Learning from the Land

This all-new set of original science tales for children utilizes the power of storytelling to explore ecology's big ideas, providing extensive accompanying teacher support for maximum impact.Former teacher and an acclaimed author Brian "Fox" Ellis is a master at using creative storytelling to open up the natural world to students. With this new edition of his highly praised Learning from the Land: Teaching Ecology through Stories and Activities, Ellis gives educators 12 captivating science-based stories as well as the supporting material they need to use those stories at a variety of learning levels.This latest edition immerses students in both the process and the excitement of science. Ellis's original stories explore everything from the Big Bang theory to plate tectonics, from the water cycle to the food web, from forest ecology to animal intelligence. The accompanying lesson plans-all based on national standards-include tips for discussions, writing activities, mapmaking, storytelling, scientific observations, and other activities-everything teachers need to break through the walls of the classroom and immerse their students in the interworkings of the world outside.

An annotated bibliography of books and websites for teachers and students, allowing further exploration of the ideas examined in the stories

Preface to the New EditionPreface to the First EditionTelling the Stories of the LandAcknowledgmentsIntroduction?The Ballad of Rusty and Nancy: A Trilogy of Creation and the Mineral CyclesComments to the TeacherThe Ballad of Rusty and NancyFollow-Up Ideas for "The Ballad of Rusty and Nancy"Discussion Topics: Compare and ContrastThe Circular Storytelling GameExploring the Effects of Our Behavior: Monitoring WasteSocial Action and Citizenship?Walter the Water Molecule, by Brian "Fox" Ellis and Garth GilchristComments to the TeacherWalter the Water MoleculeFollow-Up Ideas for "Walter the Water Molecule"Discussion TopicCorrelating Maps and DiagramsThe Circular Storytelling GameHow Much of Me Is Water?How Much of This Is Water?EvaporationThe Water Cycle?The Web: Lessons in the Web of LifeComments to the TeacherThe WebFollow-Up Ideas for "The Web"Discussion TopicsAdventures in the Web of LifeMaking a Food WebWhere Have All the Predators Gone?Where Does Our Food Come From? The Story of NachosDragonflies and Water QualityTake Your Students Fishing!?The Song of Life Sings in Us All: Creating an Animal Action Poem and Skit that Celebrates the Web of LifeComments to the TeacherThe Song of Life Sings in Us AllFollow-Up Ideas for "The Song of Life"Student-Led DramaTake an Old Song and Make It NewMaking a Simple Food WebExplore the Song of Life in Your Backyard!?The Rattlesnake that Tamed a Boy: A Tall Science TaleComments to the TeacherThe Rattlesnake that Tamed a Boy: A Tall Science TaleFollow-Up ideas for "The Rattlesnake that Tamed a Boy"Discussion TopicsDiscerning the FactsThe Liar's GameBring a Snake to SchoolTelling Tales Tall and TrueTelling Tales Tall and True (handout)?Counsel of CrowsComments to the TeacherCounsel of CrowsFollow-Up Ideas for "Counsel of Crows"Discussion TopicsPorque (What-For) Stories: Folktales as a Source of Scientific WisdomHow the Red Fox Earned His Bushy TailPlans for My Porque StoryAnimal WisdomListening to the Voice of NatureNative American Tales: Placing Stories in their Eco-RegionsStudent StorytellingTurtle Island Tales?A Night on the Hunt: Wildlife StoriesComments to the TeacherA Night on the HuntFollow-Up Ideas for "A Night on the Hunt"Discussion TopicsWriting and Telling the Story of WildlifeWild Animal ObservationSay It with PictographsGuessing-Game PoemsWild Adventures in Your Backyard-YOU Can Be A Wildlife Researcher!?The Salmon and the Stream: A Story of Animal Migration by Garth GilchristComments to the TeacherThe Salmon and the StreamFollow-Up Ideas for "The Salmon and the Stream"Discussion TopicMigration Route Map StudyWriting a Migration StoryAnimal Migration MapAnimal Migrations?The Seed: A Story of Seasonal AdaptationComments to the TeacherThe SeedAutumnWinterSpringSummerAutumnFollow-Up Ideas for "The Seed"Discussion TopicTracking the SeasonsGrowing a PrairieSorting SeedsArt IdeasWrite Your Own Story of the Seasons?Bare Stone: A Lesson in Geology and the Successional Stages in the Colonization of a RockComments to the TeacherBare StoneFollow-Up Ideas for "Bare Stone"Discussion TopicsA Walk through Successional StagesComparing Spores and SeedsBare Pavement?"The Ohio" by John James Audubon: In the Wake of Early NaturalistsComments to the Teacher"The Ohio" by John James AudubonFollow-Up Ideas for "The Ohio"Discussion TopicsLessons from the Journals of Early ExplorersStepping Into CharacterReading the Landscape of America: Poetry as a Walk through TimeIndex