Location and physical characteristics of hot deserts
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the location and physical characteristics of hot deserts.
Key learning points
- Hot desert ecosystems are located at roughly 30°N and 30°S of the Equator.
- Hot desert ecosystems have distinctive physical characteristics.
- The climate influences other physical characteristics of hot deserts.
Keywords
Hot deserts - arid areas experiencing low rainfall, generally below 250 mm/year, and high summer temperatures
Biome - a global land area that is characterised by its plants, animals and climate
Climate - the average weather conditions of a place over a long period of time, typically 30 years or more
Common misconception
It never rains in hot deserts.
While some deserts are exceptionally dry, a region can experience up to 250 mm of rain each year and still be categorised as a desert.
Teacher tip
The physical characteristics of deserts can vary significantly: show students a range of desert landscapes and use GIS to explore desert surfaces - from sand dunes to desert pavements.
Equipment
atlases
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a biome?
Q2.Which of these are examples of biomes?
Q3.The imaginary lines around the Earth measuring distance from the Equator are known as line of ...
Q4.Put these biomes in the most likely order; starting at the Equator and moving north or south.
Q5.Which of the following is a characteristic of a hot desert?
Q6.What is the primary reason for the high temperatures in hot deserts?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.What is a biotic component of an ecosystem?
Q2.How much rainfall does a hot desert receive each year?
Q3.Hot deserts are located between which lines of latitude?
Q4.Hot deserts are hot because of their location and proximity to the Equator. This latitude effect means the Sun's energy here is more , making it warmer.
Q5.Hot deserts are dry because they sit under an area of high pressure. What is high pressure?
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Location and physical characteristics of hot deserts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 geography lesson on: Location and physical characteristics of hot deserts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 geography lessons from the Hot deserts unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.