Whether it’s a stretch of sand dunes in equatorial Africa or a cactus-covered plain in California, any place that receives less than ten inches of rain per year is considered a desert. By comparing and contrasting arid and semi-arid regions, this program provides students with a balanced picture of the Earth’s desert biomes. The program also investigates how the few plants and animals that inhabit these ecosystems survive the extreme temperatures and severe lack of water that characterize the desert environment. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (17 minutes)