Guide your students on a journey through the desert ecosystem! From the sweeping sands of the Namib and Kalahari in southern Africa, to the dry heart of Australia’s Outback, and the rocky cold of the Gobi, deserts come in many forms.
✨ Perfect for grades 3–8, here’s what you need to bring ecosystems to life:
- Iconic BBC Videos: Share the clips on this page to introduce the location, plants, animals, and climate of the desert. (Don't miss the lions and lizards!) Brought to you by world-class BBC programs like Planet Earth, Wilderness With Simon Reeve, Africa, and Seven Worlds, One Planet.
- Free Printable: Use the Desert Brochure Template to help students pull it all together in an ecosystem report with facts they’ve learned (and a little extra research).
It’s everything you need to make ecosystems easy to teach and truly memorable for your students.
Deserts look empty. They are anything but.
From the sun-scorched dunes of the Sahara to the scrubby plains of Australia, desert animals have cracked one of nature's toughest puzzles: how to survive where water is scarce, temperatures are brutal, and food is hard to find. In this playlist, you'll meet the remarkable species that call these landscapes home — from the iconic camel and the lightning-fast hawk to the bounding kangaroo and the armored pangolin.
Each clip, drawn from landmark BBC series including Seven Worlds, One Planet and Planet Earth II, puts you face-to-face with real desert survival in action. Some animals store water and energy for enormous journeys across open terrain. Others hunt by night, move in short bursts, or use camouflage so good they practically disappear. Every strategy is different. Every one is extraordinary.
As you watch, think bigger: How do animals adapt to temperatures that would stop most creatures in their tracks? What physical traits make desert life not just possible, but thriving? And how do these species — predator and prey, reptile and mammal — depend on each other to keep desert ecosystems in balance?
This playlist won't just teach you about deserts. It will make you see them differently.
Journey across Great Wall of China and discover the story behind one of the most impressive structures ever built. Students will explore how different sections of the wall were constructed over centuries, why rulers believed it was important for protection and defense, and what it reveals about power, leadership, and human determination.
This Kahoot examines the history and engineering of the Great Wall, including the materials used to build it, the soldiers and workers who maintained it, and the challenges of constructing such a massive structure across mountains and deserts. Students will also discover why the wall became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and remains one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks.
Ideal for lessons on history, geography, engineering, and world cultures, this Kahoot encourages students to explore the lasting legacy of ancient Chinese civilization and one of humanity’s greatest building achievements.
Explore the fascinating world of deserts and discover how plants, animals, and people adapt to survive in some of the hottest and driest places on Earth. From towering cacti and clever nocturnal animals to sudden sandstorms and scarce water sources, students will learn how life continues to thrive in these extreme environments.
This Kahoot investigates the unique features of desert ecosystems, including climate, habitats, food chains, and the special adaptations that help living things conserve water and stay cool. Students will also explore how deserts change over time and why these harsh landscapes are an important part of our planet’s natural systems.
Watch the related BBC videos (below), then invite your Grade 3–8 students to test their knowledge and uncover the surprising diversity and resilience of life in the desert.
Celebrate the incredible work of Sir David Attenborough — a storyteller who has helped millions of students and viewers explore the natural world. On the occasion of his 100th birthday on May 8, 2026, we honor his enormous accomplishments in the field of environmental advocacy and his role in revolutionizing nature documentaries.
This playlist brings together 10 unforgettable clips from landmark BBC series like Planet Earth, Blue Planet, and Frozen Planet. Each video showcases amazing wildlife, powerful storytelling, and moments that spark curiosity and wonder.
Perfect for the classroom or at home, these videos help students connect with nature, understand our planet, and feel inspired to protect it.
From towering trees to tiny mosses, plants are some of the most important living things on Earth. They make the oxygen we breathe, provide food for people and animals, and create the green spaces that make our planet beautiful. Whether they’re growing in forests, deserts, or even cracks in the sidewalk, plants are quietly hard at work every day.
From photosynthesis to the difference between seeds and spores, this is the perfect quiz to help students ages 8–14 "grow" their plant knowledge!
Step into the (very large) footsteps of Earth’s gentle giants. This playlist of eight video clips from BBC programs Planet Earth; Seven Worlds, One Planet; and Animal Babies follows elephants as they search for water, navigate Congo forests, communicate, and rely on the matriarch to stay safe. Learn how elephant families work together, adapt to challenges, and shape their ecosystems. Perfect for sparking curiosity about wildlife and habitats.
Get swept up in the drama of Earth’s extreme weather! This BBC video clip collection — featuring clips from Blue Planet, Blue Planet II, and other acclaimed BBC series — takes you into the heart of hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and more. Discover how these powerful forces shape our planet, challenge wildlife, and reveal the awe-inspiring power of nature.
Join one of the greatest gatherings on Planet Earth! First watch The Desert Locust Finds New Feeding Grounds, a short clip from the award-winning BBC series Planet Earth. Sir David Attenborough takes you on an incredible journey as caribou calves embark on their first migration across the Arctic tundra. Watch their determination and resilience as they encounter predators and navigate the difficulties of their surroundings.
Once your students have watched the video, invite them to check for understanding with this quick, 8-question quiz!
Teaching ecosystems helps students see how every living thing is connected. That's why we've created our Ecosystems Collection. We cover six ecosystems (grasslands, desert, coral reef, tropical rainforest, mountain, and polar). After watching videos on each ecosystem, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful reports filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) There's a brochure template for each of the six ecosystems. Inside, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!
Get ready to journey into some of the most extreme places on Earth — the deserts! From the towering dunes of the Namib and the sunbaked Kalahari to the rugged Australian Outback and the icy sands of the Gobi, these ecosystems are full of surprising life. After watching our videos, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful report filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) Inside the brochure, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!
Guide your students on a journey through the desert ecosystem! From the sweeping sands of the Namib and Kalahari in southern Africa, to the dry heart of Australia’s Outback, and the rocky cold of the Gobi, deserts come in many forms.
✨ Perfect for grades 3–8, here’s what you need to bring ecosystems to life:
- Iconic BBC Videos: Share the clips on this page to introduce the location, plants, animals, and climate of the desert. (Don't miss the lions and lizards!) Brought to you by world-class BBC programs like Planet Earth, Wilderness With Simon Reeve, Africa, and Seven Worlds, One Planet.
- Free Printable: Use the Desert Brochure Template to help students pull it all together in an ecosystem report with facts they’ve learned (and a little extra research).
It’s everything you need to make ecosystems easy to teach and truly memorable for your students.
Deserts look empty. They are anything but.
From the sun-scorched dunes of the Sahara to the scrubby plains of Australia, desert animals have cracked one of nature's toughest puzzles: how to survive where water is scarce, temperatures are brutal, and food is hard to find. In this playlist, you'll meet the remarkable species that call these landscapes home — from the iconic camel and the lightning-fast hawk to the bounding kangaroo and the armored pangolin.
Each clip, drawn from landmark BBC series including Seven Worlds, One Planet and Planet Earth II, puts you face-to-face with real desert survival in action. Some animals store water and energy for enormous journeys across open terrain. Others hunt by night, move in short bursts, or use camouflage so good they practically disappear. Every strategy is different. Every one is extraordinary.
As you watch, think bigger: How do animals adapt to temperatures that would stop most creatures in their tracks? What physical traits make desert life not just possible, but thriving? And how do these species — predator and prey, reptile and mammal — depend on each other to keep desert ecosystems in balance?
This playlist won't just teach you about deserts. It will make you see them differently.
Journey across Great Wall of China and discover the story behind one of the most impressive structures ever built. Students will explore how different sections of the wall were constructed over centuries, why rulers believed it was important for protection and defense, and what it reveals about power, leadership, and human determination.
This Kahoot examines the history and engineering of the Great Wall, including the materials used to build it, the soldiers and workers who maintained it, and the challenges of constructing such a massive structure across mountains and deserts. Students will also discover why the wall became one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and remains one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks.
Ideal for lessons on history, geography, engineering, and world cultures, this Kahoot encourages students to explore the lasting legacy of ancient Chinese civilization and one of humanity’s greatest building achievements.
Explore the fascinating world of deserts and discover how plants, animals, and people adapt to survive in some of the hottest and driest places on Earth. From towering cacti and clever nocturnal animals to sudden sandstorms and scarce water sources, students will learn how life continues to thrive in these extreme environments.
This Kahoot investigates the unique features of desert ecosystems, including climate, habitats, food chains, and the special adaptations that help living things conserve water and stay cool. Students will also explore how deserts change over time and why these harsh landscapes are an important part of our planet’s natural systems.
Watch the related BBC videos (below), then invite your Grade 3–8 students to test their knowledge and uncover the surprising diversity and resilience of life in the desert.
Celebrate the incredible work of Sir David Attenborough — a storyteller who has helped millions of students and viewers explore the natural world. On the occasion of his 100th birthday on May 8, 2026, we honor his enormous accomplishments in the field of environmental advocacy and his role in revolutionizing nature documentaries.
This playlist brings together 10 unforgettable clips from landmark BBC series like Planet Earth, Blue Planet, and Frozen Planet. Each video showcases amazing wildlife, powerful storytelling, and moments that spark curiosity and wonder.
Perfect for the classroom or at home, these videos help students connect with nature, understand our planet, and feel inspired to protect it.
From towering trees to tiny mosses, plants are some of the most important living things on Earth. They make the oxygen we breathe, provide food for people and animals, and create the green spaces that make our planet beautiful. Whether they’re growing in forests, deserts, or even cracks in the sidewalk, plants are quietly hard at work every day.
From photosynthesis to the difference between seeds and spores, this is the perfect quiz to help students ages 8–14 "grow" their plant knowledge!
Step into the (very large) footsteps of Earth’s gentle giants. This playlist of eight video clips from BBC programs Planet Earth; Seven Worlds, One Planet; and Animal Babies follows elephants as they search for water, navigate Congo forests, communicate, and rely on the matriarch to stay safe. Learn how elephant families work together, adapt to challenges, and shape their ecosystems. Perfect for sparking curiosity about wildlife and habitats.
Get swept up in the drama of Earth’s extreme weather! This BBC video clip collection — featuring clips from Blue Planet, Blue Planet II, and other acclaimed BBC series — takes you into the heart of hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and more. Discover how these powerful forces shape our planet, challenge wildlife, and reveal the awe-inspiring power of nature.
Join one of the greatest gatherings on Planet Earth! First watch The Desert Locust Finds New Feeding Grounds, a short clip from the award-winning BBC series Planet Earth. Sir David Attenborough takes you on an incredible journey as caribou calves embark on their first migration across the Arctic tundra. Watch their determination and resilience as they encounter predators and navigate the difficulties of their surroundings.
Once your students have watched the video, invite them to check for understanding with this quick, 8-question quiz!
Teaching ecosystems helps students see how every living thing is connected. That's why we've created our Ecosystems Collection. We cover six ecosystems (grasslands, desert, coral reef, tropical rainforest, mountain, and polar). After watching videos on each ecosystem, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful reports filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) There's a brochure template for each of the six ecosystems. Inside, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!
Get ready to journey into some of the most extreme places on Earth — the deserts! From the towering dunes of the Namib and the sunbaked Kalahari to the rugged Australian Outback and the icy sands of the Gobi, these ecosystems are full of surprising life. After watching our videos, challenge your students to become ecosystem experts by creating their own colorful report filled with fascinating facts. (They’ll need to dig deeper with extra research, too!) Inside the brochure, students will uncover and share:
- Location of the ecosystem on a world map
- Adjectives that describe the ecosystem
- Three animals that live in the ecosystem
- Three plants that grow in the ecosystem
- The climate of the ecosystem
- What makes the ecosystem important
- Their favorite fun facts
Your students will summarize the most important details in their own words while keeping it clear and easy to understand. As they choose what to include, they’ll sharpen their ability to evaluate and combine information from different sources. Best of all, they’ll show off their creativity and communication skills by designing a brochure that’s as fun to read as it is informative!