Jump to this Video »
Fire in the Mojave Desert: A Landscape in Transition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9hjjS6irNQ

National Park Service

This video describes the connection between fires in a desert ecosystem and climate change. In the Mojave desert, fires provide an opportunity for invasive plants to take root, which in turn leads to larger and more frequent fires. In Joshua Tree National Park, this cycle has resulted in large fires over the past few decades and increasing acres of invasive grasses.

Video length is 3:54.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»


Grade Level

Regional Focus

Online Readiness

Topics

Climate Literacy

This Video builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

  • Joshua Tree National Park may not be familiar to students, and teachers should spend some time as a class researching the trees and the unique desert ecosystem they grow within to help students better understand the impacts of fire.

About the Content

  • The interaction between fires and invasive species in sensitive ecosystems creates additional climate change impacts. This relationship is well-described in this video and should provide an interesting introduction to the way fire and drought impact different ecosystems and plant species.
  • Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

  • This video touches on the impact of fire so educators may want to keep a trauma-informed approach in mind. The content helps unpack how invasive plant species can cause specific harm to ecosystems that are not adapted to their presence.
  • For middle school students, more background information may be needed to discuss how different ecosystems are adapted to fire and the impact of invasive species.
Entered the Collection: March 2025 | Last Reviewed: January 2025

Jump to this Video »