From Earthworms to Chimps

1. Ask students to choose a woman who has really made a difference in the world. She might be a scientist, human rights advocate, or writer, for example. Students learn more about the woman as if to know her. This example features Jane Goodall.
2. For more than 40 years, Jane Goodall has lived in the Gombe Game Reserve in Tanzania. She studies chimpanzees. Because of her hard work we know a great deal about these primates. Her observations help us understand humans better, too.
3. Goodall was interested in the outdoors even when she was young. Her mother once found Jane in bed with a handful of earthworms. How do you think her mother responded? Yes, she was happy to see her daughter was so interested in animals! Ask students what their parents would think?
4. Jane Goodall has shown her respect for living things during her long years of animal observation. She practices patience and tries to interfere as little as possible in the lives of the chimpanzees. The animals accept her as a creature in the jungle and allow her to see the subtle aspects of their daily lives.
5. On construction paper, sketch a portrait of the woman you researched and symbols of her work. Here, Jane Goodall is pictured with a chimpanzee. Use Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils and Crayola Twistables™ Crayons to show her achievements.
6. Think about the greater messages that women such as Jane Goodall have for each of us. How has their dedication changed the whole planet?

LA: Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

LA: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade level topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

LA: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

SS: Identify and describe ways family, groups, and community influence the individual's daily life and personal choices.

SS: Explore factors that contribute to one's personal identity such as interests, capabilities, and perceptions.

SS: Use appropriate resources, data sources, and geographic tools to generate, manipulate, and interpret information.

VA: Intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of experiences and ideas.

VA: Select and use the qualities of structures and functions of art to improve communication of ideas.

Students draw a world map. Hometowns of persons researched by students will be located on their map. The world map will be displayed in the classroom and used as a backdrop when students are presenting their research.

Students prepare a costume in order to get "into character" when presenting research to classmates. Students can be encouraged to use as many recycled materials as possible when creating the costume.