RoxaboxenRoxaboxen is an

imaginary place in Yuma, AZ where

children build a town of boxes, rocks and

desert glass.

Written by Alice McLerran and Illustrated by Barbara Cooney

This sign marks the entrance to Roxaboxen Park in Yuma, AZ.

This story…• Takes place in the desert of

Arizona• One of the 4 Corners • Home of the Grand Canyon

Click here for more information about the Grand CanyonFind out more about Arizona!

Map Skills1. Find Arizona. How far from SC?

2. What states compose the 4 Corners?

Biomes

Information about Biomes was taken from this site. Also see Everything You Need to Know About Science Homework, page 30.

Freshwater: lakes and rivers

Marine: oceans and coral reefs

Forest: tropical and temperate

Grasslands: savanna

Tundra: artic and alpine

Desert: <10” rain/year

There are six main biomes. Each supports different types of plants and animals.

Biomes are large areas of environments that share the same general climate of temperature and rainfall.

What we learned about deserts

Cayli learned:

“A cactus absorbs water and then keeps it. The cactus swells while keeping the water.”

Kenna learned:

“The saguaro catcus can grow very tall and live 150 years.”

Mabry learned: “The roadrunner will eat snakes but won’t eat a horny lizard.”

Plants and Animals of Arizona’s Desert

Plants and Animals of SC’s Forest

Compare Biomes

K: Horned lizard

K: Sidewinders

CG: Gila Monster

M: Jackrabbit and cactus

CG: small cacti

K: baby saguaro cactus with nurser tree

CG: pinecone

M: tree with holes for rabbits and birds

K: tree with opossum

CG: evergreen bush

Arizona Indians• The Hopi Indians live in Arizona. They live in pueblos.

Pueblos are built from bricks made of dried mud and straw.

• The oldest town, still inhabited in the US, is Old Oraibi, Arizona. The Hopi Indians still live there.

Learn to draw pueblos: Draw Write Now, Book 3, page 24-25 More about Old Oraibi, Arizona here and here.

Colors of the Southwest

Picture of our desert diaroma using the colors of the southwest

Here are the colors that represent the beautiful earth tones of the southwest…

Deserts in the Bible

Moses

leading the people out of Egypt (Exodus 17:1-6)

Hagar and Ishmael

(Genesis 21:14-21)

The Bible mentions many events set in the deserts of current day Africa and the Middle East. Can you name a few?

"Moses Praying" (1922) by J.H. Hartley

Can you think of other people in the Bible that lived in the desert?

Desert Scene with watercolors by Cayli Grace

Pictures from our studies

Mabry with nesting dolls and her Roxaboxen made from seashells