EARTH - EARTH DAY - ECOLOGY - ENVIRONMENT |
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EARTH - EARTH DAY - ECOLOGY - ENVIRONMENT • Books about the Earth - Earth Day - Environment - Children/Young Adults |
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BOOKS ABOUT THE EARTH - EARTH DAY - ECOLOGY - ENVIRONMENT
CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
Book titles are in blue and underlined. Click on them to get more information.
In performance, always credit your sources.
To retell any stories, obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain.
Alphabetized for your convenience with short descriptions to save you research time.
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 FEATURED BOOK 1 Barefoot Book of Earth Tales, written by Dawn Casey with Anne Wilson (illus). (Read Alone Ages 6-10; Read Together Ages 4-8) Hardcover. In this beautiful anthology of folktales, young readers learn how different cultures around the world live in harmony with the rhythms and patterns of nature. Discover how to tread lightly on our precious Earth by following the easy eco-tips and trying out some of the fun and creative activities that accompany each story. |
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FEATURED BOOK 2 A Forest of Stories, retold by Rina Singh with Helen Cann (illus). (Read Alone Ages 6-10; Read Together Ages 4-8) Paperback. French folds; full-color illustrations. (Barefoot Books) This unique collection of folktales encourages us to rethink our relationship with trees through the telling of fantastic tales filled with dancing palms, healing fig trees and magical cherry blossoms. Illustrated in radiant hues by artist Helen Cann and containing notes about the individual characteristics of each species, this vibrant collection will encourage all of us, young and old alike, to appreciate the essential place of trees in our lives, and help us to translate our appreciation into the desire to protect our many endangered forests. |
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FEATURED BOOK 3 PLUS SING-ALONG CD Whole World, sung by Fred Penner with Christopher Corr (illus). (Read Alone Ages 4-9; Read Together Ages 0-4) Hardcover with CD. (Barefoot Books) Oprah thinks we're just great and selected Whole World for "The O List" "Printed on forest-friendly paper, this sweet children's book includes a sing-along CD and eco-tips for preserving the planet"—The O List Share the message, hear the song, and see Whole World come to life! We are donating ten percent of sales from Whole World to benefit global conservation. To learn more about our environmental partners, please click here. Sing around the planet, from high in the mountains to low in the valleys, in every town and every city, and with all the fish and birds, trees and flowers! Includes eco-tips on how to live green and a catchy singalong CD, sung by Fred Penner. |
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Amazon Boy by Ted Lewin. (1993 - Ages 4-8) Paulo, a young boy living in the Amazon rain forest, takes a trip with his father to the big city and learns all about how human beings have hurt the planet. |
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Catching the Wind (Just for a Day Book) by Joanne Ryder with Michael Rothman (illus). (1989 - Ages 4-8) Transformed into a bird for a day, a child joins a flock of wild geese in glorious flight. |
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Chipmunk Song by Joanne Ryder and Lynne Cherry. (1990 - Ages 4-8) A lyrical description of a chipmunk as it goes about its activities in late summer, prepares for winter, and settles in till spring. |
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Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep by Eleanor Farjeon with Charlotte Voake (illus). (2008 - Ages 9-12)Elsie Piddock is a born skipper. By the time she’s seven, the tireless girl can even outskip the fairies and is rewarded with a gift of rare and lasting value. Can she use it many years later to save the children’s fabled skipping grounds from a greedy, factory-building lord? Charlotte Voake’s exuberant art pairs with Eleanor Farjeon’s unforgettable tale for a match made in picture-book heaven. |
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Everybody Needs a Rock (An Aladdin Book) by Byrd Baylor with Peter Parnall (illus). (985 - Ages 4-8)Everybody needs a rock -- at least that's the way this particular rock hound feels about it in presenting her own highly individualistic rules for finding just the right rock for you. |
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Fighting for the Forest by Gloria Rand with Ted Rand (illus). (1999 - Ages 4-8) A boy and his father like to hike in the ancient forest near their home. But one day they discover blue marks on many of the trees--the marks of loggers. The boy decides they must do something to try to save the forest. A campaign is launched and the fight is on. |
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Grandfather's Dream by Holly Keller. (1994 - Ages 4-8)The Vietnam war is over, and Grandfather and young Nam dream that the new dikes will restore the wetlands, bringing home the beautiful cranes that once filled the winter sky. But other villagers think that growing rice is a more practical use for the land. "This is a beautiful book with many layers of meaning and an important message. |
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In a Spring Garden by Richard Lewis with Ezra Jack Keats (illus). (1965) Reader: One of the most poetic, and beautiful books that I have ever received. The one that I have was given to me in 1966, many years ago ... the images speak volumes, the words cause one to pause. |
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Invisible Hunters (The)/Los cazadores invisibles (Stories from Central America) by Harriet Rohmer, Octavio Chow and Morris Viduare (adapters) with Joe Sam (illus). (1997 - Ages 4-8)This Miskito Indian legend set in seventeenth-century Nicaragua illustrates the impact of the first European traders on traditional life. |
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Jaguar in the Rain Forest by Joanne Ryder with Michael Rothman (illus). (1996 - Ages 4-8)Imagine climbing your favorite tree, speckled in sunlight and shadows, then changing...into a mighty spotted cat in a faraway rain forest. You are a jaguar hidden in a world of green. Giant trees stretch upward, where flowers bloom, birds soar, and butterflies glide above your reach. |
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Letting Swift River Go by Jane Yolen with Barbara Cooney (illus). (1995 - Ages 4-8)Relates Sally Jane's experience of changing times in rural America, as she lives through the drowning of the Swift River towns in western Massachusetts to form the Quabbin Reservoir. |
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Lizard in the Sun (Just for a Day Book) by Joanne Ryder with Michael Rothman (illus). (1990 - Ages 4-8)A child is transformed into an anole for a day and discovers what it is like to be a tiny lizard changing colors in a sunny, leafy world. |
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People Who Hugged the Trees (The) by Deborah Lee Rose. (2001 - Ages 9-12)Based on a classic folk tale from India, this haunting story gives children insight into India's history and culture while teaching them that environmental protection is everyone's concern. It is carefully researched and illustrated with detailed watercolors of rural India. |
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Prayer for the Earth (A): The Story of Naamah, Noah's Wife by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso with Bethanne Andersen (illus). (1996 - Ages 4-8)Entrusted with God's task, Noah's wife, Naamah, gathers the seeds of every living plant on Earth. Collecting seeds, bulbs, cuttings, spores and roots, Naamah fills a room on the Ark with every type of plant from amaryllis, moss, lillies and soybeans to wheat, rosemary, and even dandelions. During the 40 long days and nights on the Ark, Naamah and Noah discover that Naamah's "garden" is unexpectedly value in more ways than one! |
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Sea Elf (A Just for a Day Book) by Joanne Ryder with Michael Rothman (illus). (1993 - Baby-Preschool)As a young sea otter, the reader enjoys a day of hunting, grooming, and playing in a California cove. |
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Slop!: A Welsh Folktale, retold by Margaret Read MacDonald with Yvonne LeBrun Davis (illus). (1997 - Ages 4-8) What's a wee woman and wee man to do when vegetable peelings and dishwater pour down their wee chimney? Every evening, an old man and woman finish their dinner and throw their slops over the garden fence, not knowing that the wee couple lives below. When the wee man shows them the effect of their slops on his house, they devise an ecological solution to the problem. |
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Snail's Spell (The) (Picture Puffins) by Joanne Ryder with Lynne Cherry (illus). (1988 - Ages 4-8)Brilliant illustrations and a short text invite an unnamed sleeping, pajama-clad child into a garden teeming with wildlife. The boy gradually shrinks until he is so small he experiences things as a snail would. The incredibly detailed drawings and the idea of shrinking to enter another world should capture children's imaginations. |
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Touch the Earth by Jane Baskwill with Peter Fiore (illus). (1999 - Ages 4-8)Describes ways in which people are "touched" by nature and ways that they can show they care for the world in which they live. |
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Window by Jeannie Baker. (2002 - Ages 4-8)A wordless look at our changing environment. A mother and baby look through a window at a view of wilderness and sky. The boy grows and the scene changes. A few years pass and there is a village in the distance. By the time the boy is twenty, the village has developed into a city. The young man gets married, has a child of his own and moves to the country, where father and child look through their window at the undeveloped wilderness outside. |
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Where the Forest Meets the Sea
by Jeannie Baker (illus). (1988 - Ages 4-8)My father says there has been a forest here for over a hundred million years," Jeannie Baker's young protagonist tells us, and we follow him on a visit to this tropical rain forest in North Queensland, Australia. We walk with him among the ancient trees as he pretends it is a time long ago, when extinct and rare animals lived in the forest and aboriginal children played there. But for how much longer will the forest still be there, he wonders? |
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White Bear, Ice Bear (Just for a Day Book)
by Joanne Rydere with Michael Rothman (illus). (1989 - Ages 4-8)Imagine waking up one cold winter morning and turning into a polar bear. That's just what award-winning author Joanne Ryder invites readers to do. Her poetic, scientifically accurate text, richly illustrated by a gifted nature artist, takes readers to the top of the world to explore, as polar bears do, their moonlit, floating domain. |
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Who Speaks for Wolf: A Native American Learning Story by Paula Underwood with Frank Howell (illus). (1991 - Ages 4-8)This Native American story teaches the relationship between nature and people. It is a Native American story, told by a grandfather to his grandson, teaching him about Wolf, how the people forget Wolf and push him off his land. The people become selfish and want the land for themselves. Later, white man come and they don't think about the natives, and push and kill them off the land with the same arrogance shown earlier by the natives. |
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Winter Whale (Just for a Day Book)
by Joanne Ryder with Michael Rothman (illus). (1988 - Ages 4-8)Transformed into a humpback whale, a child experiences life in the ocean among other whales. |
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BOOKS ABOUT THE EARTH - EARTH DAY - ECOLOGY - ENVIRONMENT - ADULTS AND REFERENCE
Book titles are in blue and underlined. Click on them to get more information.
In performance, always credit your sources.
To retell any stories, obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain.
Alphabetized for your convenience with short descriptions to save you research time.
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Anthology for the Earth
by Judy Allen. (1998 - Ages 9-12)More than 40 gorgeously illustrated poems, essays, and excerpts speak to the importance of protecting Earth's fragile ecosystem as well. Anthology for the Earth--a lush, powerful tribute to our planet--is a book to be discovered together and treasured by families and friends. |
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Celebrating the Earth: Stories, Experiences, and Activities by Norma J. Livo. (2000)Invite young readers to observe, explore, and appreciate the natural world through engaging activities. Livo shows you how to use folk stories, personal narrative, and a variety of learning projects to teach students about amphibians, reptiles, mammals, constellations, plants, and other natural phenomena. Designed to build a Naturalist Intelligence in young learners, these stories and activities are packed with scientific information. |
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Earth Care by Margaret Read MacDonald. (2005)Our relationship to the natural world is at the heart of the single largest problem we face today. We have a choice: hurt the earth and we hurt ourselves |
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Family of Earth and Sky (The Concord Library) by Hertha D. Wong and John C. Elder (editors). (1996)Indigenous Tales of Nature from Around the World. An array of vivid responses to nature from indigenous oral traditions in Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas. |
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Keepers of the Animals: Native American Stories and Wildlife Activities for Children
by Joseph Bruchac and Michael J. Caduto (authors). (1997)Using stories to show the importance of wildlife in Native American traditions, this book gives parents and teachers an exciting way to teach children about animals. |
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Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children by Joseph Bruchac and Michael J. Caduto (authors). (1997)The flagship book in the Keepers of the Earth series is an environmental classic for teaching children to respect the Earth. |
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Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope: Stories, Storytelling, and Activities for Peace, Justice and the Environment by Ed Brody, Jay Goldspinner and Katie Green (editors). (2002)Out-of print since the Philadelphia days of New Society Publishers, demand for this much-loved storytelling sourcebook has only continued to grow. These 29 wondrous children's stories from around the world-from the mythic to the silly-are about loving each other, the Earth, and ourselves. Each story is enriched by storytelling tips, suggested activities and exercises, and resources. |
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Tales From the Rainforest: Myths and Legends From the Amazonian Indians of Brazil
by Jeanne Wilmot and Mercedes Dorson. (1997)The myths and legends of the Amazonian Indians of Brazil will charm children and adults alike. Translated from the Portuguese and adapted from numerous sources, these tales give the reader a glimpse into the village life, surroundings, and beliefs of the Amazonian Indian. Includes detailed drawings, maps and a glossary of Amerindian and Portuguese words. |
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TOYS, GAMES, CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES AND DECORATIONS
ABOUT THE EARTH - EARTH DAY - ECOLOGY - ENVIRONMENT
Products names are in blue and underlined. Click on them to get more information.
Alphabetized with short descriptions for your convenience and to save you research time.
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Ant Factory from GeoSafari |
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Day at the Zoo - Safe, Non-toxic, Eco-friendly and Educational Toy! Young animal lovers will enjoy a fun-filled day at the zoo right in their own room with this play set that includes 11 animals, 3pc 8' x 6' zoo entrance, penguin pond, and 8 fences. Handcrafted using plantation-grown rubberwood, an environmentally-friendly hardwood. Hand-painted using child-safe, non-toxic paints. |
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Elenco Solar Deluxe Educational Kit Can you set up a solar panel to run a radio, make a fan, or turn on a light? These do-it-yourself science experiments help kids develop a basic knowledge of solar energy. And each science project involves putting parts together to make functioning gadgets - kids love science more than ever as a result! Children can do a series of do-it-yourself experiments to acquire the basic knowledge of alternative energy - solar energy with this kit. |
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Eyewitness - Seashore You can practically smell the sea air as Martin Sheen takes you on a fun-filled beach walk combining facts, images, sounds, and a little history to create an appealing experience for families that love to learn. Why do crabs walk that way? What do starfish eat? What's up with seagulls? Knowing the answers is nice, but finding out is half the fun. Whether you're landlocked or an old salt, you'll find plenty to enjoy here. |
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ImagiPLAY EcoRanch A new board game for a greener future. A family-friendly game of strategy with a new twist: players win by giving back or "paying-it-forward." By raising awareness in a fun setting, this one-of-a-kind board game encourages players to create a more sustainable environment and to protect and nurture the planet. Parents, teachers, and those working with young people will enjoy this game to build and strengthen relationships. |
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Learning Journey Animals of the World Wood Jigsaw Puzzle 48 piece wood jigsaw puzzle. The talk about puzzles encourage parent and child interaction and offer a great learning tool to stimulate conversation about animals and our environment. |
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Learning Journey Creatures of the Sea Wood Jigsaw Puzzle 48 piece wood jigsaw puzzles have a gloss finish that makes creatures come to life! The full image is also printed underneath for ease of recognition, so even a younger child may assemble. Choose from one of the four colorful illustrations. |
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Ocean Dive Eco Expedition This Moveable Action Play Set includes a sea turtle, seal, emperor penguin, sea otter, beluga whale, killer whale, bottle-nosed dolphin, great white shark, and eco-diver with camera and flashlight. |
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TDC Games the Green Game Everyone wants to save the planet, but are your efforts helping it or hurting it? The Green Game is an entertaining, enlightening and sometimes alarming way to examine the ecological facts and myths that face us today. Made from 100% recycled material, it is 99.8% bio-degradable and is carbon neutral due to the six drink coasters included that will actually sprout and grow wild flowers when planted in soil. |
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Tree of Knowledge Ecology Science Kit 150 Exciting Experiments. Learn about how a thermometer is built, the Greenhouse Effect, ice crystals, calorie calculations, how plants make oxygen, how to make a two-colored flower, testing for acid rain, bacteria in the air, what is bio-degradable, and barometers. |
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JEWELRY RELATING TO THE EARTH - EARTH DAY - ECOLOGY - ENVIRONMENT - ALL AGES
Jewelry links are in blue and underlined. Click on them to get more information.
Alphabetized with short descriptions for your convenience and to save you research time
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Bracelet - Sodalite Gemstone Globe Stretch Bracelet Get greener! Show your love for the earth, with this stretchable 8mm sodalite bead stretch bracelet. Featuring a 15mm reconstituted gemstone globe, this bracelet can help you spread awareness everyday. Bracelet contains sterling silver components and an elastic band. |
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Charm - Stop Global Warming Join others around the world to help combat global warming. |
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Cufflinks - Save the Environment - Gold We need to take better care of our environment and these serve as a great reminder. These green Swarovski cufflinks are not only beautiful they might just inspire the right actions. We have these set in gold too. Cufflinks arrive in in a presentation box suitable for gifting. Made from rhodium silver so you never have an issue with tarnishing. |
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Ring - 6 MM Wide Environment Band Sterling Silver South Western Native American Style Represents the Wolf's Environment Engraved in it. This band is made in Genuine .925 Sterling Silver. We carry this Ring in sizes from 5 to 15. |
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MUSIC, CDs, DVDs RELATING TO THE EARTH - EARTH DAY - ECOLOGY - ENVIRONMENT - ALL AGES
Music, CD & DVD links are in dark blue and underlined. Click on them to get more information.
Alphabetized with short descriptions for your convenience and to save you research time.
FEATURED CD:
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Stories and Songs for a Green Earth by Fran Stallings. (2009) Includes Brazilian Beetles (Brazilian folktale); Over and Over Again; Birds & Beavers (fact-tale); Turkey Vulture (U.S. folktale); Asian Vultures (fact-tale); Place to Be (© Malvina Reynolds); Too Much Help (Amazon folktale); Not in MY Back Yard; Melting Herb (Japanese folktale); Good? Bad? Midas (Greek myth); Good? Bad? (fact-tale); E-e-erosion; Sandals (India); Buy Fresh Buy Local (title ® FoodRoutes); Pecos Billl & the Prairie-Size Rainbow (© Judy Nichols); Closing Note. Extensive story backgrounds and notes. |
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OTHERS:
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Animals Are Beautiful People ,
DVD, produced by Jamie Uys. (DVD released 2003) From the creator of The Gods Must Be Crazy. Away in their own mysterious world, far from the prying eyes of people, Africa's animals lead lives of humor and horror, danger and dignity. |
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Baby Genius Underwater Adventures w/bonus Music CD , produced by Baby Genius. (DVD released 2008) Teacher: Music calms the soul. I personally like the no talking aspect of the DVD and only music. I can play this in my classroom with the volume turned down low and just let it play. I leave this DVD playing during our ocean unit. While the students are enjoying centers and activities, this DVD is playing. It is engaging because it is soothing the mind. |
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Great North (IMAX) [Blu-ray] , DVD, directed by William Reeve and Martin J. Dignard. (DVD released 2008) Customer: I thought any film documenting the "Great North" would be boring. After all, what can you say about snow, ice, and freezing temperatures? You can imagine my surprise, then, when I discovered that this is actually a beautiful and informative documentary!! |
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Naturescapes , produced by Dr. Jeffrey D. Thompson. (DVD released 2008) Majestic and soothing natural imagery transports you to the timeless peace of New England streams, tranquil vistas from unspoiled Alaskan wilderness, and crystal clear mountain lakes reflecting vast blue skies. |
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Sounds of Earth: Rainforest , CD, produced by Sounds of the Earth. (CD released 2000) I bought this CD for my Amazon parrot to listen to while either no one is at home or while people are too busy working to be interacting with her during her every waking hour (as she would prefer). She really enjoys listening to the CD and actively listens and makes bird cooing sounds back to the other birds. She gets more rowdy and worked up when she listens to the "Relax with Tropical Rain Forest." |
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Whales: Humpback...Sounds and Songs , CD, produced by Gentle Persuasion. (CD released 1992) Listener: This is an erie recording of what you might hear if your way out at the sea at night.This recording is haunting but soothing.The humpback whales have a moaning sound that can be heard over the ocean.Imagine laying on the beach at night listening to the waves then you hear the sound of these whales.This is very entertaining to listen to and is just nature sounds no music. |
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ONLINE LINKS TO STORIES AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE
EARTH - EARTH DAY - ECOLOGY - ENVIRONMENT - ALL AGES
Online links are in blue and underlined. Click on them to get more stories abd information.
Short descriptions included for your convenience and to save you research time.
• http://www.english-test.net/shop/folktales-audio-books.html
Audiobooks about the natural world from english-test.net.
• http://www.sisterschoice.com/ecostories.html
Bibliography of ecology stories. There is also one short tale at the beginning.
• http://www.sisterschoice.com/ecostories.html
Ecology stories and sources.
• http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/story.htm
Environment - KIEHS Kids' Pages from National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
• http://ksjtracker.mit.edu/?cat=5
Environment & Energy Stories from Knight Science Journalism Tracker.
• http://digg.com/environment
Environment from digg - an interactive Q&A site.
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7986406.stm
Environment from the BBC News.
• http://www.warwicklibrary.org/bibfolk.htm
Environmental folktales by country.
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/all
Everything in environment from guardian.co.uk - an international network.
• http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=380
Folktales and Ecology: Animals and Humans in Cooperation and Conflict from EdSitement (Lesson Plan).
• http://www.edutopia.org/go-green?page=5
Go Green, the Database from edutopia.org.
• http://www.ferrum.edu/applit/bibs/ecobib.htm
Nature and the Environment in Appalachian Literature, compiled by Tina L. Hanlon, Ph.D.
• http://www.e-village.jp/earth-c/22chip/indexchi7.html
Nature Folktales from e-village.jp - stories for children.
• http://learningtogive.org/resources/folktales/SecretOfDreaming.asp
"Secret of Dreaming (The)" - Australian folktale from the book The Secret of Dreaming: The Story of Why the Land is Sacred and Why Man Must Be Its Caretaker by Jim Poulter.
• http://www.spiritoftrees.org/folktales/country/folktales_country.html
Spirit of Trees - stories listed by country, from spiritoftrees.org.
• http://planetark.org/enviro-news/
World Environment News from Planet Ark.
SOS - SEARCHING OUT STORIES ABOUT THE EARTH - EARTH DAY - ECOLOGY - ENVIRONMENT
Advice, Discussion and References from Storytellers, Teachers and Librarians
(excerpts from Storytell posts plus original research)
Book titles and online links are in blue and underlined. Click on them to get more information.
Story titles are in quotation marks.
In performance, always credit your sources.
To retell these stories, get permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain.
All posts are listed as they are received by Story Lovers World.
1) My own favorite is "The Noisy Gecko" - an Indonesian Folktale (found in one of Anne Pellowski storytelling books ) is a cumulative tale that ends with Rain telling Gecko that he must let each animal (being) do his/her job. If rain doesn't fill the holes in the road with water then mosquito won't have a home, and Gecko won't have anything to eat. So he must let ox fill the holes with dung; beetle carry the dung off the road; frog go gump, gump, woodpecker go tak-tak-trrrr; firefly flash his light in gecko's eye; gecko go to-kah, to-kah, to-kah and wake headman up at night.
2) I do a lot with Earth Day stories and I think my favorite is the story of Gecko that I got from Margaret Read McDonald's Earth Care
3) Pleasand DeSpain's The Emerald Lizard: Fifteen Latin American Tales to Tell in English and Spanish
4) Cristy's site, Spirit of Trees is lovely.
http://www.spiritoftrees.org/
The following site is grand as well.
H-NILAS: "Stories for the Seasons"
http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~nilas/seasons/
5) My favorite is "Gaura Devi Saves the Trees" from Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope : Stories, Storytelling, and Activities for Peace, Justice and the Environment.
6) I ran across this children's book which is interesting though parts of it are a bit much IMO it has some good threads A Prayer for the Earth: The Story of Naamah, Noah's Wife by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso.While Noah brought in the Animals to the Ark, Naamah gathered the seeds and the plants.
Response:
Which is rather different from her characterisation in the Middle Ages - in the Mystery Plays she is generally a gossip and a drunkard who had to be dragged kicking and screaming onto the Ark (either stereotyping of women or a comic interlude according to your point of view).
7) Ecology Stories and Sources
Once there was a wise old man. He was so wise he could answer any question anyone ever asked him, no matter how difficult. One day, two young people were talking and they said, “We're going to fool that old man. We'll catch a bird, and go to the old man, and say, 'This that we hold in our hands today, is it alive or is it dead?' If he says 'Dead,' we'll turn it loose and let it fly, and if he says 'Alive,' we'll crush it.”
So they caught a bird, and they carried it to that old man, and they said, “This that we hold in our hands today, is it alive or is it dead?” And that wise old man looked at those young people and he smiled. And he said, “It's in your hands.”
Susan Griffin pointed this story out to me in a book of speeches by women. Fannie Lou Hamer had ended a speech with it at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund Institute in 1971. As I tell it around, people tell me that they have found it in other sources as well. Ms. Hamer was talking about “The Special Plight and the Role of Black Women,” but the story can apply to any problem, any choices people need to make. I have been using it in ecology programs, along with some of the following stories:
All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir
Animalia
Buffalo Gals and Other Animal Presences
"Come Again in the Spring" in Richard Kennedy: Collected Stories
"Coyote at the Movies" in Coyote's Journal
"The Crocodile in the Bedroom" from Fables
Crow Boy (Picture Puffins) by Taro Yashima. Viking, 1955. Chibi is too shy to do well in school, but finally a sympathetic teacher helps him show what he learned walking over the mountains to school. 3rd up.
Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep by Eleanor Farjeon, illus. Charlotte Voake. Candlewick Press, 2000. Elsie learns to skip rope from the fairies and with her special skill saves her town's precious land from development.
Flossie and the Fox
"The Golden Earth" from The Fire on the Mountain and Other Ethiopian Stories
Hamanaka, Sheila. Screen of Frogs: An Old Tale
Her Seven Brothers
Hidden Stories in Plants: Unusual and easy-to-tell stories from around the world together with creative things to do while telling them, by Anne Pellowski. Macmillan, 1990.
The Invisible Hunters/Los Cazadores Invisibles: A Legend from the Miskito Indians of Nicaragua (Stories from Central America)
"Justice" from The Devil's Other Storybook
The Legend of the Bluebonnet
"The Lion-Makers" from the The Panchatantra
Miss Rumphius
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (Reading Rainbow Book)
Nine-In-One Grr! Grr!: A Folktale from the Hmong People of Laos
Ntombi's Song (Beacon Press Night Lights)
The People Who Hugged the Trees: An Environmental Folk Tale
"The Rice-Puller of Chaohwa" from Tiger's Whisker and Other Tales and Legends from Asia
Save my rainforest (Passports)
"Slower Than the Rest" from Every Living Thing
Song of the Trees
Men from the Village Deep in the Mountains and Other Japanese Folk Tales
"The Tailor" in the introduction to Just Enough to Make a Story: A Sourcebook for Storytelling
The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks (Picture Puffins)
"Talk" from The Cow-Tail Switch : And Other West African Stories
"Umai" from Inland Whale Nine Stories Retold from California
"Werburgh and the Troublesome Geese" from The Giant at the Ford and Other Legends of the Saints
The Wounded Wolf
Why The Sky Is Far Away : A Nigerian Folktale
"Ecology Stories to Tell" is updated from Just Enough to Make a Story: A Sourcebook for Storytelling
"The Story of a Pumpkin" (in The Ghost & I: Scary Stories for Participatory Telling
"Wide Mouth Frog" (in Stories To Play With
Margaret Read MacDonald's Earth Care
Also, take a look at Eleven Nature Tales (World Storytelling) by Pleasant DeSpain.
Here are favorite sources from my library:
Earth Tales from Around the World - Michael J. Caduto
Celebrating the Earth : Stories, Experiences, and Activities
Do you have Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope : Stories, Storytelling, and Activities for Peace, Justice and the Environment? I found the story "Guara Devi saves the Trees" and love telling that story. "First Strawberries" is good for that day, a creation of a new fruit. "Stone Soup" is good. "Sky Moved Far from the Earth" is also about saving the earth. I even think "Sadakko and the 1000 Paper Cranes" works for Earth Day.
There is a African folktale about the Baobab tree. "I can live for more than a 1000 years" but it is the strangest of all trees. It looks like its upside down with its roots growing up and out to the sky. The tree may take 15 or more grown adults with arms out stretched to span it. There are several legends but the one I like best is the tale of the Great Spirit having placed the tree twice the third time the tree complained the Great Spirit had the wind dig a very large hole and turned the tree upside down to cease its loud complaining.
Here's a site for ecology stories and sources that's located online at
http://www.sisterschoice.com/ecostories.html
Look at Linda Yemoto's article in the latest Storytelling Magazine. In her workshops for ecotellers, she cautions about avoiding anthropomorphism in animal fables and suggests ways to include/substitute genuine natural science information.
My article "Science in the Shape of Story" in an earlier issue might be useful too. I covered a variety of traditional formula tales which are very easy for listeners to remember, as well as being useful models for shaping natural science facts into tellable form.
Beware of "downers" -- stories which leave young listeners convinced that the world's fate is already sealed. We need to inspire them with the confidence that it is possible to DO something positive! MRM's Earth Care
Take a look at the Giraffe Project website http://www.giraffe.org for some true stories of adults and KIDS who "stuck their necks out and stood tall" in defense of the environment. These tellable tales are very inspiring to kids. Note: the Giraffe Project starts with stories, goes on to encourage students to collect tales of their local heroes, and then suggests ways they can start stirring things up themselves...
For stories illustrated with craft projects using recycled materials, see Stories To Play With
Spirits of the Wild: The World's Great Nature Myths
Hedgemaids & Fairy Candles: The Lives and Lore of North American Wildflowers
Myths of the Sacred Tree
It has around 40 myths/stories from around the world. They're not brilliantly told, but there's plenty to discover. Sources are given, and each myth is followed by a commentary which ranges from basic psychological and symbolic interpretation, through a little philosophy, to useful background facts.
During camouflage training in Louisiana, a private disguised as a tree trunk had made a sudden move that was spotted by a visiting general. "You simpleton!" the officer barked. "Don't you know that by jumping and yelling the way you did, you could have endangered the lives of the entire company?" "Yes sir," the solder answered apologetically. "But, if I may say so, I did stand still when a flock of pigeons used me for target practice. And I never moved a muscle when a large dog peed on my lower branches. But When two squirrels ran up my pants leg and I heard the one say, "Let's eat one now and save the other until winter" - that did it."
Sacred Trees: Spirituality, Wisdom & Well-Being
Hidden Stories in Plants, Anne Pellowski
Native Plant Stories
The Tree in the Moon : And Other Legends of Plants and Trees (Cambridge Legends)
Not stories-but Dan Hall from Westport Connecticut has a great tree song on his tape-there is a tree for every letter of the alphabet-The name of the tape is playing tricks with my mind at the moment-I believe it's "Earth Songs" - lots of great material for recycling too! I can get more info if any one is interested.
Also-John Tierney, a puppeteer in our area, does tree riddles-Like, "what kind of tree can you take on vacation?"-a beech tree, etc.
My all time favorite tree story is "The Direction of the Road" by Ursula LeGuin. It's found in her collection The Wind's Twelve Quarters (SF Collector's Edition) (Gollancz Collectors' Editions)
The Lore of the Forest
The Magic Listening Cap More Folk Tales From Japan
A large, well established, Oregon lumber camp advertised that they were looking for a good Lumberjack. The very next day, a skinny little man showed up at the camp with his axe, and knocked on the head lumberjacks' door. The head lumberjack took one look at the little man and told him to leave. "Just give me a chance to show you what I can do," said the skinny man. "Okay, see that giant redwood over there?" said the lumberjack. "Take your axe and go cut it down." The skinny man headed for the tree, and in five minutes he was back knocking on the lumberjack's door. "I cut the tree down," said the man. The lumberjack couldn't believe his eyes and said, "Where did you get the skill to chop down trees like that?" "In the Sahara Forest," replied the puny man. "You mean the Sahara Desert," said the lumberjack. The little man laughed and answered back, "Oh sure, that's what they call it now!"
Not necessarily stories about plants, but some suggestions of books with folklore, legends, and stories are --
Laura C. Martin Folklore of Birds
Laura C. Martin The Folklore of Trees and Shrubs. Chester, CT.: Globe Pequot Press, c1992.
Laura C. Martin Wildflower Folklore
Laura C. Martin Wildlife Folklore
"Stories for the Seasons" features seasonal nature stories together with an extensive bibliography for any storyteller, teacher, or general reader who is seeking stories and legends about animals, plants, and the land itself.
http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~nilas/seasons/
There are stories about the time when animals could talk and they held a big meeting to decide that they were willing to sacrifice themselves by allowing brother man to hunt them for food on the understanding that man would only hunt for what he needed. This is why hunters in the tribes that have these stories give thanks to the animal-brothers that they have killed.
There is another story a time when all of God's creatures ate pieces of the sky for their food. In those days, the sky was low to the ground and easily reached by all. The sky was delicious and met all their needs. There was no need to hunt or plant. This worked well for a long time until the creatures gradually became wasteful and began to take more than they needed, leaving unused scraps to lay around and rot, blighting the landscape. This angered the sky god who warned them to mend their ways or else. They reformed for a while, but one day some rascal again took too much. When the other creatures saw what he had done and complained, the rascal tried to hide the wasted piece of sky. But the sky god found out about it and raised the sky, as it is today, to where no one could reach it to get a bite to eat. Ever since then one has had to toil and labor to feed oneself. And so that is the price we have to pay to this very day for the careless wastefulness of those creatures so long ago.
There is another story a time when all of God's creatures ate pieces of the sky for their food. In those days, the sky was low to the ground and easily reached by all. The story is in Earth Care
Teachers in search of K-12 interactive exercises to jump-start student discussions re conservation, may wish to check out the following website:
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/education/gaw/
I always use the story about the tailor whose coat wore out and he made it into a jacket, vest, scarf, necktie, handkerchief, button. I say he was the first recycler. It's on one of Syd Lieberman's tapes (sorry don't know which one) and in Nancy Schimmel's Just Enough to Make a Story: A Sourcebook for Storytelling
My version of this story, involving knitting, is on my web site:
http://home.nycap.rr.com/dudding/reminded.html
Slop!: A Welsh Folktale
There is a wonderful book by Terry Jones in a book of stories he wrote for his daughter simply called Terry Jones Fairy Tales (Puffin Books)
A friend of mine is a children's author with some wonderful books out. I forget I may have mentioned her before, sorry if so. Her name is Pat Brisson. For ecology, earth day kind of stuff check out Wanda's Roses. A little girl, Wanda, saw a field of junk, old tires, etc. but also thought she saw rose bushes. So decided to clean up the field and care for the roses. She gets many neighbor friends to help although they all tell her what she thinks are rose bushes are weeds. Wanda insists it will e a field of roses. So the field got cleaned, she watered the bushes, and kept the faith although everyone kept telling her, not roses. Finally she invited everyne to o teaparty at the field to celebrate the roises, but on the night before Wanda still had not roses, so she said if the bushes can't give her roses, she will give them roses. She made mny paper roses and tied them all over the bushes. Everyone came to the teaparty and brought real rose bushes as presents, so after they all together planted and cared for plants, the field was just what Wanda predicted - a field of rosees. Nice story, nice illustrations. takes place in a city atmosphere. about cleaning, up recycling, taking responsibility for the earth, cooperation ( oh, someone asked recently about cooperation stories I think).
I recommend a book by Byrd Baylor called Everybody Needs a Rock (An Aladdin Book)
Can anyone point me to a source of a poet or philosopher from India who chided that it is better to put on sandals than to complain about gravel on the road? I heard a fragment of that in a radio interview some years ago. It inspired me to invent a story about how sandals were invented to spare the tender feet of a king who wanted to become a better ruler by walking among his people in disguise. He could have toughened his bare feet, as the common people did, but he didn't want to sacrifice sensitivity which let him appreciate the softness of surfaces in his private luxurious quarters. The story has been handy in my environmental programs, leading into discussions of how to (for instance) dress for the weather rather than turn up the heater/cooler. As a metaphor it has also been handy in group interactions, when someone with a chip on their shoulder demands that others accomdate to them (rather than "putting on some shoes" themselves). And when we go to lobby our legislators, we remember to put on our hip waders...
Probably not quite what you were looking for... but in a collection called The King With Dirty Feet: And Other Stories from Around the World
This sounds linked to an Indian story published in a collection by English storyteller Pomme Clayton. Sorry - can't remember the title of the book. If I remember correctly the gist is that a tyrannical king does not want to get his feet dusty by walking from place to place and demands that the whole kindom be carpeted in leather. Everyone begins to panic at the impossability of the project except someone who suggests cutting out two bits of leather and tying them to the king's feet - sandals!
One that I use that I like is from Pleasant DeSpain's book Eleven Nature Tales (World Storytelling). It's entitled "All Things Are Connected." It's about a tyrant who, being annoyed by croaking frogs, demands that they all be killed. As a result the mosquito population becomes uncontrollable, etc...
How about "Gaura Devi Saves the Trees." It's in Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope : Stories, Storytelling, and Activities for Peace, Justice and the Environment
"Tidalick - The First Ever Frog"
My favorite Frog story is about the first ever frog...called Tidalick..... Tidalick
You know frogs ? They've got great big wide mouths, round bellies and they can only croak ? Well, they didn't used to be like that. The very first frog was called Tidalick, and he was quite different. He was slim and elegant (like me....) he could dance, and he had the most beautiful singing voice. He was very popular with all the other animals. Whenever anyone had a party, they always asked Tidalick to come and sing and dance for them. If there was a particularly beautiful sunset, the call would go for Tidalick...'Sing us a song in parise of the sun'...and so it went on....'Tidalick, I can't sleep, will you come and sing for me ?'...'Tidalick, I'm feelling sad, come and sing me a happy song'.....'Tidalick, can you come and sing for our son's coming of age?...' Tidalick sang, and sang, and danced and twirled and leapt.....and sang, and sang, day in and day out... Pretty soon, his beautiful voice started to get dry and scratched, and it wasn't long before he could only croak. He'd sung so much he had a really sore throat. (Ask : what will make you feel better when you've got a dry throat ?) He really needed a drink, so he strolled over to a small pond, and had a big, drink. It helped a bit, but he was really thirsty, so he just opened his mouth wide and stuck his head right into the pond and (sound effects) sucked that whole pond dry. But he was still thirsty, so he went to a river, opened his mouth as wide as it would go, stuck his head into the river and (more sound effects) he drunk that whole river But this only made him thirstier than ever... He drunk ponds and puddles, rivers, brooks, burns, oceans and lakes.... Until he'd sucked up all water there was. His belly was so full of water that he could hardly walk, and it sloshed from side to side to side with each step. And he had to keep his mouth tight shut, to hold all the water in. And what about the land? It became parched, cracked and dry, and all the plants and trees started to die. The animals that fed on those plants got very hungry, and the animals that ate those animals started to get hungry too. Everyone was in a really bad way, and they searched everywhere for the water. Eventually, they found Tidalick, with his great swollen belly and mouth tight shut. 'Tidalick, give us back the water !' But Tidalick said nothing, just shook his head. The fierce, strong animals threatened Tidalick...'Look, Tidalick, it'll be the worst for you if you don't let us have some water...' But Tidalick said nothing, just shook his head. The gentle animals pleaded with him...'Tidalick, we're you're friends....we're all dying here, please give us back the water, please Tidalick...' But Tidalick said nothing, just shook his head. Every animal tried to get Tidalick to give back the water, but he just shook his head. The last animal to try was the Newt....the others had given up, and gone home, and they didn't think much of the newt...he's just a newt, what can he do ? But the newt balanced on the very tip of his tail and waved all his legs in the air in the most ridiculous dance (Which, of course, I try and do, even though haven't got a tail) The very beginnings of a smile started to curl up the corners of Tidalick's mouth...that was enough for the newt - he went barmy ! He told jokes, juggled, stood on his head, wrapped himself up into silly shapes, pulled faces...and Tidalick did what you're starting to do....he began to laugh....it started as a little snigger, because he was still trying to keep his mouth shut.... 'Hmnph, hmnph, hmnph....' The newt siezed his chance....now the thing about frogs, which you may have noticed, is that they sit like this (sitting frog impression)....and they've got an awful lot of armpit....the newt darted in and tickled Tidalick under his left armpit.....then his right....and Tidalick couldn't help it, he had to laugh...... (storyteller and, hopefully, audience, guffaw loud and long....) and you know how it is, when you start, sometimes, you just can't stop......Tidalick opened his mouth wide, and laughed, and laughed and laughed..... and all the water came flooding out in a great wave...The newt was fine, he just swam around enjoying the cool waters, and laughing.... And all the water flooded back into the ponds and puddles, burns, rivers, streams, lakes and oceans...and the cracks in the land started to close, and the plants drank deep, and started to grow again, and gradually, the dry and dusty land turned green again. So, the next time you see a newt, you might want to thank it, 'cos a newt once saved the world..... But what about Tidalick ? Well, he's never been the same since that day. His belly was so stretched with all that water that he's still so fat he can't dance and has to wadle and hop everywhere. His mouth was permananetly stretched wide with all that water, and his beautiful voice has gone forever, and he can only croak....and he's still thristy, which is why you'll always find frogs in
or near water.
Rideep !
Source and Notes:
This is an aborignal tale, which I originally heard from another teller over here called Morwenna Rowe. I was subsequently given a book published in Australia called 'Aboriginal Myths, Legends and Fables, by A.W. Reed publ. Reed (Williem Hienman, Australia) 1987, repreinted 1994. ISBN 0 7301 0424 9 which has a version of the story, along with lots of other excellent animal stories. As may be apparent from the above, I've done a fair amount of work with this, and it's one of my 'old faithfulls', which always goes over well - largely, I suspect, due to my Tidalick impressions (having a bit of a rubber face can be useful sometimes) I've included a few questions in the version above - depending on the context and audience, I find this a good story for asking the audience (particulary children) questions, and generally getting them involved. It's a good one for telling outside - near a pond or river...I once told it up to my hocks in slime in the middle of a wood in the dark, with a the leakiest pair of waders in the world on.....squelch ! I often use a very silly song (called the little green frog song) before or after this, as it has lots of actions that kids love to join in with. There's another good frog story in the same book...which I'll post soon, if I can find the time...explaining why frogs are so cowardly
Look into the history of the river, stream, lake around you. Often, but especially in the Western US, we have done massive re-plumbing and completely altered things. For example, in my city of Davis, CA, a Borders book store now sits where there used to be a stream flowing, a stream so large that the Spaniards called it a river. People are still alive who swam in a huge swimming hole there. Salmon and other fish came over 100 miles from the Pacific Ocean to spawn in the creek. The creek was rechanneled, damned upstream for a reservoir, temperature of water changed, many weirs put in downstream. A diversion dam also channeled the water to 6 other cities. Native Americans lived in tule houses along the stream 165 years ago, there were giant herds of tule elk, pronghorn antelope...and there were grizzly bears. Not one grizzly left in CA. I have put together whole shows on this. And did workshop at NSN Conference in San Diego - When My Town was a Tule Swamp and Your Town Was a ?????? You could do a whole show on an area's watershed, which is a useful way to think about your land, which way it drains, etc.... rather than artificially drawn county, state lines. Water is increasingly important to us and we may be paying much more attention to our watersheds.
University of California Davis had an Artist in Bioregional Residence program and I was one. Artists and scientists of all disciplines work together and have produced a lot.
8) "The Tree's Wife" from Dream Weaver
"The Man Who Planted Trees," Page 33, from Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart: Parables of the Spiritual Path from Around the World
The Native Americans (Iroquois) who lived in upstate New York called the crops they grew the three sisters: corn, beans and squash. They were planted together so that the bean vines climbed up the corn stalks and the squash leaves shaded out the weeds at the base of the corn stalks.
I always close my sessions with the teens at the shelter by forming a circle where we place our left hand palm up and right hand palm down, covering but not touching the hand next to us. I remind them that what we take, we need to give. We pass our energies around the circle taking from one side and returning to the next. Then press palms slowly together and squeeze lightly (that's really because I want them to experience touch and I'm being sneaky about it.)
If you were looking for a specific story, there is a very sacred Native American tale about how corn is grown. Sorry I don't remember the title but it had to do with the terrible bloody death of a mother and she was buried in fields where she was turned into corn. I think it went like that. Someone out there surely knows this one. I would say that this is a very sacred story. I will look through some of my books for it.
9) Many stories come to mind when it comes to the theme of the interconnectedness of life. I would highly recommend checking out some of Joseph Bruchac's and Michael Caduto's books (collections) such as Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children
Another thought comes to mind as well. In my work with children-I often discuss the Native American worldview as it pertains to the interconnectedness of life. I bring along a giant sized Dream Catcher-one that I have made from Willow and Grapevine. I then ask them how many think they know the "true" "Legend of the Dream Catcher." Of course, all of their hands shoot up with excitement!!! I go on to explain to them that there is a deeper meaning and Teaching to the DC. I invite a child up to help me make a point. While holding the Dream Catcher-I ask the student to very "gently" tug on the sinew webbing. I then demonstrate that when he/she did that-the entire webbing (and all the beads) began to move.
I explain then, that.what we do to the "Web of Life" - we do to ourselves. When we gossip, tease and/or hurt others-in reality, we hurt ourselves. It comes back to us.
I take it step further and include "Our First Mother-the Earth." When we pollute and litter it hurts not only ourselves, but future generations. What we do to the Earth AND---What we do to our Brothers and Sisters-we do to ourselves.
I always end my programs/residencies with that story/demonstration and finally, I present the teacher/class/school with a smaller Dream Catcher that I made just for them. I encourage them to hang it where they can be reminded daily of the "Interconnectedness of Life."
Debra W. 4/20/05
10) The one you are thinking of is probably Pleasant de Spain's "All Things are Connected." It's in his Eleven Nature Tales (World Storytelling)
I tell "Gecko" from Margaret Read MacDonalds Earth Care
Of course, I like the one about the old man throwing the stafish out to sea. A young man tells him he's wasting his time and he throws in another saying, "It made a difference to that one."
Shelby S. 4/20/05
11) I tell "All Things are Connected." It's a great story - I have added lots of audience participation by having the kids jon in as a frog chorus and then the buzzing mosquitos. lots of fun and they enjoy it.
Ellouise S. 4/20/05
12) There is a song that Pete Seeger sings on the album "God Bless the Grass" called "The People are Scratching," about how the farmers poisoned the rabbits, and because everything is connected, the fleas ended up on the people.
Judith W. 4/20/05
13) Joe Bruchac wrote a beautiful poem which you can find in the preface of Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children
Lyrics can be found in "Rise Up Singing," pg 37, which says it is copyrighted but not ASCAP/BMI.
Stories of interconnectedness:
"A Kingdom Lost for a Drop of Honey" (Burma -- MRM's version is called "Not My Problem") contains a foodchain from honey drop to top carnivore, but then goes on into some gorey politics. Not suitable for kiddies but much appreciated by middleschool and up.
I composed a "fact tale" of interconnectedness for my regular column in "The Environmentor" (newsletter for environmental educators):
"The Birds and the Beavers"
In 1825 when white men first saw the San Pedro River in southeast Arizona, it had so many beavers that they called it "Beaver River." But they were trappers, who had already wiped out the indigenous beaver populations of the north and east to provide felt hats for European and American gentlemen. They soon exterminated the San Pedro beavers.
Cottonwoods and willows along the riverbanks grew tall, no longer pruned into bushes by the nibbling beavers. Western Willow Flycatchers lost their willowbrush nest sites.
Ranchers and farmers settled the floodplain, thinking its grassy flats would make excellent pasture and farm land. Unfortunately the native bunch grasses (unlike prairie grass) could not withstand the pounding of hooves. Broken down, they left the land prey to erosion during rainy season floods. Farmers' plows also destroyed the grasses.
Eroded sand and earth scoured out the river's channel to 6-12 feet deeper than its earlier level. The water table dropped. People decided the San Pedro valley was good for little but as a resting place for migrating neotropical songbirds.
The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area was established in 1988. Ranching and farming stopped. But the ecosystem did not rebound, and the Western Willow Flycatcher did not return. In 1999 American Rivers, a national conservation group, listed the San Pedro as the fourth most endangered waterway in the United States.
Yet a year later, it wasn't on American Rivers' list at all. The difference was beavers.
Reintroduced in 1999, the beavers got to work building a dam which nearly doubled the local width of the river and pushed water into places that had been high and dry. They nibbled cottonwood and willow seedlings back towards their earlier role in the ecosystem, creating willow brush for the flycatchers. And the Western Willow Flycatchers have returned to the San Pedro.
The San Pedro River is still at risk from developments along its headwaters in Mexico, and from the water-hungry city of Sierra Vista. But the Beavers have shown how quickly they can improve ecosystem health and diversity by resuming their ancient relationship with Willow and Cottonwood.
Sources:
I first heard about this from a Nature Conservancy field guide at the San Pedro Riparian Reserve in May, 2002. I found additional information about beavers and about this site at:
http://longmeg.cs.uwyo.edu/beaver/references.html
http://www.lastgreatplaces.org/SanPedro/biodiversity_mammals.html
http://www.azwildlife.org/news/summer2000/beavssanpedro.htm
Fran S. 4/21/05
14) "The Birds and the Beavers"
I can't give many details, but the European beaver, largely exterminated from western Europe well over a century ago, has been re-introduced in several countries, including Germany.
The River Rhine, which flows only 25 km from where I live, was once one of the most prolific salmon rivers in Europe. Around the beginning of the 20th century, the salmon were no more.
Due to the European Union project, Lachs2000, the river has been brought back from the chemical sewer of 20 years ago, with about 5 fish species living in its lover stretches (memory here, but I think it is reasonably accurate) to well over 100 nowadays. And this includes salmon. There are not many, but they have been seen. And they are increasing.
Not seen by me last week when I crossed the Rhine by ferry. But every time I cross, I know they are probably there. And even if I don't see them, I know I am probably going to pick up some wine.
Check this out:
http://www.deutschherrenhof-frey.de/
Richard M. Germany 4/21/05
15) Margaret Read Macdonald 's book Earth Care
Kiran S. 4/21/05
16) Last year I told the Starfish story and a story from MRM's book and made it into a study guide for the many classes I saw that day. You can access the study guide from this link:
http://www.marilynkinsella.org/Study%20Guides%20and%20info/Study%20Guide%20%20Earth%20Days.htm
Marilyn K. 4/10/06
17) If you're up for a challenge, here's an Earth Day rap that Sheila Smith posted to the list in 2002.
Judy S. 4/11/06
For those of you who like performing raps with children, here's one I've written for Earth Day:
"The King of the Heap Meets the Queen of the Green"
Now this is the story of a litterbug
Who loved to chew sugary bubble gum.
He was just your age, and his name was Pete
Who became the one and only "king of the heap!"Well, if Pete just chewed gum it wouldn't be bad
But he never tossed it into the garbage can.
When the sugary flavor was gone from his mouth
He just grabbed a new piece and spit the old one out!Everywhere Pete went a trail was found
Of little pink sticky gooey gobs on the ground.
Folks had to be careful or they soon would discover
Their shoes to be covered with his gummy leftovers.Even cats and dogs and mice returned
To their homes with gooey gobs stuck in their fur.
But Pete didn't think, he just kept spitting them out
When the sugary flavor was gone from his mouth.One dash to the trash was all it would take
To save our hero from his sticky mistake.
But one day as young Pete spit out his gum
Mother Nature appeared and said, "Listen here chum!""You know there's a place for your waste, young man.
Please spit your gum out in the garbage can.
Your gooey gobs are messing the environment scene
And as Queen of the Green, I mean to keep it clean!"
But Pete just smiled and said, "I fail to see
How one gob messes up the scenery.
It's not worth the fuss," Pete said with a shrug,
"Who'd notice one gob from one litterbug?""One gob, one bottle, wrapper, one cup,
Makes a heap of litter when you pile it up.
You need to see," said the Queen of the Green,
What happens when people fail to keep things clean."For every gob of gum that you've littered today
One single piece of litter will come your way.
In a flash in trash and garbage you'll steep
You'll be Litterbug Pete, the King of the Heap!"Well Pete had spit lots of gum on the ground
And the litter started coming from miles around.
There were coffee cups, chip bags, bottles and caps,
Kleenex and chicken bones and candy wraps.Apple cores, napkins appeared at the feet
Of Litterbug Pete, the King of the Heap!
There was a mountain of trash from across the land.
Said the Queen of the Green, "Do you understand?""Every single piece of litter people carelessly
Toss away in a day can make a mountainous heap.
Said Pete on the heap, "Queen, I must confess
I never knew litter could cause such a mess."He put his gum in the can and said, "Your message was strong
I'll be sure to remember it my whole life long."
And when he grew up, our litterbug Pete
Formed a garbage can company called "King of the Heap!"
Sheila S. 2002
18) Query: I have been asked to tell stories of the earth or applicable stories celebrating earth at a Kite Flying Day to acknowledge efforts to save a patch of land that was so close to being used for commercial building. The neighborhood rose up and saved the property. This event is to be a celebration. They are asking me to tell probably before the Kites begin flying and the audience will be all ages. The time frame will be about ten to fifteen minutes. I am looking for some special stories that will honor the earth and in so doing also honor the community who has given so much of its energy to save this property. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jim B. 3/30/09
Responses:
a) This first site is filled with stories about trees, which would fit nicely in your program I think.
http://www.spiritoftrees.org/
These three links were offered in my March newsletter in celebration of Earth Day.
"Earth Cakes, Sky Cakes" – Folktale from Cambodia
http://learningtogive.org/materials/folktales/EarthCakes.asp
"When The Earth and Sky Were Married" - Folktale from India
http://www.pitara.com/talespin/folktales/online.asp?story=42
Earth Care
A limited preview of this excellent book by Margaret Read MacDonald. You can read some of the folktales online but I bet you will want a copy of your own.
http://tinyurl.com/dd4gdy
This site will be included in my April newsletter in the curriculum connection section. You may find some useful information to use.
Kites in the Classroom - The Drachen Foundation is committed to providing educational resources and programs for busy teachers. Kites can be a remarkably efficient teaching tool, allowing teachers to integrate many subjects-science and technology, reading, writing, social studies, visual arts, math-within a single lesson or sequence of lessons.
http://www.drachen.org/kites_classroom.html
Karen C. 3/30/09
http://www.storybug.net
b) "Lifting the Sky," a story from Vi Hilbert, which is in Margaret Read MacDonald's book of Peace Talesmight be appropriate.
Yvonne Y. 3/30/09
c) At a kite festival, a story about wind might be welcome. Do you know "Gluscabe and the Wind Eagle"? It's in Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children
Fran S. 3/30/09
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