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