The Namib Desert, due to its inhospitable nature, is almost completely devoid of human habitation. It features the second highest sand dunes in the world and stretches more than 2000km across Africa. Understandably, survival in this part of the world is a real challenge.

Enchanted Kingdom presents the few animals which live in the Namib Desert. These animals have to adapt to the harsh habitat.

Snakes can only climb these high sand dunes through moving their bodies sideways.

Shovel Snouted Lizards have to ‘dance’ to stop their feet from burning, by alternating which feet they are stood on.

Chameleons are also present in these deserts as they are able to adapt their appearance to the habitat.


 

What this unit will give you

Knowledge to guide your students to complete this project

  • In this project students will research, write and film (using green screen) a ‘Bear Grylls style’ survival program, set in the desert
 

What this project will give your students

Learning Objectives

To identify how creatures are adapted to their environment. To explore the impact of climate and weather on a place.

Project Aim/Question
Would you survive the harsh environment of the Namib Desert? Could you learn anything from the animals that live in this Enchanted Kingdom?
Key Language
Adaption, mutation, food chains, food webs.

 

 
 

Stage 1 - What Do We Need to Survive in a Desert?

The Namib Desert is one of the driest on earth (less than 2cm a year) and rain very rarely falls. It’s also the oldest desert in the world (43 million years old) so life has had a long time to evolve survival tactics. A few tough grasses grow on some of the more stable dunes and form the basis of a food chain, but there’s hardly anything to eat here.
 

Fact Files - Namib Desert
 

The Desert Lions
Secrets of Survival: Life in the Namib Desert
 

What you can do

  • Encourage your class to discuss the potential challenges of survival in Namib Desert situation
  • In small project groups (maybe around four students each), direct students to research each of the potential dangers and solutions that will help humans survive in a desert. Students should think about the survival techniques the animals used in the Enchanted Kingdom.
  • Student collaboration can take place using OneNote
  • Once groups have finished researching, guide them to construct their storyboard and script
 


 
Stage 2 - Is There Anybody Out There?
 
 
Stage 3 - Lights, Camera, Action!
Students should act out their ‘Bear Grylls style’ survival show. This can be a performance or it can be filmed.
 

Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls has become known around the world as one of the most recognized faces of survival and outdoor adventure.

The final piece must be given an audience with an opportunity to comment and get interactive.


Your students can use OneDrive to set up an Excel survey where participants collectively answer the question ‘Would you go to the Namib Desert?’.
 
Enrichment Activities
 

What you can do
 Arrange for provisions of materials for your students to build, test and evaluate their own survival whistles.
(see two options below)
 

Build a Survival Whistle!
This video shows how to make a whistle out of a piece of tin or aluminum from an ordinary can.


Make a Signal Whistle From Bamboo or River Cane
 

What you can do - Science Activity
 Students Investigate three of the film’s animals to find out how they are adapted to their environment, and what food cycles they follow:

  • Peringuey’s Adder
  • Shovel-Snouted Lizard
  • Chameleon
 


Students can capture their findings about these three animals using Office Mix.

 
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Reflection
If some students lack confidence or have literacy difficulties may need extra time to rehearse lines.

If MS PowerPoint is used as their cueing system then visual reminders,photos and diagrams for example, can be added.

Students who excel in drama and performing arts can be challenged to work without an auto-cue, using improvisational skills and focusing other non-verbal markers of communication, such as body language.