Tales with Tails: Storytelling the Wonders of the Natural World

More than 60 multicultural tales from around the world combine with dozens of learning activities to help you convey key scientific concepts, such as adaptations, habitat, biodiversity, and interdependence, and to instill such values as conservation, cooperation, sustainability, and empathy, encouraging children to become responsible stewards of the earth. Thorough storytelling instructions are included, as are guidelines for teaching ecological concepts.

The book presents more than 60 ready-to-tell stories about wolves, foxes, squirrels, birds, insects, the wind, and more; plus dozens of extension activities to use with the stories, or as part of educational programs focused on plants, animals, and the environment. Thorough instructions for the novice storyteller are included, as are background on and guidelines for teaching ecological concepts. You'll even learn how to create your own stories using environmental concepts, values, proverbs, and quotes. In addition, the book includes an extensive bibliography of stories to use in teaching about the natural world. Whether used in environmental programs in the library or in after-school programs; to enhance science units; in nature centers, zoos, or camps; or as a storyteller's resource for Arbor Day and Earth day celebrations; this is a valuable guide for librarians, teachers, storytellers, and other educators. Activities are coded for grade levels, with an emphasis on elementary and middle school; but most are adaptable to other levels.