PRIMARY - 5

DESERT AND LIFE IN THE

DESERT
Deserts

Overview

Scientists – a person who studies one or more of the natural sciences (= for example,
physics chemistry or biology)

Average - caculated by adding several amounts together, finding a total, and dividing the
total by the number of amounts

Rain falls – the total amount of rain that falls in a particular area in a particular amount
of time; an occasion when rain falls

Kinds of desert

Region – a large area, area of land, usually without exact limit or borders

Sandy – covered with or containing sand

Dune – a small hill of sand formed by the wind, near the sea or in a desert
Pebble – a smooth, round stone that is found in or near water

Carve – to make objects, patterns, etc. by cutting away material from a piece of
wood or stone, or another hard material

Desert plants

Adaptation – the action or process of changing something, or of being changed, to

suit a new purpose or situation
Overview

Underground Water – water that is found under the ground in soil, rocks, etc.

Seeps – ( especially of liquid) to flow slowly and in small quantities through

something or into something

Crack – break ( to show pictures)

Opening – a space or hole that someone/ somebody can pass through

Dig – to make a hole in the ground or to move soil from one place to another using
your hands, a tool or a machine

Borehole – a deep hole made in the ground, especially to find water or oil. ( to show
picture)
Water in the desert

Evaporate – if a liquid evaporates or if something evaporates it, it changes

into gas, especially steam

Soak – to put something in liquid for a time so that it becomes completely

wet; in this way

Waterhole – a place in a hot country where animals go to drink

Fertile – ( of land or soil) that plants grow well in

Oasis – an area in the desert where there is water and where plants grow

Oases – plural form of “Oasis”

Life around desert oases

Rearing – the process of caring for children as they grow up, teaching them how to behave
as members of society

Nomadic People

Wanderer - a person who keeps travelling from place to place with no permanent home

Nomad – a member of a community that moves with its animals from place to place

Bedouin – a member of an Arab people that traditionally lives in tents in the desert

Herd – a group of animals of the same type that live and feed together

Flow – move continuously

Robe – a long loose outer piece of clothing, especially one worn as a sign of rank or office at
a special ceremony
Herder – a person whose job is to take care of a group of animals such as sheep or cows in
the countryside

Round up – round somebody/ something up

to find and gather together people, animals or things