Lesson Plan
The students listen and respond to a story about caring and philanthropy related to environmental stewardship and animal welfare.
Objectives
- listen to and respond tothe literature book A Symphony of Whales.
- define service.
- brainstorm things kids can do
Materials
- read aloud copy of A Symphony of Whales by Steven Schuch
Instructions
- Ask the students if they remember the "big word" philanthropy and what it means. Tell the students that you have another "big word" for them to learn. Write the word "beluga" on a display board, say the word, and ask the students to repeat it. Ask: Does anyone know what a "beluga" is? Allow students to volunteer their ideas. If students don't suggest that a beluga is a kind of whale, tell the students and then give them the following background information about beluga whales: also known as a white whale because of its white color, lives in the Arctic Ocean (show on a map), sometimes called a Sea Canary Whale because of its high-pitched song, grows up to 16 feet long, in some areas they are considered endangered.
- Write the word endangered on chart paper or the display board. Tell the students that animals are considered endangered when a species or group of living things 'in danger' of dying out. This usually happens when their environment changes and they are not able to get the basic things they need to stay alive -- food, clean water, and a clean habitat (place to live). In some places, beluga whales are in danger of dying because people have changed their habitats.
- Tell the students that they are going to listen to a book called A Symphony of Whales, which is a story based on something that really happened. Show the cover of the book and ask if they know what a symphony is. Explain that it is a kind of musical piece. Ask them to think about why the author used this title as they listen to the story.
- Read the story aloud, checking for understanding.
- Explain to the children that they will now practice giving and sharing that involves animals. Tell them that service can include giving their time or treasure to help the community. In this case, the community is the natural world, and we all share responsibility for caretaking.
- Brainstorm things we can do as young people to take action for whales or other animals who need caretaking.
- Direct action: example is clean up pollution that affects animals' homes
- Indirect action: example is to raise money to give to a nonprofit organization that helps whales
- Advocacy: example is to teach other people about the issue or about ways to protect animals
Assessment & Evaluation
- Assess students’ understanding of giving and why animals need our help.
- Students should be able to answer the following questions:
- What did Glashka hear inside her head?
- How was the sea important to the people in Glashka’s village?
- How did the people decide to help the whales? What was the outcome?
- In what ways have you helped animals or others?
- Why is it important to help animals or others?