Can the Desert Tortoise Be Saved?

As a class, read our paired texts feature “Can She Be Saved?” to further explore how technology can help our planet’s most vulnerable creature. Tip: For a higher-level writing task, ask students to incorporate information from these additional sources into their responses to the writing prompt on page 29. 

1. As a class, explore Hardshell Lab’s website and learn more about the work they are doing to save the desert tortoise. You’ll find news articles, videos, and information about the Lab’s projects.

2. As a class, read the following texts about the desert tortoise:

• Threats to Desert Tortoises
• Desert Tortoise Life History

3. Divide students into groups and have them create PSAs about the desert tortoise crisis. Students can draw on information from the short read, the resources above, and their own research. The PSAs can be in the form of a poster, video, or Powerpoint presentation and should include information about how desert tortoises are being threatened and what can be done to help solve the problem.

Alternate task: Have students research and create PSAs for another animal species in crisis.