{"id":403,"date":"2008-11-19T09:41:01","date_gmt":"2008-11-19T14:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/403"},"modified":"2008-11-19T09:41:01","modified_gmt":"2008-11-19T14:41:01","slug":"teaching-earth-science-with-childrens-literature-common-ground-the-water-earth-and-air-we-share","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/2008\/11\/19\/teaching-earth-science-with-childrens-literature-common-ground-the-water-earth-and-air-we-share\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Civics with Children’s Literature: Common Ground"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Molly Bang does an incredible job making the reader ecologically aware.\u00a0 She breaks done the reasons for the earth's depleting resources into elementary vocabulary.\u00a0 Bang gives an example that makes it possible for a young reader to follow.\u00a0 This book has the potential to change a generations to come.<\/p>\n

Common Ground: The Water, Earth, and Air We Share<\/a> is a story of the history of mankind not being able to share.\u00a0 Bang begins the story with the story of a village whose occupants were not able to share equally and ended up abusing the resources- or grass in this case.\u00a0 Bang goes on to discuss the ocean in reference to fishing and the forest in reference to lumber.\u00a0 The book does a wonderful job telling stories and giving examples the reader can relate too.\u00a0 "Today each lumber company wants to cut down as many trees as it can, to sell for wood, paper, and fuel (17)."\u00a0 The book also discusses the short run and long run affects on the plant.\u00a0 The boy walks the reader through the solar system and explains the different plants and stars that make up the system.\u00a0 "The more trees the lumber company cuts down, the more money it makes, – in the short run (18)."\u00a0 After the example, Bang emphasizes the problem and does makes that the reader realizes the potential for damage that is present.\u00a0 "But after cutting down so many trees, there are fewer and fewer forests (19)."\u00a0 Bang does a wonderful job teaching a lesson with this book while making it an entertaining read.<\/p>\n

Curriculum Connections<\/strong>
\nThe student will learn the about the importance of sharing and utilizing resources.\u00a0 Common Ground: The Water, Earth, and Air We Share<\/em> is a great way to introduce sharing if working with civics or recycling if working with science.\u00a0 This book is a perfect tool for instruction when attempting to teach Civics K.8a.<\/p>\n

Additional Activities <\/strong><\/p>\n