http://www.oercommons.org/browse/keyword/cactus daily 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.oercommons.org/courses/desert-features Sand covers only about 20 percent of the Earth's deserts. Nearly 50 percent of desert surfaces are gravel plains where removal of fine-grained material by the wind has exposed loose gravel and occasional cobbles. This web page, produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, features text and photographs that describe desert landforms, soils, plants, and the role of water in the formation of desert landscapes. Kathie Watson Science and Technology 2009-10-15T02:24:24 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/dichotomous-key Mrs. Crowell takes her 2nd and 3rd graders on a nature walk where they use a dichotomous key to identify different species they encounter. This lesson shows a simple way to take students out on a walk and teach them how to identify species, no matter where they are. Caryl Crowell Science and Technology 2012-11-02T13:56:12 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/field-journal-dioramas This online activity is part of the museum's Online Field Journal Web site, where young children can explore the wonders of nature with the help of an adult. Here, they can create a replica of one of three museum dioramas. On the opening page, the three featured dioramas are Wetlands: A Wading Bird Rookery; Desert, A Giant Cactus Forest, and Forest: The Olympic Rain Forest. On the first page of each diorama activity, there is a full-color image of the diorama, plus links to printable pages with the diorama's background image and pieces. A separate instructions page is included that has kid-friendly step-by-step directions. Science and Technology 2008-11-18T03:46:10 Course Related Materials