Rachel Carson, Environmentalist Par Excellence
Inspiration Book:
Spring after spring : how Rachel Carson inspired the environmental movement by Sisson, Stephanie Roth — Roaring Brook Press, 2018 333.95; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.9. As a child, Rachel Carson lived by the rhythms of the natural world. Spring after spring, year after year, she observed how all living things are connected. And as an adult, Rachel watched and listened as the natural world she loved so much began to fall silent. Spring After Spring traces Rachel's journey as scientist and writer, courageously speaking truth to an often hostile world, and ultimately paving the way for the modern environmental movement. NFD, NSSTB 2019, NSTA 2019
Rationale: I often find myself looking for new quality books that could be part of a lesson for Earth Day or Arbor Day. Many are too didactic, or, if they’re part of a series, too formulaic. I can use the series books when teaching book parts or index use and the content of the book is secondary, but I want a book whose content is front and center for Earth Day and well written. A picture book study using the two newer Rachel Carson books meets the need. A comparative study of two books also meets the needs of CCSS, and is adaptable for Grades 3-8. Specifically, for Grades 5-8, the emphasis is on comparing a variety of sources, especially video and book. For Grades K-3, the emphasis is a story hour using picture biographies. The Classroom Bookshelf Blog has wonderful ideas for using Rachel Carson and her Book that Changed the World. http://www.theclassroombookshelf.com/2012/09/rachel-carson-and-her-book-that-changed-the-world/
I have used this general lesson for many years simply by adjusting the lesson for the age/grade level involved. In 2018 another NSTA Outstanding Science Trade book about Rachel Carson was published. As a result I revised the lesson for Grades K-3 and substituted Spring After Spring by Sissonin place of the older but still very usable and valid titles. Thus, each grade grouping now has its own Inspiration Book.
Grades K-3--What if No Birds Sing?
Background: Biologists and environmentalists are scientists. Scientists are observers. This lesson has students observing and recording the environment of a neighborhood animal and or plant. Note: This is a longer lesson. You may want to divide it into two sessions or have the drawing aspect of the lesson continued in the classroom. Make that decision while planning with the teacher.
Preparation: Collect a clipboard or hardboard for each student. Clip a sheet or two of plain paper to the board and attach a pencil.
Make arrangements with the administration, parents, and classroom teacher to go on a nature walk in the schoolyard or a neighborhood park. You may want to have an adult with every 3-4 children, an adult who can help the children with their observations.
Make contingency plans if the weather isn’t cooperative OR have students bring outdoor-wear.
Place crayons and art paper at work tables.
Select the appropriate seasonal poem(s) to read aloud from Outside Your Window. You may choose to write selected poems on posters for display in the library.
Cut letters for a display area. You might cut “Outside Our Window” or a “Biologist’s Eye-View” or one of your choice. Mount letters in the display area. You may also want to mount any poem posters you made.
Introduction: Do you like the outdoors? Do you like to watch the birds gather at a feeder or bathe in a bird bath? Another word we use for the outdoors is our environment. The scientist in our books today was an environmentalist. That means she studied the environment and nature, and began to notice that there were fewer and fewer birds each year. She wondered why.
Read aloud:
Spring after spring : how Rachel Carson inspired the environmental movement by Sisson, Stephanie Roth — Roaring Brook Press, 2018 333.95; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.9. Looks at the environmental efforts of biologist Rachel Carson.
We’re going to be biologists and observe nature near our school. I have a clipboard and pencil for each of you. While we walk outdoors, use your eyes and ears to look for wildlife. If you spot a bird or rabbit or squirrel or ant or bee or…, note where the animal was. Then draw the animal and the place you saw the animal--on the ground, in the grass, in a bush, in a tree. Observe for the details. We’ll add those when we’re back in the school.
(Walk the perimeter of the school lot or school building, talking and walking and drawing as you slowly amble the yard. Even very urban school lots have critters to observe--birds, bugs, worms, etc. especially near concrete and blacktop cracks and edges or close to the building.)
Put your sketches at your work table, then gather in the story area again.
Read another selected seasonal poems from Outside Your Window or the posters you may have made.
Outside your window : a first book of nature by Davies, Nicola, 1958- — Candlewick Press, 2012--808.81; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.3. An illustrated treasury of poems reflects the experiences of children as they encounter nature for the first time.
Let’s look at the illustrations Mark Hearld made for the book. (Page through and stop at illustrations of critters that the students may have observed in their nature walk.) Notice that when he draws an animal, he draws its environment or habitat, too. Notice that he fills most of the page. That’s what you will be doing with the sketches you made. Choose one of the sketches with the animal and its environment. Add details now like shading, small blades of grass or flowers that you saw and fill your whole page. Draw only what you saw, not what you wished was there. (You may want to demonstrate shading and adding details on chart paper.)
Let’s move to the work tables to do our work. When you finish your work, bring it to me and I’ll add it to our display area. We’ll also add a display of books about the environment.
Conclude by reading another poem from Outside Your Window.
Other Titles for Display or Check-out:
Forest has a song : poems by VanDerwater, Amy Ludwig — Clarion Books, 2013 811; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.7. An illustrated collection of poems about forests and nature.
Outside your window : a first book of nature by Davies, Nicola, 1958- — Candlewick Press, 2012--808.81; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.3 An illustrated treasury of poems reflects the experiences of children as they encounter nature for the first time.
Hidden city : poems of urban wildlife by Tuttle, Sarah Grace — Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2018
: 811; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.9. This collection of poems celebrates the wonders of nature in an urban setting.
Amazing champion of the earth Rachel Carson by Wade, Mary Dodson — Enslow Elementary, an imprint of of Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2010--333.95; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.0 Presents a brief introduction to the life and accomplishments of Rachel Carson, who wrote about why we need to protect the environment; and includes a time line.
Rachel : the story of Rachel Carson by Ehrlich, Amy, 1942- — Harcourt, c2003 p2008--570; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.8 A biography of Rachel Carson, author of "Silent Spring," which sparked the beginnings of the modern environmental movement. Science and Social Studies Back Lists 2004.
Grades 3-6--What We Know About Rachel?
Background: This is one of the lessons I turn to for either Arbor Day or Earth Day. Much emphasis is placed on comparing and contrasting in the new CCCS. Since both days come at the end of the year, students will have had experience with both determining similarities and differences. This lesson is a culminating activity for the particular CCCS skills of comparing and contrasting.
Preparation: Make student copies of your favorite Venn diagram or make copies of the diagram available at http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/venn.pdf
Chart size Venn diagram or white/smartboard diagram.
Access to computer lab for the class.
Introduction: Rachel Carson was one of the scientists instrumental in beginning the modern environmental movement. Earlier environmentalists were interested in preserving nature areas; Rachel observed changes in the environment and wondered why the changes were happening. Carson’s book, Silent Spring, changed the world’s thinking.
Today we’re going to look at her life through two picture books, then compare and contrast the content presented in the books. Listen carefully for details because we will be interested in the fine points. Eventually we’ll write a paragraph.
Listen for the fine points that differentiate the two books.
Read aloud:
Rachel Carson and her book that changed the world by Lawlor, Laurie — Holiday House, 2012--570; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.6. Tells the life story of Rachel Carson, a biologist and environmentalist, covering her childhood, her years in college where she changed her career focus, and her most well-known works up until her death.
What were the big ideas the author presented? (Allow time for discussion). Often we don’t get enough information from one book, and need to dig deeper. Another book about Rachel Carson, a little older, but one that was also on the best science and social studies lists is the next one we will read. Listen carefully for new ideas and repeated ideas.
Read aloud:
Rachel : the story of Rachel Carson by Ehrlich, Amy, 1942- — Harcourt, c2003 p2008--570; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.8 A biography of Rachel Carson, author of "Silent Spring," which sparked the beginnings of the modern environmental movement. Science and Social Studies Lists.
What were the big ideas the author presented in this book? (Allow time for discussion).
Now we’re going to look at the details. I have a Venn diagram on the whiteboard/chart paper. One circle is for the first book; the other for the second. What new or different things did you learn from each book? (List a few on the whiteboard/chart.) Were there some similarities in the books? (Write a few on the Venn diagram.) Were there more differences or similarities? Go to your work table, and add as many as you can think of. (Allow about 5 minutes time.)
Let’s look at the Venn diagram we did together. We’re going to use the information on the group diagram and on your individual diagrams to write a comparison paragraph. You might start like this: “Both books about Rachel Carson told us about…” (mention 1, 2, or 3 things in your personal paragraph. Then continue something like this: “However, the first book told more about…. (Mention 1 or 2 items only discussed in the first book.) In the second book we learned that…”(Mention 1 or 2 things only described in the second book.) You might conclude with a sentence like this: “ The (first or second) book told me (more or less) about …”
(Model all of this on the whiteboard or chart paper. Then go to the computer lab to have the students do their own demand writing paragraph.)
(If time permits, or back in the classroom, have those students who would like to share share.)
Related Titles:
Amazing champion of the earth Rachel Carson by Wade, Mary Dodson — Enslow Elementary, an imprint of of Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2010--333.95; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.0 Presents a brief introduction to the life and accomplishments of Rachel Carson, who wrote about why we need to protect the environment; and includes a time line.
Heroes of the environment : true stories of people who are helping to protect our planet by Rohmer, Harriet — Chronicle Books, 2009--333.72; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.7
Profiles the lives and accomplishments of twelve environmentalists from United States, Canada, and Mexico; and describes a teenage girl who sought to remove an industrial pollutant from the Ohio River, a Mexican wrestler who acts as an advocate for turtles and whales, and more. Social Studies list.
Rachel Carson : environmental pioneer (Women In Conservation)by Hile, Lori — Heinemann Library, 2015. Dewey: 508; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.9. Rachel Carson, and her work to uncover the dangers of pesticides; covers Carson's inspiration, her methods, findings, and the impact of her work on the environment movement.
Grades 5-8--Rachel in the News
Preparation: Computer with Internet access and projection capability.
Note cards: 3 x 5 or 4 x 6.
Introduction: Fifty years ago, a science book became a bestseller and both shocked and encouraged the world. For me, a librarian, the power of the book was again emphasized. Today we’re going to learn about that book’s author and the book itself. We’ll start by introducing the author via a picture book that was the Inspiration Book for this lesson.
Read aloud:
Rachel Carson and her book that changed the world by Lawlor, Laurie — Holiday House, 2012--570; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.6. Tells the life story of Rachel Carson, a biologist and environmentalist, covering her childhood, her years in college where she changed her career focus, and her most well-known works up until her death.
A short picture book can’t tell us much, but it can inspire us to dig deeper, and we’re going to do that by watching a TV special about the biologist who changed the way we look at our environment. Based on what we already know, the environmentalist was..... and her book was....Each of you has a 3 x 5 card. While you watch the program, jot down the environmental problems Carson noticed and the reaction by the public, by companies, and by government.
Watch:
Bill Moyers Journal: Rachel Carson, Remembered
OR Read:
CBS Sunday Morning: The Legacy of Silent Spring
(Ask for volunteers to relate one of the environmental problems Carson observed. Ask how many included that problem on their notecard. How did the public, business, and the government react? Continue in this pattern for the allotted time. If not much time is available, encourage the classroom teacher to continue the discussion.)
Books for Display, Book talking, and/or Check-out:
Before the world was ready : stories of daring genius in science by Eamer, Claire — Annick Press, 2013--509.2; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.5 Describes nine scientists and inventors ahead of their time, including Nikola Tesla, Copernicus, Rachel Carson, and George Cayley.
Rachel Carson : environmental pioneer (Women In Conservation)by Hile, Lori — Heinemann Library, 2015. Dewey: 508; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.9. Rachel Carson, and her work to uncover the dangers of pesticides; covers Carson's inspiration, her methods, findings, and the impact of her work on the environment movement.
Lives of the scientists : experiments, explosions (and what the neighbors thought) (Lives Of... (Harcourt)) by Krull, Kathleen — Harcourt Children's Books, 2013 509; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 8.3. Zhang Heng -- Ibn Sina -- Galileo -- Isaac Newton -- William and Caroline Herschel -- Charles Darwin -- Louis Pasteur -- Ivan Pavlov -- George Washington Carver -- Marie Curie -- Albert Einstein -- Edwin Hubble -- Barbara mcClintock -- Grace Murray Hopper -- Rachel Carson -- Chien-Shiung Wu -- James D. Watson and Francis Crick -- Jane Goodall.;Includes bibliographical references (page 96). Explores the personal lives of twenty famous scientists, including Marie Curie, Galileo, Grace Murray Hopper, and Ivan Pavlov, offering humorous anecdotes, favorite foods, first loves, and more. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com
Trailblazers : 33 women in science who changed the world by Swaby, Rachel — Delacorte Press, 2016 509.22; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 8.8. Based on Headstrong: 52 women sho changed science-- and the world.;Includes bibliographical references (pages 171-189) and index. "A collection of profiles of some of history's most fascinating female scientists
Teacher Resources:
Lesson Plan for Lawlor book at The Children’s Bookshelf
Lesson Plan from Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Interview of Lawlor at http://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2012/04/earth-month-book-rachel-carson.html
Rachel Carson Institute at Chatham University
Audubon Magazine: Rachel Carson and JFK: An Environmental Tag Team
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Rachel Carson: A Conservation Legacy
No comments:
Post a Comment