Thursday, October 30, 2008

This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land…Or is it?

Native Americans are said to call the November full moon the Beaver Moon. American Indians traditionally had strong connections to the land and most engaged regularly in ceremonies to thank the creator for the land. Attitudes towards, and uses of, our land have changed over time and these patterns of change can be observed throughout history. Use Project Learning Tree’s activity, “Native Ways” to explore some traditional American Indian attitudes with respect to the land and our natural resources.

Students can research local past Indian Chiefs and explore their tribes’ relationship to the land.

Students can interview individuals within their community, or within a local Native American tribal community, about their relationship to, and attitude toward, the land and land use.

Suggested extension activity - Project WILD’s “Wildlife Issues: Community Attitude Survey”. Explore the differing beliefs, attitudes and values towards our land, the environment, and wildlife within your community.




Book List
Grades PreK-2


Bruchac, J. 1997. Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Bruchac, J. 1998. Earth under Sky Bear's Feet: Native American Poems of the Land. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Carlson, L. 1994. More Than Moccasins: A Kid's Activity Guide to Traditional North American Indian Life. Chicago Review Press.
Hamanaka, S. 1999. All the Colors of the Earth. HarperCollins Publishers.
Jeffers, S.J. 1991. Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: A Message from Chief Seattle. Dial.
Macgill-Callahan, S. 1996. And Still the Turtle Watched. Penguin Young Readers Group.
Morris, A. 2002. Grandma Maxine Remembers: A Native American Family Story. Lerner Publishing Group.
Orie, S. 1996. Did You Hear Wind Sing Your Name? Walker & Company.
Schmid, E. 2000. The Living Earth. North-South.


Grades 3-5

Adler, N. 1996. Dial Book of Animal Tales from around the World. Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated.
Bruchac, J. 2000. Pushing Up the Sky: Seven Native American Plays for Children. Penguin Group.
Caduto, M.J. 1997. Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children. Fulcrum Publishing.
Gates, F. 1994. Owl Eyes. HarperCollins Publishers.
Goble, P. 2005. All Our Relatives: Traditional Native American Thoughts About Nature. World Wisdom Books.
Levitt, P.M. 1989. Stolen Appaloosa and Other Indian Stories. Bookmakers Guild, Incorporated.
Lopez, B.H. 1998. Crow and Weasel. North Point Press.
Mayo, G.W. 1989. Earthmaker's Tales: North American Indian Stories about Earth Happenings. Walker & Company.
Miller, J. 1996. American Indian Festivals. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Ortiz, S.J. 1988. People Shall Continue. Children's Book Press.
Williamson, R.A. and J.G. Monroe. 2007. They Dance in the Sky: Native American Star Myths. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dalgleish, S. 2002. Managing the Land. Chelsea House Publishers.

Grades 6-8

Bruchac, J. 2003. Our Stories Remember: American Indian History, Culture, and Values through Storytelling. Fulcrum Publishing.
Gleason, K. 1996. Native American Literature. Chelsea House Publishers.
Harvey, K.D. and L.D. Harjo. 2006. Indian Country: A History of Native People in America. Fulcrum Publishing.
Hirschfelder, A.B. 1993. Rising Voices: Writings of Young Native Americans. Random House Publishing Group.
Kavin, K. 2006. Tools of Native Americans: A Kid's Guide to the History and Culture of the First Americans. Nomad Press VT.
Keoke, E.D. 2005. American Indian Contributions to the World: Food, Farming and Hunting. Facts on File.
Legay, G. 2007. Dictionary of North American Indians and Other Indigenous Peoples. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.
Marsh, C. 1996. Iowa Indian!: A Kid's Look at Our State's Chiefs, Tribes, Reservations, Powwows, Lore and More From the Past and the Present. Gallopade International.
Murdoch, D. 2005. North American Indian. DK Publishing, Inc.
Nies, J. 1996. Native American History: A Chronology of the Vast Achievements of a Culture and Their Links. Random House Publishing Group.
Waldman, C. 2006. Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. Facts on File, Incorporated.
Leopold, A. 1989. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford University Press.
Whitman, S. 1994. This Land Is Your Land: The American Conservation Movement. Lerner Publishing Group.
Willis, T. 1992. Land Use and Abuse. Scholastic.


Grades 9-12

Austin, M. 2004. Trail Book. University of Nevada Press.
Waldman, C. 1985. Atlas of the North American Indian. Facts on File, Incorporated.
Cronon, W. 2003. Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonist and the Ecology of New England. Hill and Wang.


Thursday, October 23, 2008

Is Anyone Home?
This week is Urban Nature Week! Urban areas are not usually thought of when individuals are discussing wildlife. Students can find wildlife in urban areas if they look close enough, wildlife can even be found in your backyard! Project Learning Tree’s “Are Vacant Lots Vacant?” gives students the opportunity to find wildness in the city.



Book List
Grades PreK-2
Bunting, E. 1996. Secret Place. Clarion Books.
Capogna, V.V. 1999. Did You Ever Wonder about Things You Find in Your Backyard? Marshall Cavendish Inc.
Cooper, A.C. 2000. In the City. Rinehart P.
Davis, W. 1998. City Park. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Di Salvo-Ryan, D. 1994. City Green. HarperCollins Publishers.
Eclare, M. 2002. Harvest of Color: Growing a Vegetable Garden. Handprint Books.
Edwards, N. 2000. Glenna's Seeds. Child & Family Press.
Ehlert, L. 2004. Nuts to You! Harcourt.
Epstein, S. 1989. Bugs for Dinner?: The Eating Habits of Neighborhood Creatures. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Fife, D.H. 1996. The Empty Lot. Sierra Club Books for Children.
Fleming, D. 1995. In the Tall, Tall Grass. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated.
Fleming, D. 2000. Where Once There Was a Wood. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated.
Giogas, V. 2007. In My Backyard. Sylvan Dell Publishing.
Herberman, E. 1989. The City Kid's Field Guide. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Hester, N. 2004. The Living Town. Watts Pub Group.
Huelbig, C. 1996. City Kids and City Critters! McGraw-Hill Companies.
Koontz, R.M. 1998. The Complete Backyard Nature Activity Book: Fun Projects for Kids to Learn About the Wonders of Wildlife and Nature. McGraw-Hill.
Lunis, N. 1996. Life in Your Backyard. Newbridge Educational Publishing.
Morrison, G. 2004. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Raintree Steck-Vaughn. 1987. Animals in Cities and Parks. Steck-Vaughn.
Rammell, S.K. 2006. City Beats: A Hip-Hoppy Pigeon Poem. Dawn Publications.
Rockwell, A. 2006. Backyard Bear. Walker & Company.
Ruurs, M. 2007. In My Backyard. Tundra.
Schwartz, D.M. 1997. In the Park. Creative Teaching Press, Incorporated.
Thornhill, J. 1996. Wild in the City. Sierra Club Books for Children.
Wheeler, J.C. 1993. Beastly Neighbors. ABDO Publishing Company.

Grades 3-5
Barrons Educational Series. 2000. Urban Animal. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.
Bash, B. 1992. Urban Roosts: Where Birds Nest in the City. Little, Brown & Company.
Green, J. 2002. In a Backyard. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Gustafson, K.B. 2005. Aunt Gussie And Grandfather Tree. Beaver's Pond Press.
Hirschi, R. 1987. City Geese. Penguin Group.
Hodgkins, F. 2000. Animals among Us: Living with Suburban Wildlife. Shoe String Press, Incorporated.
Kirkland, J. 2006. Take a City Nature Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Maurer, R. 1989. City Kid's Field Guide. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Morgan, S. 2001. Cities. World Book, Incorporated.
Morgan, S. 1998. Homes and Cities: Living for the Future. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Morrison, G. 2004. Nature in the Neighborhood. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Sanders, S.R. 2002. Crawdad Creek. National Geographic Society.
Shattil, W. 1997. City Foxes. Alaska Northwest Books.
Stetson, E. 2004. Kids' Easy-to-Create Wildlife Habitats: For Small Spaces in City-Suburbs-Countryside. Williamson Books.
Turner, S. 1999. Communities. Raintree Publishers.

Grades 6-8
Aldis, R. 1992. Towns and Cities. Silver Burdett Press.
Barrons Educational Series. 2000. Urban Animal. Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated.
Bruning, N.P. 1992. Cities against Nature. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Cochrane, J. 1988. Urban Ecology. Scholastic Library Publishing.
Fleischman, P. 1999. Seedfolks. HarperCollins Publishers.
Gralla, P. 1999. How Cities Work: Open Your Eyes to the Wonders of the Urban Environment. DIANE PublishingCompany.

Grades 9-12
Adams, C.E. 2005. Urban Wildlife Management. CRC Press.
Bosselaar, L.A. 2000. Urban Nature: Poems About Wildlife in the City. Milkweed Editions.
Lomberg, M. 2004. Healthy Cities: Improving Urban Life. Smart Apple Media.

Friday, October 17, 2008

A Few of My Favorite Things


This week is Earth Science Week. Connecting students with our natural resources to make good stewards is a priority. The majority of students do not realize how their favorite things are made or what natural resources go in to making them. Project Learning Tree’s activity “A Few of My Favorite Things” will assist students in connecting what resources are used to make their favorite item. Students will be amazed at how many products can be made from one resource.

As an extension, have students research if the resources used to make their object are sustainable.

Can you name some of Iowa’s naturally occurring resources?
  • Wind

  • Coal

  • Clay and Shale

  • Silica Sand

  • Coalbed Methane

  • Lime

  • Gypsum

  • Crushed stone (Limestone)


  • Source*
  • Iowa DNR




  • Book List
    Grades 6-8
    Walker, N. 2007. Generating Wind Power (Energy Revolution).New York: Crabtree Publishing Company.
    Woelfle, G. 1997. The Wind at Work: An Activity Guide to Windmills. Chicago: Chicago Review Press.

    Grades 9-12
    Gradwohl, D., & Osborn, N. 1990. Exploring Buried Buxton: Archaeology of an Abandoned Iowa Coal Mining Town with a Large Black Population (Bur Oak Book). Iowa City: University of Iowa Press.
    Pederson, S., & Rygle, K. 2008. Northwest Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guides to the U.S.A.: Where and How to Dig, Pan and Mine Your Own Gems & Minerals. Woodstock: GemStone Press.
    Spilsbury, L., & Spilsbury, R. 2007. The Pros and Cons of Wind Power (The Energy Debate). New York City: Rosen Central.
    Walker, N. 2007. Generating Wind Power (Energy Revolution). New York: Crabtree Publishing Company.
    Woelfle, G. 1997. The Wind at Work: An Activity Guide to Windmills. Chicago: Chicago Review Press.
    2006. Coal (Fueling the Future). Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.

    Friday, October 10, 2008

    Forest Hotels

    Fall is an excellent time to explore Iowa forests. More than 300 wildlife species live in Iowa forests. Lead your students on a scavenger hunt, looking for signs of animal homes. Check out Project Learning Tree’s activity, “Trees as Habitats” for great tips and suggestions.






    Book List
    Grades PreK-2
    Brenner, B. 2004. One Small Space in a Tree. HarperCollins.
    Brett, J. 1989. The Mitten. G.P. Putnam Sons.
    Bunting, E. 1994. The Night Tree. Voyager Books.
    Costian, M. 2001. Life in a Tree: Focus, Habitat. Tandem Library.
    Denver, J. 1990. Alfie the Christmas Tree. National Wildlife Federation.
    Fisher, A. 1965. In the Woods, In the Meadow, In the Sky. Scribner.
    Hutchins, P. 1972. Good-Night Owl!.MacMillan.
    Iverson, D. 1999. My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America. Dawn Publications.
    Lavies, B. 1989. Tree Trunk Traffic. Dutton.
    Pfeffer, W. 1997. A Log’s Life. Simon & Schuster.
    Ryder, J. 1989. A Chipmunk Song. Lodestar Books.
    Seiffert, P. 1994. Exploring Tree Habitats (Exploring Habitats). Mondo Publishing.
    Schwartz, D. 1999. In a Tree. Gareth Steven Publications.
    Van Laan, N. 2000. A Tree for Me. Random House.

    Grades 3-5
    Brenner, B. 2004. One Small Space in a Tree. HarperCollins.
    Bunting, E. 1994. The Night Tree. Voyager Books.
    Denver, J. 1990. Alfie the Christmas Tree. National Wildlife Federation.
    Hutchins, P. 1972. Good-Night Owl!. MacMillan.
    Pfeffer, W. 1997. A Log’s Life. Simon & Schuster.
    Tresselt, A. 1992. The Gift of a Tree. Lothrop, Lee & Shephard Books.
    Wong, H & Vessel, M. 1969. Our Tree. Addison-Wesley.

    Grades 6-8
    Watts, M.T. 1970. Winter Tree Finder. Nature Study Guild.

    Grades 9-12
    Trelease, W. 1967. Winter Botany: An Identification Guide to Native Trees and Shrubs. Dover Publications.

    Friday, October 03, 2008

    Forest Consequences

    Iowa’s forest area is making a comeback!
    Managing forest private or public is not an easy job.
    Use Project Learning Tree’s activity, “400-Acre Wood”, to explore the role of managers of a 400-acre piece of public forest or you can use “Forest Consequences” for a view in to managing private forests.

    Students can find out how the use of private or public land can affect future generations.

    Contact a local forest manager near you and ask for a sample of a management plan.





    Book list

    Pre-K – Grade 2

    Bauer, D. 2003. People Change the Land. Coughlan Publishing.
    Wheeler, J.C. 1993. Branch out: A Book about Land. ABDO Publishing Company.

    Grades 3-5

    Bockenhauer, M.H., J. Carter, and S.F. Cunha. 2004. National Geographic Our Fifty States. National Geographic Society.
    Dalgleish, S. 2002. Managing the Land. Chelsea House Publishers.
    Deboo, A. 2006. Mapping the Land and Environment. Heinemann.
    James, B. 1993. Use of Land. Cengage Learning.
    Petersen, C. 2004. Land Preservation. Scholastic Library Publishing.
    Snodgrass, M.E. 1991. Environmental Awareness: Land Pollution. Bancroft-Sage Publishing,Incorporated.

    Grades 6-8

    Beckman, W.H. 2004. National Parks in Crisis: Debating the Issues. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.
    Casper, J.K. 2007. Agriculture: The Food We Grow and Animals We Raise. Chelsea House Publishers.
    Dolan, E.F. 1992. American Wilderness and Its Future: Conservation Versus Use. Scholastic Library Publishing.
    Kallen, S. 2005. Managing America's Forests. Greenhaven Press.
    Leopold, A. 1989. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford University Press.
    Miles, B. 1991. Save the Earth: An Action Handbook for Kids. Scholastic Library Publishing.
    Rybolt, T.R. 1993. Environmental Experiments about Land. Enslow Publishers, Incorporated.
    Skurzynski, G. 1981. Safeguarding the Land. Harcourt.
    Whitman, S. 1994. This Land Is Your Land: The American Conservation Movement. Lerner Publishing Group.
    Willis, T. 1992. Land Use and Abuse. Scholastic.

    Grades 9-12

    Camp, W.G. 2000. Managing Our Natural Resources. Thomson Delmar Learning.
    Prior, J.C. and L.A. Stone. 2000. Iowa - Portrait of the Land. Iowa Department of Natural Resources,Geological Survey.
    Schwartz, M. 1993. Environment and the Law. Chelsea House Publishers.