More About... Lesson:
More About... Lesson:
Students learn about animals that live in habitats shaped by weather: a rainforest, a desert, and the arctic.
Print out the "Drought and People: Then and Now" survey sheets. Make enough photocopies for individuals, student pairs or small groups to use. Review the Puddler More About... story. Define and discuss drought. Ask students to describe what life may have been like during the Dust Bowl. Ask for examples of how the drought affected food, water and shelter supplies, both for people and wildlife.
Ask if droughts still occur today. Can students name any examples? Someone will likely mention Florida, where drought conditions hit this summer and were highly publicized. Ask students to think about how droughts are similar and different today compared to the 1930's.
Divide students into pairs or small groups if you wish. Hand out the survey sheets. Explain that students will need to research the Dust Bowl and the Florida drought to answer the questions. Have students use books, the Internet, periodicals, the television and CD-ROMs to do their research.
Once students complete the survey, compare answers as a class. Ask the following questions:
How are the two droughts similar?
How are the two droughts different?
What did you learn about each drought that surprised you?
What advantages do people have today in dealing with drought?
Display a world and U.S. map during your discussion. Ask student volunteers to identify states affected by the 1930's drought as well as places experiencing drought today.
As a class, set up a mock town meeting to discuss a drought such as the one in Florida. Divide students into groups that represent the following interests: urban homeowner, farmer, park ranger, politician, utilities company (energy and water).