Modelling of the Text
Here we are demonstrating how one of the suggested texts may be used in the classroom. For this we have chosen to look more closely at the book:
Down to Earth Guide to Global Learning, Lauri David, Cambria Gordon.
The book captures the interest of older children and teens, using humour and visuals to convey information about the most important environmental issues in the world today.
“When you get too hot at night you might throw off the covers and when the cooler air hits your legs and body you feel refreshed and cool. Well, this is the same thing our planet is experiencing. A blanket of green house gases is surrounding our one home, but the earth can’t just toss off the blanket to cool off. That is global warming!”
The last chapter of the book discusses how the children can get involved in order to help reduce Global Warming. Highlighting small things children can do that will have a big impact: changing out light bulbs, unplugging appliances, using reusable bags etc. The book then goes on to discuss some other ways to help that might be more within mom and dad’s ability to change for the time being such as driving a hybrid car, using bio diesel, using ethanol, using solar energy or wind power, etc. This section is followed by information on sustainable careers!
How can the text be used?
- The use of different fonts/colours/visuals and the effect this has on the readers.
- The use of graphs/statistics – what does this do to the text? Factual/non-fiction discussion. This could then move onto discussion of fact/opinion and how we can tell whether a sentence in the book is an opinion or fact.
- How does the use of sub-headings and bullet points affect the way you read the book?
- Using the suggestion reading in the back of the book, can you find 3 more facts/points about Global Warming you didn’t already know?