Wild World Handbook Educators' Guide
Wild World Handbook Educators' Guide
Wild World Handbook Educators' Guide
EDUCATORS’ GUIDE
Andrea Debbink
Illustrated by Asia Orlando
2.
examples from The Wild World Handbook
List nine natural wonders featured in The
to support your thoughts.
Wild World Handbook. Which one would
you most like to visit? Why?
8. Using specific information you learned
3.
from The Wild World Handbook, explain
If you could spend the day with one of
why you think it is important for people
the people featured in The Wild World
to care about Earth.
Handbook whom would you choose to
spend it with? Why? Name three things
you would like to do or learn more about
9. List at least three characteristics or fun
facts about the following habitats: Moun-
from them. tains, Forests, Deserts, Polar Lands,
4.
Ocean, Freshwater, Cities, Rainforests,
What is climate change? Why should we
and Grasslands.
care about it?
one is finished hold a travel exhibition with the stu- of The Wild World Handbook. Ask your students to find
dents acting as travel agents promoting their locations at least ten facts that they learned from this book and
as possible vacation spots. write each one down on its own index card or Post-
it. Then have students take turns reading their facts
Save the Earth aloud. Encourage students to debate which facts are the
The Wild World Handbook shows why it’s important for most fascinating and vote on the top three.
us to learn about the dangers the natural world faces.
cloud mushroom
dandelion rock
dirt seed
flower spider
leaf worm
1. People sometimes disagree on the definition 4. The drought prevents invasive grasses from
of a mountain, but most geologists define a growing, and then the rain washes away
mountain as a landform that’s at least 1,000 the seeds’ protective coatings, making it
feet above the land that surrounds it. possible for the seeds to germinate.
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2. There are two species and five subspecies 5. More than 4 million people live in the
of gorillas in Africa, and all of them are Arctic, including Indigenous people whose
endangered. ancestors have inhabited the land for
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1. True or False. A wolverine looks like a 6. True or False. There is currently a hole
cross between a wolf and a bear, but it’s the in the ozone layer that grows steadily every
biggest member of the lynx family. year.
2. True or False. Some animals that 7. True or False. Coral reefs provide food
currently live in deserts are American and shelter for 30 percent of all ocean life.
bison, prairie dogs, pronghorns, burrowing
owls, and white-tailed jackrabbits.
8. True or False. From space, the Earth glows
like a blue jewel because all you can see is
3. True or False. There are three trillion the sky.
trees on Earth.
5. True or False. The North Pole is colder 10. True or False. The Serengeti plains of
than the South Pole. Tanzania are some of the most famous
forests in the world.
1. True; 2. False; 3. True; 4. True; 5. False; 6. False; 7. True; 8. False; 9. True; 10. False
T he wonder of the natural world surrounds us—from the Amazon rainforest to the
snowy peaks of Mount Everest to the green spaces in big cities. And as the threat of
climate change grows, it’s more important than ever to show appreciation for our planet
by taking action.
The first book in a middle grade series for young environmental activists and nature
lovers, The Wild World Handbook offers a roadmap for change and an invitation to explore
the outdoors, alongside surprising facts and hands-on activities. Featuring nine habitats
from around the globe, each section includes diverse biographies of outdoor adventurers,
scientists, and artists who used their passion and skills to become bold allies for Earth’s
natural diversity and resiliency.
ANDREA DEBBINK is the author of several books for kids and a former editor at
American Girl magazine. Her favorite way to explore our wild world is hiking a
trail or kayaking a river. She lives and writes in Madison, Wisconsin, and you
can learn more about her at AndreaDebbink.com.