BIOFABLES 1 Teaching Brief
Here is a brief outline of lessons and potential discussion topics that parents and teachers may wish to raise when reading to (or talking about) the BioFables stories with children. We've categorized them into broad subjects to help you identify and choose the specific areas you would like to emphasize. Each topic with the categories appears in the sequence that they appear in the story.
We understand that reading from a screen is difficult. You may want to create your own free book by copying and pasting the content into a word processor; you can then adjust the font size to your liking and print it out.
Chapter 1 - Exploring Extremophiles
| Life Sciences | Microbes: colors, extreme conditions, bioprospecting for research. |
| Physical Sciences | Geysers and paintpots; pH: simple examples of acidity and alkalinity. |
| Social Sciences and Family | Grandfather's desire to broaden children's background; brother's concern for sister; respect for others (scientist's time, address as "Dr. Ethyl"). |
| Fable Content | Mel an extremophile? |
Interadventure - Yellowstone
| Social Sciences and Family | Sharing extremophile secret with grandfather; expressing appreciation to scientist for time and sharing knowledge; parents and children together e-mailing scientist. |
| Fable Content | Mel an extremophile? |
Chapter 2 - Down on the (Family) Farm
| Life Sciences | Microbes in soil: cause "fresh, after-rain" smell; feeding chickens, collecting eggs from chicken coop, keeping eggs cool to keep from spoiling; farm animals brought to meat locker for butchering, freezing; what sausage is made of; catching, killing and cleaning chicken for cooking (cautionary note before sensitive content); making an outdoor fire; milking cows. |
| Physical Sciences | Fuel cell car; hand operated water pump; the colors of dawn; some constellations, the Milky way. |
| Social Sciences and Family | Respectfully addressing adults close to the family as "aunt" and "uncle;" real-life experience rather than using computer; name-calling discouraged; obeying firm parental direction; farm life starting at 4 am; sharing of farm responsibilities. |
| Fable Content | Mal a different kind of extremophile? Nanja Mom? |
Interadventure - UP from the (Family) Farm
| Physical Sciences | Fuel cell car: no-carbon emission hydrogen. |
| Physical Education and Health | Running in sand good to build up leg muscles? |
| Social Sciences and Family | Family hospitality; cleaning up after picnic. |
Interadventure - Next March and Next Adventure
| Social Sciences and Family | Whole family involved in one parent's project, helping research future outings; Mike sharing his wealth with famiy now, rather than waiting. |
Chapter 3 - Secrets of the Dunes
| Life Sciences | Insect-eating plants; logical reasoning in examining evidence. |
| Physical Sciences | Length of days change with season; quaking bog; erosion and shifting sands; hot sand on surface, cool beneath. |
| Physical Education and Health | Grandpa Mike's increased weight; Mike's son Mort's sedentary lifestyle could lead to overweight; exercising in the cool of the morning; a hearty breakfast; difficulty of climbing in sand; muscle aches from climing dunes - lactic acid build-up, newer theories; allowing recovery time for aching muscles; a healthy mind in a health body. |
| Math | Logic: no need to count bills, calculate instead. |
| Social Sciences and Family | Keeping family matters private; adapting to each family member's needs; gentle teasing tolerated; multiple moral choices arise spontaneously; parent's example by doing the right thing; addressing official as "sir;" declining reward for doing what's right; protecting child's, family privacy; accepting a small treat; sometimes adults are forgetful too; father-son share a secret;value of children spending time alone with one parent. |
| Language Arts | Confusion with word "forensics;" adults sometimes write silly poems. |
Interadventure - Between Sand and Rock
| Physical Education and Health | Value of an active, healthy lifestyle, Mike's regrets in looking back at his own and son's; |
| Social Sciences and Family | Don't put too much emphasis on money issues; planned family outing consider's each member's needs; accepting lighthearted teasing; Mike's joy in providing for Agnes's happiness; "kitchen table" family plans includes social work project. |
Chapter 4 - Mississippi Palisades
| Life Sciences | What makes lightning bugs glow? Research uses for lightning bugs; characteristics of crickets and cicadas; habits of bats; hearing range of dogs, why dogs don't typically get bat bits |
| Physical Sciences | Light and shadows of campfire against trees at night; reading trail maps |
| Physical Education and Health | Marshmallows are ok in moderation: 100 calorie portions; a hearty breakfast |
| Math | How many pennies it would take (and how long to accumulate) to buy a bike |
| Social Sciences and Family | Compromise to accomodate everyone's needs; adults join in children's play; adapt to dog's natural instincts; agreeing with one family member's plans; adults look after children's safety; concern for an older generation's well-being; Mal's disobedience, his father's chase, reassuring other family members, relating similar experience to soon; Mal forbidden to stray; flexibility to change planned activity; adapting to a rainy day |
| History | Lookout view unchanged from when Native Americans lived in the area |
| Fine Arts | A family sing-along |
| Fable Content | Mal's unusual ear-eye-hand coordination? |
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Translations from German to English, including patents, research papers, legalese and materials for publication. Dayal Resources, Inc. is your dependable resource. Please contact wdayal@dayalresources.com
Translations from German to English, including patents, research papers, legalese and materials for publication. Dayal Resources, Inc. is your dependable resource. Please contact wdayal@dayalresources.com
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