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ParkWise
> Teachers >
Treasures
> National
Parks Treasure Hunt
> Unit Outline
Activity
6:
Caretakers of our Treasures
Students
will research the concept of national parks and the mission of the
National Park Service. They will correlate the message from The
Lorax with the purpose of national parks.
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Unit:
National Parks Treasure
Hunt
Guiding Questions:
What is the National
Park Service? What is the mission of National Park Service?
Critical Content: Students
will understand why we have national parks.
Grades: 3-6
Duration: 45 - 60
minutes
Group size: Whole
class
Setting: Classroom
Materials: Computer
access or downloaded information on the National
Park Service, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss.
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Procedures:
- Review your KWL chart
from Activity Two:
Something Special to Me.
- Review your definition
of a national park. Who takes care of our national parks? [The
National Park Service]
- What is a mission?
What is the mission of the National Park Service? Have students
look up the information on the mission
of the National Park Service. Discuss its meaning.
- Read The Lorax.
- Think about a favorite
place of yours. How would you feel if your place was no longer
available? How might this story (The Lorax) relate to us
studying the national parks?
- Make a prediction
about what would happen to many of these places if we didn't have
national parks. How does the mission of the National Park Service
relate to The Lorax?
Adaptations:
Have the mission of the National Park Service readily available
for students. Discuss in detail what the mission statement means.
Continue with the above activity.
Extensions:
- Have students explore
the creation
of the first national park. Why was the first park created?
What were the circumstances? Who were the main players in the
creation of the first national park?
- Have students research
national parks from other countries. How are they like our national
parks? How are they different? What does the fact that other countries
have national parks tell us about what humans may value?
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