Pistes d'exploration

Divide the class in two. Each team is responsible for creating What would happen if ___?  questions about the environment. Teams swap questions and brainstorm for answers.

In pairs, create speech bubble posters depicting some of the damaging consequences of not taking care of the environment. Display the posters around the school. 

Using images from magazines, create a collage depicting a healthy planet. Choose a creative heading for your artwork. 

In small groups, discuss what you personally do to protect nature. 

Sort nature words (plants, animals, places) into a graphic organizer.

Research a craft that reuses everyday material in a way that protects the environment (e.g. a soda bottle transformed into a bird feeder). Make a poster to explain it. Present it to students in a round robin cooperative style or as part of a science fair. 

What Does It Mean to Be Green?

Mots-clés

Non-fiction , conservation , environment , nature , protecting the environment , science

Commentaire descriptif

On a field trip to the countryside, Miss Wade teaches her students the consequences of breaking branches, swatting bees and generally abusing nature. The story is told from the perspective of a boy who “used to find nature boring … or pesky … or creepy” but later changes his mind after Miss Wade suggests fun, simple ways that children can protect the environment. Readers will relate to this short but enlightening story, written in a simple style that relates, in a matter-of-fact tone, the dire consequences of harming the natural surroundings and answers obvious questions arising from the narrative, like “What can I do to help?” The book features lively—sometimes comical—cartoon illustrations with plenty of details. One memorable image depicting the countryside overrun with litter—paper, plastic, bottles, etc.—shows a bird flying with a tin can stuck on his beak. Part of the “Why Should I?” series, the book ends with notes for adults, an annotated bibliography and follow-up activities which include journaling after a field trip to the countryside, building a birdhouse and visiting a local park to investigate how humans are helping and harming nature.