencil
- Drawing paper
- Colored pencils or markers
- A pencil or pen
- 2 clear plastic 2-liter soda bottles (For consistent gathering of data, make sure all bottles used are clear plastic)
- Scissors
- 2" square pieces of cheesecloth, pantyhose, or handiwipes
- 2 rubber bands
- Tape
- 1 bag of sand or small-sized gravel
- 1 bag of garden soil
- Worms (100 total)
- Water
- 1-cup measuring cup
- Organic material in separate containers: choose any three items such as grass clippings, coffee grounds, newspaper strips, pine needles, pieces of lettuce, pine needles, leaves; do not use anything that contains meat or fish
- Inorganic material: choose any one item such as plastic, Styrofoam, or fabric
- A Ziploc bag
- Newspaper
- Sticks (coffee stirrers or pencils will do)
- Rubber gloves
- Worm journal (see assessment) section on the page)
- A pencil
- A camera (optional)
- The book, "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss
- A printer and basic printing supplies
- A pencil or pen
- Handout (found on the site page)
- Local pet store
- Local plant nursery
- A notebook
- A pencil
- A digital camera (optional)
- 4 glass jars with lids (or other see through containers with lids)
- Tape
- 3 different food items (one with preservatives, two without preservatives) that do not contain meat or fish
- Water
- A spray bottle
- Plastic six-pack rings, cut up into small pieces
- A notebook
- A pencil
Links to Free Learning Material
Links to Online Lessons:
| Producers and Consumers | (no rating) |
Learn about producers and consumers in the desert.
| Decomposers | (no rating) |
Read how decomposers in the desert keep the cycle of life moving.
| Desert Adaptations | (no rating) |
Discover how animals survive in the desert environment.
| Food Chain and Cycles | (no rating) |
Find out how food chains work.
| Energy Pyramid | (no rating) |
The energy pyramid shows how energy works in the ecosystem.
Reference Websites:
| Sonora Desert | (no rating) |
Read about life in the Sonora desert.
| Desert Biomes | (no rating) |
Read about plants, animals, climate and the Sonoran and Mojave deserts.
Hands-On Projects and Activities:
| Desert Poem | (no rating) |
Read these award winning poems written by students.
| Food Chain Drawing | (no rating) |
Identify the producers, consumers and decomposers in an ecosystem by drawing a food chain.
| Decomposition Terrarium | (no rating) |
Experiment with worms in a terrarium in this hands-on activity.
| The Lorax | (no rating) |
Read "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss and discover the impact the humanlike Once-ler has on a fantasy ecosystem.
| Pet Store | (no rating) |
Visit a local pet store and plant nursery to observe desert plants and animals.
| Decomposers and Recyclers | (no rating) |
Experiment with decomposition in this hands-on activity.
Learning Tools (worksheets, drills, printables, online games, tests, etc.):
| Online Food Web | (no rating) |
Have fun building a food chain online.
| Food Chains Crossword | (no rating) |
See if you can solve this fun online crossword about food chains.
| Food Chain Quiz | (no rating) |
Take this quiz and show what you have learned.
| Nitrogen Cycle | (no rating) |
See how nitrogen works in the soil.
| Saguaro Cactus | (no rating) |
Explore day and night around the Saguaro cacti.
| Desert Camels | (no rating) |
Learn how the camel is equipped to survive in the hot desert.
| Producers and Consumers Quiz | (no rating) |
Show what you have learned in this online quiz.
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Free Online Video:
| Desert Food Chain Video | (no rating) |
Learn about the desert food chain in this video.
| Water in the Desert | (no rating) |
Watch this interesting video about animals and plants in the desert.
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Free Online Audio: 
Free E-Books (and classics available in most libraries):