Mpala Live Classroom

Teacher Resources

The source materials and references behind the Mpala Live curriculum, for both the U.S. and Kenya programs.

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Printable activity sheets and lesson PDFs are attached to each individual lesson. Open any lesson and use its Downloads panel. The references below are the published materials the lessons draw on.

Bibliography for U.S. Curriculum

Unit 1 The Living World Around Us

Lesson 1: Animals Around Us

  • Kane, Patricia F, Dale A. Rosselet, and Karl Anderson. Bridges to the Natural World: A Natural History Guide for Teachers of Grades Pre-K through 6. Franklin Lakes, NJ: NJ Audubon Society, 1992.
  • Kirkland, Jane. No Student Left Indoors: Creating a Field Guide to Your Schoolyard. Lionville, PA: Stillwater Publishing, 2007.
  • Russell, Helen Ross. Ten Minute Field Trips: A Teacher’s Guide for Using the Schoolgrounds for Environmental Studies. Arlington, VA: NSTA Press, 2001.
  • Tolman, Marvin N. and James O. Morton. Life Science Activities for Grades 2-8. West Nyak, NY: Parker Publishing Co., 1986. pp.76-77: “What do you need to study a nature square?”
  • Western Regional Environmental Council. Project WILD : Elementary Activity Guide. 1986. (Basic Needs of Living Things)

Lesson 3: Habitats and Communities

  • South Brunswick Public Schools. Science Curriculum: Eat or Be Eaten. NJ. 2008. Adapted from Invaders of the Forest, © 2005 WEEB, WDNR, Park People of Milwaukee County.

Lesson 4: How Habitats Change

  • Project Wild K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guide. © Council for Environment Education, Houston, TX; rev. 2001.
  • Kane, Rosselet & Anderson. Bridges to the Natural World: A Natural History Guide for Teachers of grades Pre-K through 6. Franklin Lakes, NJ: NJ Audubon Society, 1992.

Unit 2 How Animals Work

Lesson 1: Animal Classification

  • ESS-Elementary Science Study. “Rocks and Charts: Classification of Common Minerals.” NY: McGraw-Hill, 1974.

Lesson 2: Life Cycles

  • Monarch Teacher Network. Journeys: Learning Activities from the Monarch Teacher Network. NJ: Educational Information & Resource Center, Global Connections, 2006.

Lesson 3: Structures and Adaptations

  • AAAS Atlas of Science Literacy, Project 2061. AAAS, National Science Teachers’ Association, Washington, DC, Natural Selection, 2001.
  • Damonte, Kathleen. Thumbs are Handy Digits. National Science Teachers’ Association News, 1/30/2004, 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201.

Lesson 4: Plant and Animal Interactions

  • AAAS Atlas of Science Literacy, Project 2061. AAAS, National Science Teachers’ Association, Washington, DC, Flow of Matter, 2001.
  • Kane, Patricia F. Bridges to the Natural World: A Natural History Guide for Teachers of Grades Pre-K through 6. Franklin Lakes, NJ: NJ Audubon Society, 1992.

Websites

General

Unit 1 The Living World Around Us

Overview

Lesson 1: Animals Around Us

Lesson 2: Plants Around Us

Lesson 3: Habitats and Communities

Unit 2 How Animals Work

Lesson 2: Life Cycles

Lesson 3: Structures and Adaptations

Additional websites

  • www.enchantedlearning.com
  • www.google.com/images
  • www.dictionary.com

Bibliography for Kenya Curriculum

  • Biology of Plants. Online. May 1, 2008.
  • Cornell, Joseph. (1998). Sharing Nature With Children. CA: Dawn Publications.
  • Dorros, Arthur. (1989). Feel the Wind. NY: HarperCollins.
  • Goin, K., Ripp, E., and Solomon, K. Bugs to Bunnies. NY: Chatterbox Press, 1989.
  • Grizmek,Bernhard. Grizmek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group, 2003.
  • HELP – Habitat Ecology Learning Program: Grasslands. NY: Wildlife Conservation Society, 1995.
  • HELP – Habitat Ecology Learning Program: How Nature Works. NY: Wildlife Conservation Society, 1995.
  • National Wildlife Federation. Ranger Rick’s NatureScope: Birds, Birds, Birds. NY: Learning Triangle Press, 1998.
  • Project Learning Tree (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Forest Foundation, 1995.
  • Project WILD (3rd printing). Western Regional Environmental Education Council, Inc., 1994.
  • Ross, K. Crafts For Kids Who Are Wild About Deserts. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press, 1998.
  • Spurgeon, R. Ecology (Usborne Science and Experiments). Tulsa, OK: E.D.C. Publishing, 2006.
  • Tolman, M. and Morton, J. Life Science Activities for Grades 2-8 Book I: Science Curriculum Activities Library. NY: Prentice Hall Trade, 1986.
  • Wong, O. Hands-On Ecology. Chicago, IL: Children’s Press, 1991.

Books for Children

  • Base, Graeme. (2006) Uno’s Garden. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
  • Brett, Jan. (2005) Honey…Honey…Lion! New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.
  • Cherry, Lynne. (1990) The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest. San Diego: Harcourt Brace.
  • Davies, Nicola. (2017) Lots: The Diversity of Life on Earth. London: Walker Books. Dunphy, Madeleine. (1999) Here is the African Savanna. New York: Hyperion
  • Feldman, Thea. (2006) Dedan Saves the Day. Des Moines: Meredith Books.
  • Feldman, Thea. (2006) Milia’s Big Day. Des Moines: Meredith Books.
  • Feldman, Thea. (2006) Tembo Takes Charge. Des Moines: Meredith Books.
  • Greaves, Nick. (1990) When Hippo Was Hairy. Lutterworth Press.
  • Greaves, Nick. (1993) When Lion Could Fly. Lutterworth Press.
  • Hatkoff, Isabella, Craig Hatkoff, and Dr. Paula Kahumbu. (2006) Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship. New York: Scholastic Press.
  • Larkin, Heather. (2010) Mary and Maraba: A Grevy’s Zebra Tale. Nairobi: Icons Printers Limited.
  • Lunde, Darrin. (2011) After the Kill. Watertown: Charlesbridge.
Martins, Dino J. (2019) You Can Be an Entomologist! Washington, D.C.: National
  • Geographic.
  • Nivola, Claire A. (2008) Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
  • Richards, Dave. (2008) My First Book of East African Birds. Cape Town: Struik. Schimmel, Schim. (1993) Dear Children of the Earth. Tokyo: Shogakukan. Seuss, Dr. (1971) The Lorax. New York: Random House.
Silverstein, Shel. (1992) The Giving Tree. New York: HarperCollins.
  • Stojic, Manya. (2000) Rain. New York: Crown.

References

  • Cornell, Joseph. (1998) Sharing Nature With Children. Dawn Publications.
  • Kingdon, Jonathan. (2005) The Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals. Princeton University Press.
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