Desert Plant Adaptations

Adaptations are changes that happens over a long time which help organisms (plants or animals) survive in their environment. Adaptations can be behaviors or structures (parts) of the organism.

Plant examples: shape of leaves, thorns, spines, thickness of stems/leaves

Procedure

• Introduce/review the definition of adaptations with the students.
• Discuss the desert climate.
• Ask students the following question. "What behaviors or structures of desert plants help them survive in their environment?" (structures: stems, leaves, spines, roots)
• What types of stems and leaves help desert plants survive? (Thick stems/leaves and waxy-coated stems/leaves help keep in water.)  (Sharp spines keep animals away.)

Try the following experiments.

Experiment 1 (Thick stems/leaves vs. thin stems/leaves)

• Give each student/group 1 thin and 1 thick sponge.
• Put each on a dish.
• Pour equal amounts of water on each sponge.
• Squeeze each sponge into a cup.
• Compare.
• Which sponge held more water?

Experiment 2 (Waxy coating vs. non-waxy coating) 

• Give each student/group 2 sponges (the same size).
• Place each on a dish.
• Pour the same amount of water over each sponge.
• Place 1 of the sponges in a zip-lock bag.
• Squeeze each sponge into a cup.
• Compare.
• Which sponge held more water? (The plastic bag represents the waxy outer covering.)