Lorax
Helpers
a webquest for
elementary students K-6
Check
out our Lorax PowerPoint
(if you do
not have PowerPoint installed on your computer
then you must download a PowerPoint viewer
here)
|
The Lorax is a charming story, that draws in the
reader with it's intriguing title and it's creative
illustrations. This book takes the reader to a
fictional land that thrived with animals such as the Bar-ba-loots, Swomee-Swans and Humming_ Fish. All of
these characters who were dependent on once healthy
environment that thrived with Truffula Trees were
forced to leave when the greedy Once-ler began to cut
down the trees and destroy the land for the production
of 'Thneeds' and own financial gain.
While children enjoy the amusing characters and
creative illustrations, as well as the rhymes that are
typical of many Dr. Seuss stories, they also learn
valuable lessons about the harmful effects that man's
greed and carelessness can have on our precious
environment. They are taught that unless they take
responsibility and care for the environment it will
not always be around.
This webquest was developed a s a component of an
Earth Care Block project. It provides leaning
extensions activities and web resources for the story The Lorax, by Dr. Suess. It is sponsored by
SchoolNet's Grassroots Program in conjunction with the
Halifax Regional School Board, Nova Scotia, Canada. |
Introduction
| Outcomes |
Implementation Overview
|
Tasks | Resources
| Assessment
Rubrics | Conclusion
Introduction
This webquest will
help students to answer the essential question: "How Can We
Help The Lorax Save Our World From Once-ler Actions?"
From participating in this
webquest, students will be taught that humans and animals are
dependent upon plant life for things such as food,
clean air, water, etc., and
that it is important
to replace what we take from the environment when
possible. This will lead to a class field trip to an area
where each student can plant a new tree to help replace ones
that have been cut down.
This
webquest was developed as a component of an 'Earth Care Theme
Unit', and provides learning extension activities and web
resources for the story The Lorax, by Dr. Suess. It is
sponsored by SchoolNet's Grassroots Program in conjunction
with the Halifax Regional School Board, Nova Scotia, Canada.
[top]
Curricular
Outcomes
The
unit will integrate science, language arts and computer
technology to achieve the following
outcomes:
OUTCOMES
FOR SCIENCE CURRICULUM
-
Recognize
that humans and other living things depend on their
environment, and identify personal actions that can
contribute to a healthy environment.
-
Describe
ways in which plants are important to living things and the
environment.
-
Respond
to the ideas and actions of others such as farmers,
gardeners, environmentalists, grocers and loggers, and
acknowledge their ideas about the uses and replenishing of
plants.
OUTCOMES FOR LANGUAGE ARTS CURRICULUM
-
Demonstrate
engagement with the creation of pieces of writing and other
representations.
-
Participate
in conversation in small group and whole group
discussion; understand when to speak and when to listen.
OUTCOMES FOR COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
CURRICULUM
[top]
Implementation
Overview
This
unit is designed for Primary - Grade 6 students. It
integrates science, language arts, and technology
education. It is not necessary to complete the
activities in sequence. The majority of the activities are
geared toward whole group instruction; however, some
activities can be extended to incorporate small group or
individual participation. The book should be read at the
outset of the unit, and should be referred to during the
learning activities.
[top]
The
Tasks
Using a computer
graphics program or traditional arts supplies, create images that
retell the main events of the story The Lorax to scan or
import into a PowerPoint Presentation.
-
Visit
a site that depicts the pollution and destruction of the Earth
Students
will visit the following web sites to exercise their viewing, reading,
and computer skills. They will be viewing pictures that depict
pollution and destruction of natural resources. This will allow
them to obtain a visual picture of the problems our environment face.
http://www.tbwt.com/interaction/mill/html/3a.htm
http://globalstewards.org/main.htm
-
Write
to the Lorax
Have
a discussion about how the plants and animals in the story were
negatively affected by the pollutants caused by the Once-ler's
factory. Using the template provided below, students will
write to the Lorax to tell him what they would say to the Once-ler
if they were the Lorax.
-
Experiment
With Air Polllutants
Discuss
with children how the smogulous smoke produced by the THNEEDS
factory made the Lorax cough, whiff, sneeze, snuff, snarggle, and
croak. Talk with students about air pollution produced by cars and
other machinery with gas-burning engines, as well as emissions
produced by furnaces, fireplaces, factories, and incinerators. Then
have the students work with a partner to conduct this experiment to
see how dirty the air really is
http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/air/monops/lessons/partlessonK.html
-
Go
On A Litter Walk
Go on a
litter walk on the school grounds and surrounding area. Upon
return to the classroom, sort out the garbage and determine what
litter there was the most of. Brainstorm ways to help
with the litter problem.
-
Create
a story map of The Lorax
Discuss the
events in the story by creating a story map. (Tip: Have students
illustrate the story map. Then scan the original drawings into a
PowerPoint presentation.
http://csf.concord.org/esf/Curriculum/Curriculum_DisplayUnit.cfm?ViewID=26
-
Make
a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast our environmental
problems with that of the Lorax.
Compare and contrast
the environment in The Lorax after the Once-ler arrived
with our environment using a Venn diagram as the graphic
organizer. This Venn diagram will lead to a discussion of the
similarity of today's environmental problems with problems found
in The Lorax. Keep this chart as a reference to use later
in the unit. Teachers of K and 1 students will find it helpful to
use two different colored hula hoops as a Venn diagram. Write the
similarities and differences on index cards and place in the
correct section of the circles. The younger students will have a
concrete image of the comparisons.
-
Play
the Lorax Save The Trees Game
Students will play
the Lorax's Save the Trees game online at http://www.randomhouse.com/seussville/game/lorax/game.html
This activity will allow the
students to have fun while becoming familiar with the use of
computer software as well as keeping in mind the environmental
theme.
[top]
Conclusions
Celebrate
-
Service
Project: Plant a Tree
Plant a
tree or trees on or around the school
grounds, as a symbolic gesture of giving back to the
environment.
-
Watch
The Lorax Video
-
Make
a Truffula Tree Snack
[top]
Resources
VIDEO
This
page written and maintained by Susan McBride-Wentzell
Last updated April, 2002.
|
