A guide for using our resources

Children will learn about the life and legacy of environmentalist Wangari Maathai.

Vocabulary: nursery, patient

Social Studies Focus: Women's History Month

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1 ask and answer questions; RI.1.4 determine meaning of words; RI.1.5 text features; RI.1.10 read informational texts; W.1.8 gather information; SL.1.1 participate in collaborative conversations

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• This book manages to tell simply the beautiful and complex story of Wangari Maathai's life and efforts to change her country.

• Write the word tree and discuss the sounds found in the word. What sound is at the end? What letters make that sound? Vowel team ee makes the long /e/ sound!
• Have students underline everywhere in the article where double vowel ee appears.
• How many words are there? Did anyone find words that are different from tree? (needed, seeds)

Skills: social awareness

Materials: A Little Thing I Can Do templates, brown and green construction paper, scissors, tape, pencils, crayons

• Students will consider how they can be helpful in their lives and create a helping tree.
• What are ways students help others throughout the day? Make a class list or chart. Provide suggestions such as “What is one way you can be helpful during clean up? What is one way you can be helpful at home?”
• Cut the A Little Thing I Can Do template in half and give a “leaf” to each student. Have them write down one way they can be helpful to others. Then have them cut out the leaves and color around them. They can also cut out extra “leaves” using green construction paper.
• Tape a long rectangle made of construction paper on a class bulletin board. As students complete their work, have them use tape to add their leaves and make a class tree display!