WellBeing International WBI Studies Repository

1-1975

KTT January 1975

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Recommended Citation "KTT January 1975" (1975). Teaching Tips 1974/5. 2. https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/kinttip/2

This material is brought to you for free and open access by WellBeing International. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of the WBI Studies Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. JANUARY 1975

Forget the Field Trip Have a Field Experience!

The new year is here and in a few short months Even the feel of nature is different. Young tree the northern parts of our nation will be experiencing limbs don't have the flexibility and spring that a rebirth of nature. In every part of our coun­ they do when the sap is running. Pet dogs have try young wildlife will begin to appear. Once grown heavier coats. The horse that has wintered out again, the sounds and sights of animals will be in the field may have a thick coat of hair. The moss all around us. doesn't feel mossy. The water feels cold. Now is the time to begin planning your outdoor Nature's taste has changed too. A blade of experiences. And by all means - have them. Don't grass doesn't taste the same when it's brown. There stay glued to the classroom, school building, and are no wild raspberries to give young people grounds. Get out and help your children's senses stomach aches. make sense in the outdoors. Have each of your students keep a log of their You can begin now. Take your class to a nature January sense census. Some students may even want center, wildlife preserve or other outdoor study to make notes on a map so that they might return to area. Conduct a sense census. Start with noses. the same spot during the spring. Have the children make note of the things that they Discuss your winter sense census and find smell now. Naturally, differing conditions in dif­ answers to every question. Of course, you know ferent parts of the nation wi 11 affect your census. what comes next. You should go back to your If you're in the deep south, perhaps you'll be able outdoor study area in the spring and conduct a new to smell rotting vegetation. In the far north, you sense census. This should create a lot of whys. may find traces of skunk musk lingering in the air. Why does it smell different now? Why are there so At the seashore, the smell of low tide is still many more animal sounds now? Why does the there but not as strong as it is during the warm blade of grass taste different? Why do we see more days of spring. flying birds now? And on and on. The sights will be different. Fewer animals You may want to supply your students with the will be observed. There is less activity in following equipment: the animal world. Animals are not seeking • a baby food jar for examining water samples, mates. Many of the farm animals may be indoors. • a small hand held magnifying glass to examine The northern flora is not in bloom. Nature has leaf buds and insects, used the winter season to shed dead branches • a cloth measuring tape for measuring things such from the limbs of trees. Bird nests left over as tree trunks and animal tracks, from the previous spring are obvious in the naked • a cigar box or small shoe box for leaf collections branches of northern trees. or insect specimens. The sounds of nature are muted too. There By comparing what they sense now and what they are no fervent mating calls of birds in search of sense in the spring, your children will create a companionship. In the north, sounds carry a great natural science curriculum that will really respond deal farther because nature's sound mufflers, to the things they want to know and need to know. the leaves, are gone. The competition in the animal And, by meeting the real needs of the children you world still exists but animals don't make so much will nurture a respect and appreciation for nature's noise about it during the cold season. wonders.

©1974, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037. R. Dale Hylton, Editor. Permission is hereby granted to teacher members to reproduce any part of this publication for non-commercial educational purposes. Yearly dues are $2.00 for individual KIND members and $1.00 each for class subscriptions of 10 or more. The Beauty of Birth The Nyala mother's baby was born, On a humid and steamy August morn. At first it seemed like a lifeless toy, But its matted hair was its mother's joy. She washed it, she poked, she pushed with her head. It stumbled, it tell - its body like lead. Then as by magic, it suddenly rose. It stood on all tours - a staggering pose. The beauty of birth is beyond compare, It's magic, it's mystery - music so rare. KINceac ID KINDNESS CLUB DEFENDERS ECOLOKIND Humane Society Gives First Youth Award, Page 1 The Humane Society Presents First Annual First KIND Youth Award Presented by Humane KIND Youth Award, Pages 1 and 2 Society, Pages 1 and 2 SKILLS: Before reading the front page story, elicit, through discussion, the concepts related SKILLS: Have the students locate Charleston, SKILLS: After reading the rhyming article about to the following terms: award, humane society, Illinois on a map. Then have them locate your the first KIND Youth Award, have some of your and unwanted. Have the students look up town or city on a map. Have the students use students attempt to create rhymes of their own. the words in their dictionaries. You can also the scale on the map to determine the distance Local or major news events make good topics. use this story to improve the skill of reading between the two points. Then have the Some may wish a more polished meter or between the lines for inferences. Ask: Could students determine the distance to Oak Book, rhythm to their poetry. Help them count Lynn Wigley be described as happy? Why? (The Illinois from Charleston, Illinois. This is the syllables and point out how some multi-syllabic story said she was smiling from ear to ear.) distance that the members of the Raccoons words may "glide" and the entire word may only Why do you think the dog warden was replaced? Club traveled to receive their award. count as one beat. (Because the Charleston Raccoons made the Have your students write thank you letters to Discuss the fundamental skills used by the adult leaders of the community aware of the Charleston Raccoons Club for their efforts. Charleston Raccoons to accomplish their goals. his poor performance through the radio talk If you wish, you can send representative Create some imaginary situations and discuss show and their newspaper articles.) Do you letters to KIND. We will forward them to the the skills that one might use to conquer the think that other groups of young people will be Raccoons. This seemingly "light" lesson will situation. Allow the students to write news­ encouraged to do good deeds because of this give your students the opportunity to practice paper articles, role play radio talk shows, write story? (Probably, because they have a fine letter writing; letter style, and allow them to political advertisements, and create petitions in example in the Charleston Raccoons.) express their feelings toward other youth that response to these imaginary situations. have "made good." ATTITUDES: Ask: What do you think the atti­ If your students have a flair for creative ATTITUDES: Ask: Would you have done what tudes in Charleston were toward unwanted ani­ writing, you may want to suggest that they the Charleston Raccoons did? Why or why not? mals before the Raccoons came on the scene? imagine that they are some of the dogs that (The community has many pressures that may (Not knowing the existing problem at the pound were in the Charleston animal shelter. They serve to dissuade people from public action.) would suggest that perhaps the people assumed could write their impressions of how it was Ask the students what community pressures may everything at the pound was OK. Their attitude and how it is, now that the Raccoons have serve to dampen the fires of outraged citizens was probably indifference.) How does your town come on the scene. who discover immoral, unethical, or illegal ac­ treat the unwanted animals that it catches and tivities. (Outspoken folks may get labeled as places in the shelter or pound? Is there a planned ATTITUDES: Discuss how public attitudes can "troublemakers;" youngsters are often given a campaign in the newspapers and on radio to try be changed through the use of various media. deaf ear because it is felt that they do not have and place unwanted animals in homes where Note the attitudinal change of the American the wisdom that comes with age and experience; they will be well cared for? public to the Vietnam Conflict and the Water­ and the pressure to "not get involved" is often a gate break-in once the popular media began to compelling reason to stay away from con­ FOLLOW-UP: Perhaps some of your students serve as a communication device in focussing troversy.) Ask: Do you think it is wise to keep may wish to visit your local animal shelter to attention on these issues. Compare these major silent when you learn about illegal, immoral, or check on conditions there. Others may wish to events with the local changes that the Raccoons unethical acts? Why or why not? take photos of orphaned or unwanted animals to encouraged through the use of the popular be placed in the local newspapers. Still others media. Discuss the pros and cons of the FOLLOW-UP: Have your students c;hoose a may want to make posters to be placed in "freedom of speech" concept built into our news item in your community that illustrates a -D- prominent places. -K-These posters could detail Constitution. Ask: Do you think that the successful experience-E- in the "freedom of the responsibilities of pet ownership. They may Raccoons could have accomplished their goals speech" concept area. Have them find all of dissuade some people from attempting to keep without the use of the local newspapers and the past and present clippings about this item. pets. This could help the unwanted pet radio? Discuss other ways that the Raccoons Pin the clippings to the bulletin board in chrono­ problem by preventing a case where one of could have accomplished their goals. (Letter logical order. Review the steps that the person these people might abandon an animal. writing, speaking to town officials, petitions, or organization took to accomplish their goals. and door to door campaigning are some other Discuss the pros and cons of the methods used ways that the Raccoons could have used.) by the person or group. Help the students to Woody Woodchuck, Page 2 Attempt to note local examples whenever discover the advantages as well as the disadvan­ possible. tages of freedom of speech. Help them to dis­ SKILLS: Obtain The World Almanac and a collec­ cover the responsibilities of freedom as well as tion of annotated calendars. Have the students FOLLOW-UP: As a continuing survey of the the freedoms themselves. check to see if there are other "special days" that "freedom of speech" concept, have the are "animal days." Bird Day is often observed students check your local newspapers and radio with Arbor Day at the end of April, and Be Kind stations for stories of successes and failures by Help Your Neighbors Turn Over a New Leaf, to Animals Week and National Wildlife Week are special interest groups and discuss these stories Page 4 observed in May and March respectively. There's on a regular basis. also Earth Day in April, The return of the swal­ FOLLOW-UP: If your school has a camera club, lows to Capistrano in March, National Dog Week Dog Fights, Page 3 you may want tb ask the members of the club to in September, St. Francis Assisi Blessing of the help your students with their photography. Animals in October, and June is often referred to SKILLS: Have the students discuss other so­ When you are having your photos developed as Cat and Kitten Month. Some of the students called sports that involve the use of animals. for use on the posters, ask the developer to give may wish to report to the class on the origins (Rodeo, hunting, cock fighting, bull fighting, you a contact sheet first. This is one sheet of of these special "animal days." horse racing, greyhound racing, snake wrestling, photo paper with all of the photos on one roll and alligator wrestling are some they will point printed on it in the size of the negatives. Then, FOLLOW-UP: You may want to make a listing of out.) Have the students divide into small you can choose the one or two photos each stu­ these special animal days and have the students research teams and research these topics for dent wants to use and have them blown up to 8 make posters or other graphic representations to the origins of the events, methods used in x 10s. This method is less expensive than having announce the coming of these "animal days." training the animals, the actual disposition all of the photos developed to the regular size. of the animal during the event, the conditions Your camera club may have the facilities for of the animals after the events, and the developing pictures. If this is the case, try to Fun, Page 3 legality of such events. Have the students enlist their aid in the poster project. The decide for themselves which events they think alphabet letters supplied in the newsletter can SKILLS: This puzzle was designed to reinforce are humane and which are inhumane. be enlarged or reduced for your purposes by the concepts and some of the hard words in the using the overhead projector after making a page 2, story about Woody the Woodchuck. You ATTITUDES: Using the information gained from transparency master. The students can then may want to add the words from this puzzle to the previous research, have the students put trace whatever size letter they would like by your weekly spelling list. themselves in the place of some of these ani­ simply placing their tracing paper at different mals used by man for "sports." Discuss how distances from the projector. they would feel or react to the events or the Additional Ways to Use This Issue training process, or the after effects of such Cut out Woody's photo on page 2 and make a events. Additional Ways to Use This Issue transparency master with it. Using your over­ With this second installment of Who Really head projector, project Woody's enlarged image Here it is, Page 5 Needs Alligators?, Robert Bendiner has left onto a large piece of mural paper. Have some of us with much food for thought. Perhaps your the students trace the basic outline of the wood­ FOLLOW-UP: Encourage your students to seek students would like to explore their own chuck with felt tip markers. Then, some of the out individuals or groups that are deserving of a thoughts with an essay of their own dealing with others could take turns painting in the appro­ KIND Award. Help them prepare their submis­ the who really needs theme. You may want to priate colors. Check an animal reference book sion to KIND. Perhap� "OU can help bring back start your students off with Mr. F3endiner's for the cc t coloring of a groundhog. Gabriel Heater's "Th( good news tonight!" words, "Try to imagine a future w " POSTMASTER: Address Correction Requested, Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed

Nonprofit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID The Humane Society Permit No. 40848 of the United States Washington, D.C. 1604 K Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006

New Full Color Posters KIND has just published six new and Free." #2 - Basset and Butterfly large ful I color posters that would with the slogan "Nothing Bugs Me!" brighten up any room. We're not show­ #3 - A cat and a dog with the slogan ing them to you because black and white "Let's Be Friends." #4 -Two bulldogs photos would not do them justice. We with the slogan "A Friend is Someone to will be running full color pictures of Lean On." #5-A mare and her colt with them in a future issue. the slogan "A New Day." #6- A new­ We think that they're just beau­ born fawn with the slogan "Hidden tiful. Beauty." Order by number from KIND. #1 - Lion Cub with the slogan "Wild They're $1 .00 each or six for $5.00.

-TALK IT OVER- As the new year is being born, nature is repeating 42 inches high and will weigh between 250-275 its never-ending cycle of life in many parts of pounds. the world. These photos depict the birth of a Since the nyala are shy creatures, little is known nyala antelope about their breeding habits. Gestation is thought We've chosen to print the photos in this to be about six months, and only one young is teacher's guide so. that you have the option of born usually in September or October. This nyala using them or not using them. If you do use the was born at The Bronx Zoo in New York City during photos, they can provide an interesting vehicle August. for a discussion and examination of the birth There are three species of nyala. The one we process. have described, the mountain nyala, and the The nyala occur in northeastern Natal, Rhodesia, sitatunga. The latter has an interesting way of eluding southern Malawi, and eastern Transvaal. You predators. The sitatunga will wade out into a lake might find it interesting to locate these places on or river and hide in the water with only its nose a map of Africa. The nyala (ni-ALAH) usually breaking the surface. The mountain nyala lives in live in lush river country where they feed on the high mountains of Ethiopia They are the rarest grass, leaves, and fruit. The nyala stand about of the species.