This lesson includes scaffolded analytical writing tasks that provide examples for teaching Common Core writing.

The Saguaro Cactus is a giant cactus that grows in the Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Desert is very hot and dry for most of the year making it a very difficult place for plants to grow. Yet, the Saguaro Cactus not only grows there but is the center of life for many animals.  (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trophies, 2005)

This lesson was created as part of the Basal Alignment Project, during which teachers created CCSS-aligned lessons for existing literary and information texts in basal readers. All page numbers and unit/week designations found in this lesson relate to the edition of the basal reader named above. If you are using a trade book or different edition of this title, the page/unit/week references in this lesson will not match. Consult the content referenced in the body of the lesson to determine appropriate page numbers for your text.