Tag: Geography

Accessibility Diversity and Diverse Learners

Climate Justice

Listed below are selected resources for teachers, picture books, fiction, and non-fiction related to climate justice.

Teacher Resources

Teaching when the world is on fire: authentic classroom advice, from climate justice to Black Lives Matter

edited by Lisa Delpit

Is it okay to discuss politics in class? What are constructive ways to help young people process the daily news coverage of sexual assault? How can educators engage students around Black Lives Matter? Climate change? Confederate statue controversies? Immigration? Hate speech? In this book, Delpit turns to a host of crucial issues facing teachers in these tumultuous times.

Teaching as activism: equity meets environmentalism

edited by Peggy Tripp and Linda Muzzin

Weaving together concerns about environmental and social justice, this book brings together constructive demands for change and theoretical debate. The goals are to question the legacies of colonialism, capitalism, and globalization and create a more inclusive interdisciplinary education.

Critical education and sociomaterial practice: narration, place, and the social

by Marcia McKenzie & Andrew Bieler

In turning to the sociomaterial contexts of learning, this book underscores how social and environmental issues are necessarily linked, such as in the production of food deserts in cities or in the pollution of the drinking water in Indigenous communities through oil development.

Education and climate change: living and learning in interesting times

edited by Fumiyo Kagawa and David Selby

There is widespread consensus in the international scientific community that climate change is happening and that abrupt and irreversible impacts are already in motion. In this volume, contributors review and reflect upon social learning from and within their field of educational expertise in response to the concerns over climate change.

Who are you without colonialism?: pedagogies of liberation

by Clelia O. Rodríguez & Josephine Gabi

This is not a conventional book because the seed comes from the depth of the volcanic cauldron that awaits silently underneath the Lake Ilopango, the umbilical cord of our Humanity and yours. It is a scream, it is an offering, it is pain and it is love. It is a collective offering to those who are responding to a call of Liberation based on Indigenous Principles to protect and defend the land beyond theories, beyond rhetorical and metaphorical questions. This is a tiny-tiny glimpse into Lak’ech.

Picture Books

Nibi’s water song

written by Sunshine Tenasco; illustrated by Chief Lady Bird

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): Preschool-1

Nibi is an Anishinaabe girl on the search for clean water to drink. Though she is faced with repeated obstacles, Nibi’s joyful and determined energy become a catalyst for change and action as her community, and in widening circles, the country and government rally around her to make clean drinking water available for all.

We are water protectors

written by Carole Lindstrom; illustrated by Michaela Goade

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): K-7

Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, this book issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption. Water is the first medicine. It affects and connects us all . . . When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth / And poison her people’s water, one young water protector / Takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.

Old enough to save the planet

written by Loll Kirby; illustrated by Adelina Lirius

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 1-5

Meet 12 young activists from around the world who are speaking out and taking action against climate change. Learn about the work they do and the challenges they face, and discover how the future of our planet starts with each and every one of us.

To change a planet

written by Christina Soontornvat; illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 2-3

This book demonstrates the importance of caring for our planet, and how our individual and collective actions multiplied together can make the world better. The illustrations invite readers to spot and follow the same characters through their daily lives and ultimately to the famous climate march on Washington.

Fiction

Thirst

by Varsha Bajaj

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 2-7

Minni lives in the poorest part of Mumbai, where access to water is limited to a few hours a day and the communal taps have long lines. Lately, though, even that access is threatened by severe water shortages and thieves who are stealing this precious commodity—an act that Minni accidentally witnesses one night. Meanwhile, in the high-rise building where she just started to work, she discovers that water streams out of every faucet and there’s even a rooftop swimming pool. What Minni also discovers there is one of the water mafia bosses. Now she must decide whether to expose him and risk her job and maybe her life. How did something as simple as access to water get so complicated?

Same sun here

by Silas House and Neela Vaswani

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 3-8

A twelve-year-old Indian immigrant in New York City and a Kentucky coal miner’s son become pen pals, and eventually best friends, through a series of revealing letters exploring such topics as environmental activism, immigration, and racism.

The marrow thieves

by Cherie Dimaline

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 9-12

Humanity has nearly destroyed its world through global warming, but now an even greater evil lurks. The Indigenous people of North America are being hunted and harvested for their bone marrow, which carries the key to recovering something the rest of the population has lost: the ability to dream. In this dark world, Frenchie and his companions struggle to survive as they make their way up north to the old lands. For now, survival means staying hidden – but what they don’t know is that one of them holds the secret to defeating the marrow thieves.

Amazona

written by Canizales; translated from Spanish by Sofía Huitrón Martínez

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 10-12

Andrea, a young Indigenous Colombian woman, has returned to the land she calls home. Only nineteen years old, she comes to mourn her lost child, carrying a box in her arms. And she comes with another mission. Andrea has hidden a camera upon herself. If she can capture evidence of the illegal mining that displaced her family, it will mark the first step toward reclaiming their land.

Non-Fiction

How to change everything: the young human’s guide to protecting the planet and each other

by Naomi Klein; with Rebecca Stefoff

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 4-12

Full of empowering stories of young leaders all over the world, this information-packed book from award-winning journalist and one of the foremost voices for climate justice, Naomi Klein, offers young readers a comprehensive look at the state of the climate today and how we got here, while also providing the tools they need to join this fight to protect and reshape the planet they will inherit.

Saving earth: climate change and the fight for our future

by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich; pictures by Tim Foley; introduction by Nathaniel Rich

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 4-6

A timely and important illustrated nonfiction guide for middle grade readers about the history of our fight against climate change, and how young people today can rise to action.

Chasing bats and tracking rats: urban ecology, community science, and how we share our cities

written by Cylita Guy; illustrations by Cornelia Li

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 4-7

Featuring the work of a diverse group of eleven scientists–herself included!–Dr. Cylita Guy shows how studying urban wildlife can help us make cities around the world healthier for all of their inhabitants. In the process, Guy reveals how social injustices like racism can affect not only how scientists study city wildlife, but also where urban critters are likelier to thrive.

All the feelings under the sun: how to deal with climate change

written by Leslie Davenport; illustrated by Jessica Smith

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 7-9

With this book, kids will get an expert understanding of the science behind climate crisis, plus engage with lots of do-able self-guided activities, journaling prompts, and useful resources. Readers will also hear about other kids around the world who have made a difference that just may inspire them to practice eco-justice and combat global climate injustice themselves, by putting their own eco-values into action.

One Earth: people of color protecting our planet

by Anuradha Rao

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 7-12

This nonfiction book for middle readers profiles twenty environmental activists of colour from around the world. Their individual stories show that the intersection of environment and ethnicity is an asset, not an obstacle, to helping the planet. Illustrated with photos of each of the people profiled.

Groundswell: Indigenous knowledge and a call to action for climate change

edited by Joe Neidhardt & Nicole Neidhardt

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 11-12

This book offers a collection of stirring and passionate essays from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous writers that eloquently present a compelling message about how traditional Indigenous knowledge and practices can and must be used to address climate change. The chapters interconnect, taking us from radical thinking to the gentleness of breath, and demonstrate that we are all in this together—everyone must understand what needs to be accomplished and participate in the care of Mother Earth.

Trouver d’autres ressources

Voici quelques conseils pour trouver d’autres ressources dans ce domaine :

Sur la page principale du site de la bibliothèque de l’UBC, utilisez la boîte de recherche générale pour rechercher des matériaux à travers toutes les succursales de la bibliothèque de l’UBC.
Pour limiter vos résultats aux matériels disponibles à la Bibliothèque de l’éducation, visitez le site web de la Bibliothèque de l’éducation et effectuez une recherche à l’aide de la case “Search Education Resources” située dans la bande à gauche de l’écran.
Remarque : les ressources étant principalement cataloguées en anglais, les termes ci-dessous donnent généralement plus de résultats que les recherches effectuées en français. Vous pouvez filtrer votre liste de résultats par langue dans la barre latérale de gauche.
Utilisez des termes de recherche spécifiques, tels que
- “climate justice”, “environmental justice”, “climate change”, “environmentalism”, or “climate AND juvenile literature”
Pour trouver des plans de cours, incluez “lesson plans”, “lesson planning”, or “activity programs” dans vos termes de recherche.

Finding More Resources

To find more resources in this area, try the following:

Search using the General tab on the UBC Library website to look for material in all UBC Library branches.
Search using “Search Education Resources” box in the left hand bar on the Education Library website to limit your results to physical materials in the Education Library.
Use specific search terms, such as
- “climate justice”, “environmental justice”, “climate change”, “environmentalism”, or “climate AND juvenile literature”
To find lesson plans, include “lesson plans”, “lesson planning”, or “activity programs” in your search terms.

Tags Critical Thinking, Cross-Disciplinary, Environmental Science, Geography, Social Responsibility

Indigenous Literature and Education

Connections to Land

Listed below are selected teacher resources, picture books, fiction, and non-fiction related to connections to land in Indigenous literature and education.

Vous trouverez ci-dessous une sélection de ressources pour enseignants, de livres d’images, d’ouvrages de fiction et d’ouvrages non romanesques en rapport avec les liens avec la terre dans la littérature et l’éducation autochtones.

Teacher Resources (Ressources pour les enseignants)

Aboriginal worldviews and perspectives in the classroom: Moving forward,

by the BC Ministry of Education

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): Kindergarten – 12

This resources is designed to answer a number of questions, including what is meant by Aboriginal education and by Aboriginal worldviews and perspectives; what is required of teachers and of the education system in order to provide appropriate and authentic teaching in line with the First Peoples Principles of Learning; and where teachers can turn for guidance and support in modifying their practice to incorporate new content and approaches. Specifically discusses connection to land as a characteristic of Aboriginal worldviews and perspectives and the need to incorporate this in the classroom. (eBook)

Bridging cultures: Scientific and indigenous ways of knowing nature,

by Glen Aikenhead and Herman Michell

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): Kindergarten – 12

This book supports science teachers, teacher candidates, and science educators preparing to implement science curricula that recognize Indigenous knowledge as a foundational way to understand the physical world.

Full circle: First Nations, Métis, Inuit ways of knowing,

by Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation.

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 8 – 12

Lesson plans which encourage teachers to incorporate First Nations, Métis, and Inuit ways of knowing into the classroom in the four thematic areas of identity, health, Residential Schools, and land. Includes lesson plans directly related to Indigenous peoples’ connection to land.

Picture Books (Les livres d’images)

When the trees crackle with cold: A Cree calendar,

by Bernice Johnson-Laxdal; illustrated by Miriam Körner

Niveau scolaire (Grade level):

The calming rhythm of the words echoes the rhythm of the land in this picture book about the moon calendar of the northern Cree. Highlights how we are all connected to the seasons and the cycle of nature. Written in English and northern Plains Cree y-dialect.

Dipnetting with dad,

by Willie Sellars; illustrated by Kevin Easthope

Niveau scolaire (Grade level):

Set in the Cariboo Chilcotin region, Dipnetting With Dad is a delightful and colourful story of a father teaching his son the Secwepemc method of fishing known as dipnetting. Together they visit the sweat lodge, mend the nets, select the best fishing spot and catch and pack their fish through rugged bush back to the family home for traditional preparation.

A day with Yayah,

by Nicola I. Campbell; illustrations by Julie Flett

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): Préscolaire – 2 (PreK-2)

A Day With Yayah is a story sharing the special relationship that is built when a child learns from their Elders. Set in the Okanagon, BC, a First Nations family goes on an outing to forage for herbs and mushrooms. Grandmother passes down her knowledge of plant life to her young grandchildren.

The water walker,

by Joanne Robertson

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 1 – 4

The story of a determined Ojibwe Grandmother (Nokomis) Josephine Mandamin and her great love for Nibi (water). Nokomis walks to raise awareness of our need to protect Nibi for future generations, and for all life on the planet. By her example Josephine invites us all to take up our responsibility to protect our water, the giver of life, and to protect our planet for all generations.

Nipêhon (I wait),

by Caitlin Dale Nicholson & Leona Morin-Neilson

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): Préscolaire – 2 (PreK-2)

A young child, her grandmother and mother are going out to pick wild yarrow. As Grandmother gets ready, the child and her mom wait. Grandmother leads the way to the field of blossoms, where they can finally start to pick … only now they have to wait for Mom! The simple story, written in Cree and English and accompanied by rich acrylic illustrations, shows the patience, love and humor involved as three generations accommodate one another on a family outing.

Fiction

Relatives with roots: A story about Métis women’s connection to the land,

by Leah Marie Dorion; translated in Michif-Cree by Rita Flamand

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 3 – 5

A Métis grandmother takes her granddaughter out onto the land to teach her about how to pick traditional medicines.The granddaughter learns about the Métis connection to the land and the traditional Métis beliefs and stories of plants as food and medicine. Text in English and Michif-Cree. Comes with CD of the book narrated in English Michif-Cree.

Non-Fiction

The sockeye mother,

by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson); illustrated by Natasha Donovan

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 2 – 3

To the Gitxsan people of Northwestern British Columbia, the sockeye salmon is more than just a source of food. Over its life cycle, it nourishes the very land and forests that the Skeena River runs through and where the Gitxsan make their home. The Sockeye Mother explores how the animals, water, soil, and seasons are all intertwined.

Taking care of our Mother Earth,

by Celestine Aleck

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 2 – 4

This book explains how each Coast Salish family played a traditional role in taking care of our Mother Earth. From controlled burning to ethical hunting and fishing practices, the Coast Salish people were, and still are, taught by their elders to respect Mother Earth.

We Are The Land,

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 3 – 8

Created by Indigenous educators and advisors from across Canada, these inquiry-based books explore how First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities are connected to the land they live on. Includes 16 student books and a teacher’s guide. Part of the Take Action for Reconciliation series

Stewardship,

by Anita Yasuda

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 4 – 6

From the past and into the future, this book reveals the role of Indigenous peoples in taking care of the land and using it responsibly. Part of the Indigenous Life in Canada series.

A Stó:lō-Coast Salish historical atlas,

edited by Keith Thor Carlson with cultural advisor Albert Jules McHalsie & others

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 9 – 12

Through words, archival photographs, and 86 full-color maps, the book details the mythic beginnings of the St :lo people and how white settlement turned their homeland into the bustling metropolis of Vancouver.

Everyday exposure: Indigenous mobilization and environmental justice in Canada’s chemical valley,

by Sarah Marie Wiebe

Niveau scolaire (Grade level): 11 – 12

Near the Ontario-Michigan border, Canada’s densest concentration of chemical manufacturing surrounds the Aamjiwnaang First Nation. This book reveals how the colonial legacy of inflicting harm on Indigenous bodies persists through a system that fails to adequately address health and ecological suffering in First Nations communities, including a failure to acknowledge and respect Indigenous connections to land and place. (eBook)

Trouver d’autres ressources

Voici quelques conseils pour trouver d’autres ressources dans ce domaine :

Sur la page principale du site de la bibliothèque de l’UBC, utilisez la boîte de recherche générale pour rechercher des matériaux à travers toutes les succursales de la bibliothèque de l’UBC.
Pour limiter vos résultats aux matériels disponibles à la Bibliothèque de l’éducation, visitez le site web de la Bibliothèque de l’éducation et effectuez une recherche à l’aide de la case “Search Education Resources” située dans la bande à gauche de l’écran.
Remarque : les ressources étant principalement cataloguées en anglais, les termes ci-dessous donnent généralement plus de résultats que les recherches effectuées en français. Vous pouvez filtrer votre liste de résultats par langue dans la barre latérale de gauche.
Utilisez des termes de recherche spécifiques, tels que
- “traditional ecological knowledge”, “First Nations”, “Indigenous”, “Aboriginal”, “Musqueam”ou “Indigenous peoples AND Nature”
Pour trouver des plans de cours, incluez “lesson plans”, “lesson planning”, or “activity programs” dans vos termes de recherche.

Finding More Resources

To find more resources in this area, try the following:

Search using the General tab on the UBC Library website to look for material in all UBC Library branches.
Search using “Search Education Resources” box in the left hand bar on the Education Library website to limit your results to physical materials in the Education Library.
Use specific search terms, such as
- “traditional ecological knowledge”, “First Nations”, “Indigenous”, “Aboriginal”, “Musqueam”or “Indigenous peoples AND Nature”
To find lesson plans, include “lesson plans”, “lesson planning”, “juvenile fiction” or “activity programs” in your search terms.

Tags Communities, Connection to Land, Geography, Indigenous Education, Indigenous Literature, Landforms

Sciences

Environmental Science and Sustainability

Post author By Education Librarian
Post date March 19, 2019
No Comments on Environmental Science and Sustainability

Listed below are selected teacher resources, picture books, fiction, and non-fiction related to environmental science and sustainability.

Teacher Resources

The school garden curriculum: An integrated K-8 guide for discovering science, ecology, and whole-systems thinking

by Kaci Rae Christopher

Grades: K-8

The author offers a comprehensive framework enabling students to grow their knowledge throughout the school year and build on it from kindergarten to grade eight. From seasonal garden activities to inquiry projects and science-skill building, children will develop organic gardening solutions, a positive land ethic, systems thinking, and instincts for ecological stewardship.

The environmental toolkit for sustainability: First steps to sustainability

written by Neil Fraser, illustrated by Hanna Forsgren

Grades: K-12

This guide shows ways to reduce your school’s ecological footprint, and create and embed a sustainability ethos. Whether you are a teacher eager to make your classroom a more eco-friendly environment or a head teacher who wants to set up a whole school project, there are practical strategies and activities in this book for you. This book includes 75 eco-projects and lessons that cover how to manage litter, waste and energy efficiently in a time saving, cost effective manner, as well as how to get students involved in the projects.

Sense & sustainability: Educating for a low-carbon world

by Ken Webster et al.

Grades: K-12

This book makes the case for a practical education for sustainability based on exploring and testing frameworks. The authors suggest that education contributes most to the future of our young people when it opens up discussion on how sustainable can be aspirational, talking about “better and better” rather than “less and less”. Comes with online materials and resources for continuing professional development.

Think green, take action: Books and activities for kids

written by Daniel A. Kriesberg, illustrated by Kathleen A. Price

Grades: 3-7

This book combines a wide variety of techniques to help students understand environmental issues and gain the skills needed to take action. The children’s literature and classroom activities suggested here cover three major environmental issues: endangered species, resource depletion, and pollution. After students have a grasp of the causes of these environmental problems, the final chapter presents ways to take easy action that can create ripples of change across the world.

Environmental science activities kit: Ready-to-use lessons, labs and worksheets for grades 7-12

by Michael L. Roa

Grades: 7-12

This book includes more than 35 lessons for middle and high school science teachers on the most compelling and relevant environmental topics, such as global warming, food and water production, alternative energy sources, endangered species, land-use issues, and many more.

Understanding climate change: Grades 7-12

by Laura Tucker and Lois Sherwood

Grades: 7-12

A nine-session module which includes engaging lessons and activities to help students understand climate change. Includes sections on addressing misconceptions surrounding climate change, evaluating information, understanding the science, and creating solutions.

Teaching green, the high school years: Hands-on learning in grades 9-12

edited by Tim Grant and Gail Littlejohn

Grades: 9-12

This book offers fifty teaching strategies that promote learning about natural systems and foster critical thinking about environmental issues, both local and global. Readers learn how best to apply systems thinking, teach about controversial issues, and use a step-by-step approach to creative problem-solving in environmental projects. Also provided are instructions for measuring the ecological footprint of a high school, creating an indoor “living system” that cleans water, monitoring air quality with lichens, and using green technologies to help green school campuses.

Picture Books

Bag in the wind

written by Ted Kooser, illustrated by Barry Root

Grades: K-3

When a plastic bag is uprooted from a landfill, it begins a journey on the wind that leads to its being used and re-used by many people.

Sandy’s incredible shrinking footprint

written by Femida Handy and Carole Carpenter, illustrated by Adrianna Steele-Card

Grades: K-3

Sandy and her dog Pepper are upset when they find garbage on the beach they love. With the help of the Garbage Lady, they start to learn about everyone’s ecological footprint.

The little hummingbird

by Michael Nicholl Yahgulanaas

Grades: K-3

When the forest is on fire and all of the other animals are frozen with fear, a tiny hummingbird finds the courage to try to save their home.

What matters

written by Allison Hughes, illustrated by Holly Hatam

Grades: K-2

When one small boy picks up one small piece of litter, that one small act has big ripples through nature’s connections.

Tokyo digs a garden

written by Jon-Erik Lappano, illustrated by Kellen Hatanaka

Grades: K-2

Tokyo’s small house is increasingly surrounded by skyscrapers and highways. But when an old woman gives him seeds to plant, Tokyo discovers that the big city can become wild again.

Fiction

Claire and the water wish

by Janice Poon

Grades: 2-5

Claire and her friends Jet and Sky team up to try to find the polluters who’ve been making the water in a local lake undrinkable.

Justine McKeen and the bird nerd

written by Sigmund Brouwer, illustrated by Dave Whamond

Grades: 2-5

When a small bird is injured after flying into a school window, the students are shocked and upset. But they are even more shocked when school bully Jimmy Blatzo rescues the bird and nurses it back to health. When the students discover that the problem isn’t just at their school, young green activist Justine McKeen convinces Jimmy to talk to town council about the issue.

Non-Fiction

Respect our world: Sustainability

by Ramona Heikel

Grades: 3-6

Discusses efforts by Canadians to preserve water quality, conserve wildlife, clean up pollution and use sustainable energy sources. Part of the To Be Canadian series.

Brilliant! Shining a light on sustainable energy

by Michelle Mulder

Grades: 3-7

Did you know that cars can run on french fry grease, or that kids in Mexico help light up their houses by playing soccer? This book is full of examples of unusual (and often peculiar) power sources, and encourages kids to look around for sustainable ways to light up the world. Part of the Orca footprints series.

Resources

by Andrew Solway

Grades: 4-7

Discusses how we manage the limited natural resources of the world. Part of the World At Risk series

Climate change

by Douglas Fraser

Grades: 6-9

Part of the Issues 21 series, which examines contemporary issues in society in order to develop students’ skills in the areas of critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, ethical citizenship and activism. Includes 6 student books and a teacher’s guide.

Ocean pollution

by Erika Boas

Grades: 6-9

Overfishing

by Jeffrey D. Wilhelm

Grades: 6-9

Overpopulation

by Brian Arleth

Grades: 6-9

One earth: People of color protecting our planet

by Anuradha Rao

Grades: 7-10

This nonfiction book profiles twenty environmental activists of colour from around the world. Their individual stories show that the intersection of environment and ethnicity is an asset, not an obstacle, to helping the planet. Illustrated with photos of each of the people profiled.

Groundswell: Indigenous knowledge and a call to action for climate change

edited by Joe Neidhardt and Nicole Neidhardt

Grades: 10-12

This collection of essays from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous writers presents a compelling message about how traditional Indigenous knowledge and practices can – and must – be used to address climate change.

Earth Sciences

Listed below are selected teacher resources, picture books, and non-fiction related to earth sciences.

Teacher Resources

Land, Water, and Sky for Grades K-2: An Inquiry Approach

by Jennifer Lawson

Grades: K-2

This book covers how to teach about land, water, and sky in alignment with the current BC curriculum. Uses the Know-Do-Understand model, First Peoples Principles of Learning, and an inquiry approach. Part of the Hands-on Science series.

Problem-based learning in the earth and space science classroom

by Tom J. McConnell, Joyce Parker, and Janet Eberhardt

Grades: K-12

This resource presents tips and techniques for problem-based learning in four content areas: Earth’s landforms and water, the rock cycle and plate tectonics, weather, and astronomy.

Hands-on earth science activities for grades K-6

by Marvin N. Tolman

Grades: K-6

This book’s activities follow the discovery/inquiry approach and encourage students to analyze, synthesize, and infer based on their own hands-on experiences. Topics covered include air, water, weather, the earth, ecology, above the earth, beyond the earth, and current electricity.

This earth: Physical geography and the environment

by Paul Vazant and others

Grades: 10-12

A case-driven text that focuses on physical geography and human interaction and covers the origin of Earth, continental shifts, water and air pollution and human impacts, and taking responsibility for the planet. Also includes teaching notes, lesson plans, and assessment rubrics.

Jumpstart! Geography: Engaging activities for ages 7-12

by Mark Jones and Sarah Whitehouse

Grades: 2-6

This collection of simple to use and fun activities will jumpstart pupils’ understanding of the geographical skills of inquiry, outdoor learning, understanding graphic representations, and communication. Pupils will develop their knowledge and understanding of people, places and issues through being encouraged to ‘think geographically’ about the world they live in. Includes activities related to continents and oceans, and physical features such as rivers, forests, deserts, and coastlines. (E-book only)

Picture Books

A stroll through the seasons

written by Kay Barnham, illustrated by Maddie Frost

Grades: K-3

Follow the changes that each season brings: from spring blossoms, to summer sunshine, to autumn leaves, to winter snow.

Fox explores the night

written by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Richard Smythe

Grades: 1-3

Follow Fox as she makes her way through city streets and learns about sunlight, moonlight, electric light, and darkness

The squirrels’ busy year

written by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Richard Jones

Grades: 1-4

In the winter, when it’s cold, the squirrels dig up acorns to eat. But what will they eat in the spring, when it’s warm again?

Water land: Land and water forms around the world

written and illustrated by Christy Hale

Grades: 3-5

Die-cut pages identify and contrast types of water bodies and their corresponding land masses to help young readers understand how connected the earth and the water really are.

The stuff of stars

written by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Grades: K-3

Before the universe was formed, before time and space existed, there was nothing. But then … BANG! Stars caught fire and burned so long that they exploded, flinging stardust everywhere. And the ash of those stars turned into planets, into our Earth, and into us.

Non-Fiction

Look at the weather

by Britta Teckentrup, translated by Shelley Tanaka

Grades: K-6

Through four chapters–sun, rain, ice and snow, and extreme weather–this book explores different weather phenomena, from rainbows and sunsets to clouds, frost, and rainstorms.

Earth mysteries revealed

by James Bow

Grades: 3-6

This book explains how our planet is put together and answers the questions to mysteries such as: why is the only life we know of found on Earth; how did this warm and wet planet form from a cloud of ice and dust; was the Moon once a part of Earth’s rocks; why is it night all winter in the Arctic; why are sunsets orange; and was there really an ancient city that was destroyed by a volcano and tsunami? Part of the Mysteries revealed series.

Earth’s landforms and bodies of water

by Natalie Hyde

Grades: 1-3

Explains how Earth is covered by landforms and bodies of water, how they develop, and why they change. Covers landforms such as mountains, valleys, and sand dunes, as well as waterways such as oceans, rivers, and ponds. Part of the Earth’s processes close-up series.

Experiments in earth science and weather with toys and everyday stuff

by Emily Sohn

Grades: K-3

Engaging experiments using simple toys and everyday stuff teach curious young minds all about earth science. Readers can take an up-close look at how tornadoes develop, why wind is sometimes cold, how the water cycle works, and much more.

Planet Earth

by Jon Richards and Ed Simkins

Grades: 1-6

From tectonic plates and meteorites to erupting volcanoes, the atmosphere, and the world’s longest rivers, this book explores planet Earth using a wide variety of icons, graphics, and pictograms.

Fault lines: Understanding the power of earthquakes

by Johanna Wagstaffe

Grades: 4-8

Earthquakes are a terrifying yet fascinating force of nature. Seismologist Johanna Wagstaffe takes you through her own journey of understanding the earth beneath our feet. Along the way you’ll learn the science behind what makes the earth rumble and hear from kids around the world who have experienced the wonder, and terror, of an earthquake.

Rocks, minerals & gems

by Sean Callery and Miranda Smith, illustrated by Gary Ombler

Grades: 3-7

Readers will learn about hundreds of rocks, minerals, crystals, and gems that were forged by the most powerful events in prehistory. Explore what specimens look like and how they’re used today. Find out all about star stones and cat’s eyes, megagems, and phantom quartz. Discover which rocks fluoresce, which mineral once poisoned an emperor, and which gems are the rarest in the world.

When Planet Earth was new

written by James Gladstone, illustrated by Katherine Diemert

Grades: K-3

It has taken billions of years for Earth to become the planet it is today. This book looks back to the very beginning, giving a poetic yet scientific overview of how the planet has changed over time: from hot lava to the formation of oceans to the evolution of living things in water and on land.

Water wow! An infographic exploration

written by Antonia Bayard and Paula Ayer, illustrated by Belle Wuthrich

Grades: 4-7

Where did water come from before it got to Earth? Why is the water you drink the same stuff that was around when dinosaurs were alive? If water can’t be created or destroyed, how can we run out? How does climate change affect water and vice versa? How are water access and girls’ education worldwide connected? Find out the answers to these and many more questions through infographics.

Weather projects for young scientists: Experiments and science fair ideas

by Mary Kay Carson

Grades: 4-7

From the everyday phenomena of wind and clouds to the awesome, destructive power of lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes, children can explore weather in detail with this science activity book. More than 40 weather projects are included, such as building a model of the water cycle, creating a tornado in a bottle, calculating dew point, reading a weather map, building weather-measuring instruments, and more.

Finding More Resources

To find more resources in this area, try the following:

Search using the General tab on the UBC Library website to look for material in all UBC Library branches.
Search using “Search Education Resources” box in the left hand bar on the Education Library website to limit your results to materials in the Education Library.
Use specific search terms to narrow your results, such as “earth science”, “earth (planet) — juvenile literature”, “physical geography”, “weather”, or “science–study and teaching.
To find lesson plans, include “lesson plans”, “lesson planning”, or “activity programs” in your search terms.

For more help with searching, please visit the Library Service Desk or e-mail ed.lib@ubc.ca.

Tags Critical Thinking, Earth Sciences, Geography, Geology, Landforms, Natural Resources, Sciences, Weather

Social Studies

Landforms and Natural Resources

Post author By Education Librarian
Post date March 19, 2019
No Comments on Landforms and Natural Resources

Listed below are selected teacher resources, picture books, and non-fiction related to landforms and natural resources.

Teacher Resources

Powerful social studies for elementary students

by Jere Brohpy, Janet Alleman, and Anne-Lise Halvorsen

Grades: K-6

This book combines theory and research with examples from classroom practice, and outlines ways to select content and teach history, geography, and social sciences meaningfully in the elementary classroom.

Managing our natural wealth: A unit on natural resources with a focus on forestry, fishing, and mining in British Columbia

by Tom King, Wendy Amy, and Mark Woloshen

Grades: 5-7

Through a variety of critical thinking challenges, students learn about Canada’s natural resources and then focus on problems and solutions related to forestry, fishing and mining in British Columbia. For more resources in the “Critical challenges across the curriculum series”, click here.

This earth: Physical geography and the environment

by Paul Vazant and others

Grades: 10-12

Picture Books

Canyon

written by Eileen Cameron, photographed by Michael Collier

Grades: K-3

Colourful photographs of landscapes are accompanied by poetry which traces water’s journey from the sky, down the mountains, in the rivers, and finally forming a canyon.

Water land: Land and water forms around the world

written and illustrated by Christy Hale

Die-cut pages identify and contrast types of water bodies and their corresponding land masses to help young readers understand how connected the earth and the water really are.

Non-fiction

Where on earth are mountains?

by Bobbie Kalman

Grades: 1-2

Discusses how mountains form and explores different mountain ranges around the world. For more books from the “Explore the continents” series, click here.

Volcanoes: Nature’s incredible fireworks

by Natalie Hyde

Grades: 1-3

Shows how volcanoes are created and why they erupt. Includes an introduction to magma, lava, colliding plates that cause earthquakes, and other natural phenomena. For more books from the “Earthworks” series, click here.

Earth’s landforms and bodies of water

by Pamela Hickman

Grades: 1-3

Canada’s natural resources

by Carrie Gleason

Grades: 1-4

Explores Canada’s diverse environments and the natural resources they provide. Divided into five sections, forests; oceans, rivers and lakes; land and soil; rocks and minerals; and energy resources. For more books in the “Canada close up” series, click here.

How do wind and water change Earth?

by Natalie Hyde

Grades: 2-3

Explains how landforms can be changed by weathering and erosion in both the short and long term.

Introducing landforms

by Bobbie Kalman and Kelley MacAulay

Grades: 2-4

Provides an introduction to why the land on Earth has different shapes in different places. Photographs, illustrations, and text covers continents, mountains, valleys, plains, and caves, as well as the forests, animals, and water that may be found on each landform.

Violent volcanoes

by Terry Jennings

Grades: 3-6

Introduces volcanoes, explaining how they are formed, why they erupt, and the different shapes of volcano cones, along with descriptions of some of the most famous volcanic eruptions of the twentieth century. For more books in the “Amazing planet earth” series, click here.

Natural resources

by Sally Morgan

Grades: 5-8

Presents a global look at where Earth’s natural resources come from and how they are traded between countries, including the benefits and drawbacks of globalization in this area.

Finding More Resources

To find more resources in this area, try the following:

Search using the General tab on the UBC Library website to look for material in all UBC Library branches.
Search using “Search Education Resources” box in the left hand bar on the Education Library website to limit your results to materials in the Education Library.
Use specific search terms to narrow your results, such as “Natural Resources”, “Natural Resources–Juvenile literature.”, Landforms, “Landforms–Juvenile literature.”
To find lesson plans, include “lesson plans”, “lesson planning”, or “activity programs” in your search terms.

For more help with searching, please visit the Library Service Desk or e-mail ed.lib@ubc.ca.

Tags Geography, Landforms, Natural Resources, Social Studies

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