Before After Reading Activities Level U Word Count 2,122 Words 100th word Earth page 4 Before Reading Building Academic Vocabulary and Background Knowledge Before reading a book it is important to tap into what your child or students already know about the topic This will help them develop their vocabulary increase their reading comprehension and make connections across the curriculum be about in the book’s chapters you might learn about it from this book Why or why not 1 Look at the cover of the book What will this book 2 What do you already know about the topic 3 Let’s study the Table of Contents What will you learn about 4 What would you like to learn about this topic Do you think 5 Use a reading journal to write about your knowledge of this 6 Read the book 7 8 After reading the book complete the activities below In your reading journal record what you learned about the topic and your response to the book topic Record what you already know about the topic and what you hope to learn about the topic Content Area Vocabulary Read the list What do these words mean biomass collectively deforestation diversity efficient flotsam fossil fuels green old growth ozone precautions sustainable turbine After Reading Comprehension and Extension Activity After reading the book work on the following questions with your child or students in order to check their level of reading comprehension and content mastery 1 How do scientists study weather from the past Summarize 2 What are ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint Text to self connection 3 What are the positives and negatives of fossil fuels Summarize 4 5 If waste dumping and oil spills contaminate the water should people and companies be allowed to use the water for recreational or business purposes Explain Asking questions In what ways does technology help scientists who work to protect the environment Asking questions Extension Activity It’s important to reduce your carbon footprint but many people forget how simple it can be Think about ways your community can help the environment Then create a poster for your school library or other community building that suggests ways in which they can help the environment
Table of Contents A Mission to Accomplish 4 Climate Data 6 Trash Problems 12 Green Energy Solutions 18 Cleaner Waters 24 Managing Forests 30 Pollution Response 36 STEM for the Future 42 STEM Job Fact Sheets 44 Glossary 46 Index 47 Show What You Know 47 Websites to Visit 47 About the Author 48 3
A Mission to Accomplish What does it take to be a superhero Do you need to have special powers like the ability to fly or great strength Today’s world is in need of everyday heroes and they have a difficult mission to save Earth’s environment Our world contains over 7 billion people Many human actions cause harm to the Earth Our appetite for fossil fuels and cheap food and products contributes to problems in the areas of climate change trash energy water and deforestation We need problem solvers with skills and knowledge in science technology engineering and math STEM to help keep our Earth healthy Deforestation as a logging practice occurs worldwide not just in tropical rainforests 4
We need people with new ideas to make our everyday actions less harmful to Earth We also need ideas for how to fix problems we have already created STEM is a great source for new ideas With new solutions to old problems in place our actions can make a difference from a single person to whole countries Chemical plant operators ensure materials and reactions process smoothly What's STEM Science Technology Engineering Mathematics 5
