Young World 2, Unit 4: Exploring Nature
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The unit is about forests, forest animals, parts of the tree and what they do, and what you can do and should not do in the woods. Here are some suggestions for native English speakers to delve deeper into this forest theme:
Historical Fiction
Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
This is the first in an engaging series about the life of the author. This book tells of life in a little log cabin in the woods of Wisconsin in the in the 1870s (Lexile 930L) what is this?
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Non-Fiction
Guts, by Gary Paulsen
At some point during Oberstufe (Swiss Middle School), there’s a huge chance your child will be required to read “Hatchet”, a fictional book by Gary Paulsen. “Guts” tells some of the real stories behind “Hatchet” of surviving in the woods. Full of humor. ( Lexile NC1230L) what is this?
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Gone to the Woods, A True Story of Growing up in the Wild, by Gary Paulsen
Here’s another book by Gary Paulsen, prolific American author of both fiction and non-fiction. “Gone to the Woods” is a biography of his childhood. ( Lexile 1030L) what is this?
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Fiction
Race to Survival, by Cliff Jacobson
A young adult book written by a renowned outdoor writer and wilderness consultant. Thirteen year old Justin Cody is forced to take a canoe trip with his grandfather when things go wrong. Combination adventure tale and wilderness skills book. (no Lexile measure available)
Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse, by Tamara Will Wissinger
Have lots of fun reading about Lucy’s camping adventures, with the story told in various forms of verse. Learn how to camp, laugh at the funny stories, and be exposed to rhyming couplets and quatrains and limericks and more. (no Lexile levels are given to oetry)
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The Great Kapok Tree : A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest, by Lynne Cherry
In the rainforest, a man falls asleep, exhausted after trying to cut down a giant Kapok tree, which is home to many animals. While he sleeps, various forest residents whisper in his ear to try to convince him to stop. Contains lovely illustrations. Can be used to discuss point of view, ( Lexile 590L) what is this?
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The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling
An essential classic. Set in central India, this famous story tells the tale of of Mowgli, a boy who is raised by a pack of wolves. He meets Shere Khan, the tiger, Baloo the bear, and Bagheera panther and learns the laws of the jungle. ( Lexile 1020L) what is this?
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Supplemental Activity
Go on a trek in a Rain Forest!
Even here in Switzerland, you have the chance to head into a Rain Forest and see what it’s like. Take a trip to Papiliorama , see the animals, and get a view from the tops of the trees. Just remember, it’s humid there!
The Swiss Museum of Transport also has an IMAX Theatre. Currently they are showing a marvelous film called Great Bear Rainforest. Nice for a rainy day.