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Red Flag Warning
An Eco Adventure


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YA Eco Mysteries, Memoirs, Novels & Travel

Teacher Resources
HOW TO BECOME AN ECO DETECTIVE
An Interdisciplinary Unit for Writing Across the Curriculum
Claire Datnow
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What is an Ecological Mystery? It is a scientific investigation and a mystery combined into an exciting adventure. In an eco mystery the role of villain is played by an unknown ecological problem that is harming a species. The characters are affected by the problem, and like good detectives they must carry out an investigation that will identify the problem and then help solve it.
1. Warming Up: 
Begin by reading an excerpt from one of The Adventures of The Sizzling Six. You may choose an excerpt—with lots of dialogue between different characters—from one of the eco mysteries for the students to read as a play. The purpose of this activity is to get kids curious about a species and wanting to know more.
Next, discuss the meaning of the term Endangered Species with your students. How does a species get selected to be included on the list of Threatened, Vulnerable, or Endangered Species?
Have students read at least one eco mystery, The Adventures of The Sizzling Six, as a model for writing their own eco mysteries. For younger students you may want to read these aloud in class (below fourth grade).
         How do scientists find out if a species is in some way endangered? Note: I suggest that students select a species that lives in their state to facilitate research.
For a handy overview of the topic visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species
2. Select a Species  
Next students select the species they want to investigate—plant or animal. You might want to narrow the selection by starting with your own county, or state. For a complete list of US endangered species see these links:
 
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/?s8fid=112761032793&s8fid=112762573903&countyName=Jefferson (interactive web site!)
Give students time to look over the possibilities before making their final selections.
3. Research the Species:
Now students begin researching the species they have chosen.
—Observations: Where possible, take field trips to nature centers to observe the species in their natural habitats. If possible, visit the habit that serves as the setting of their story—forests, lakes, or streams. Make notes and observations on the animals, plants, sights and sounds, and on how they are related to the mystery.
—Interview local experts, or email them. Invite them to do a presentation in your classroom. Contact local organizations that promote wildlife and nature conservation, such as the Audubon Society, Water Watch, Nature Centers, and Wildlife Refuges.
—Read books, both fiction and nonfiction. Find articles on the Internet. Watch documentary movies about their species.
 (Set a deadline of about one-six weeks for the students to complete their research, depending on the depth of the investigation.)
For more detailed information about my research and field trips for my eco fiction click on the pdf file below:
teacher resources for eco mystery


4. Experiment:
If possible, carry out your own experiments to test the air, water, soil that the species lives in. As you make discoveries, you may begin to find the solution to your eco mystery, and a possible way to save the species. Invite or consult local agencies to explain, or demonstrate how to test for air, water, and soil pollution.

—Investigate the Problem. Perhaps there is a landfill upriver from your site, a dam, a factory, a shopping mall, or housing development—this may be a possible ‘villain’ that is harming their species. At the completion of their research students should complete a worksheet that includes: Species Name, Appearance, Habitat, Behavior, Life Cycle, and Reasons why they have become threatened or endangered. See Example:
http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/woodpeckers/red-cockaded-woodpecker/
5. Explain and Draw Conclusions:
–Solving the Mystery: Review your problem and the results of your observations, research, experiments, and investigations. Can you suggest a cause for the ecological problem that is damaging the species? Once you understand the cause of the problem, and a possible solution you are ready to tell your story. You will take the reader through everything you did, while developing the characters, place, time, setting and a plot.

6. Create a Real-World Project see link to Project Based Learning by:
Writing the Eco Mystery and/or
Becoming a Citizen Scientist (visit this link about Citizen Science)

Have students read at least one of eco mystery of
The Adventures of The Sizzling Six. Go over the major elements of writing a story, adjusting it to the level of the students: Plot, Protagonist, Antagonist, Setting, Character, Point of View, Dialogue, Theme. Create a main character who has a reason to care about your ecological problem. Perhaps it is a daughter of a zoo specialist, the son of a forest ranger, or a field biologist who spends time working in the woods, at a lake, or a river, behind the scenes of the local zoo, wildlife rehabilitation center, or in a research laboratory.
—Develop a few supporting characters who can play key roles in your plot—perhaps the manager of a wildlife refuge who would know something about each of the creatures in the refuge. As your character works through the mystery, these experts can be a source of information.
—Provide some background on the main character as the story goes along to draw the reader into ‘knowing’ your character.
—Include ‘red herrings’. Every good mystery has some distractions, which misdirect the main character’s investigation. This keeps the readers guessing until you are ready to tell all in the conclusion to your eco mystery.
—End the story where the actions of the main character(s) help to solve the problem that is harming the species.
HAVE FUN!
7. Publish and Share.
Suggests ways in which the book can be published for distribution in the classroom, the school, with environmental organizations, or for wider audiences.
For school DISCOUNTS AND BULK ORDERS of The Adventure series please contact: mediamint@me.com
The Adventures of The Sizzling Six are also available for downloading as ebooks
Language Arts Teachers Inspire Lively Discussions Interweaving the Theme of Climate Change
Cli-FiFictional writing that focuses on the effects of climate change and global warming that is causing disruption.

As Earth’s changing climate becomes an ever-increasing concern, readers are turning to Cli-Fi as a way to engage their imaginations and deal with their fears in the safety of their present environment. The teens in these stories demonstrate courage, tenacity, compassion, imagination, and foresight . . .. So, although the events may be upsetting, the reader empathizes with the main character, and finish the last page feeling hopeful, resolute, and inspired. For Guiding Questions that stimulate students become more insightful readers and better writers visit: https://kidsagainstclimatechange.co/cli-fi_reviews/


Lesson Plans
Climate Change Education Across the Curricular, Across the Globe
Teaching Environmental Science/Climate Change/ Through Fiction.


The Gray Whale's Lament

  • Short Introduction about the author (4 minutes)
  • Play Whale Sound Youtube-see link below (2 minutes)
  • Read Quote from GWL p.9 If we could talk to whales quote Roger Payne.
  • Read poem: If Whales Could Talk (5 minutes)
Human: Oh, Whale, we love to watch you Spouting and spy hopping! Gray Whale: Watching without knowing is not enough. Human: Oh, Whale tell us what to know. Gray Whale: Monsters bash us, floating trash chokes us,
melting ice kills our food,
Slithering snakes snare us. Human: Oh, whale can you ever forgive us for what we have done? Whale: Only if you stop the slaughter. Total 10 minutes


  • A Play reading fromThe Gray Whales Lament: An Eco Adventure. (15minutes)
  • Questions: Making Connection: (10 minutes) ((See Chapter 5 and diagram on page 42) 1) What connections do the three whale whisperers discover between human actions, climate change, and gray whales dying? Answers: Climate change causes rising temperature that melt ice caps and cause more violent storms, resulting in dangerous flooding for human. The warming also decrease whale food—phytoplankton and krill. Container ships collide with whales and the noise interferes with whales’ communication. Plastic trash is ingested by whales. Scientists have determined that global warming has caused the right whale's preferred food — tiny crustaceans — to move as waters have warmed. That means the whales have strayed from protected areas of ocean in search of food, leaving them vulnerable to ship strikes and entanglements.
2. Why do Alysie, Sarah, and Macho find it extremely difficult to come up with projects: Answer:They cannot fight big corporations that make plastics or those that own container ships, let alone control the Earth’s climate.
3.
Do the three finally find projects to help whales and involve their communities? Answers: Describe Alysie’s, Sarah’s, and Macho’s projects. Who are their mentors? Alysie and Valentine. Sarah and the Beach Cleanup Crew. Macho and Dr. Salinas. Why do the characters need mentors on their “heroes journey.” (10 minutes)

4.
Become Eco Detectives to create their own stories students weave together climate change science and critical thinking skills to solve real-world problems. Start by choosing an animal/plant from one of my books (see poster). Research that animal, including observing the animal in nature (interviews, field trips too). Guessing game: three clues to my animal example: I live in the trees. I eat fruit. I am a mammal
Next create characters, and the plot. Link: How to Become and Eco Detective: https://www.mediamint.net/styled-11/index.html. (20 minutes)

Teachers will be provided with a link to Cross Curricula lesson Plans for Teaching climate change.

Red Flag Warning

A few quotes from Red flag Warning:

“Aisyah and her friends will keep on fighting for Weebo, and Simba, and Peanut, and Ludi, and Bama, and Pongo and Abelii, and Swain, and Hestia, and Bultarro and Rocky and for all living creatures on this planet we call home.” p. 256

“One day a monster ate me alive then spat me put as dead . . .” p.129

“I’ve lived through the deadliest fire in California’s history. To me it’s not just something on the news. Perdido is in ruins. Hundreds of people are homeless. When we drive into town from the highway all I can see is an ugly black scar, buildings burnt to the ground, and the mangled shells of cars. Searchers scoured burned down homes for human remains. p.136-7


“One day they’ll dig down through layers of made and ashes and find skeletons of people and animals that lived and walked and breather her. They’ll find them like fossil hunters. The jaw of a man, the skull of a horse, a baby’s first teeth, a gold earring, the steering wheel of a car, shards of glass, and melted plastic.” p.138

“After I was burned I kept asking myself: Why has this horrible thing happened? Why me? Why now? Why us? Why are fires exploding everywhere?” Aisyah blinks and swallows as if as if she has a sore throat.” p.193


* Meet the Author: https://dragonfly.eco/indie-corner-claire-datnow/
View an interview discussing the Story Behind The Cover
This interview could be a springboard to a career talk conversation.
Additional related blogs from the author on: medicament.net

  • Over Arching Premise: Connecting scientific concepts with storytelling can be a powerful way to make future consequences more immediate to ourselves and our students. Fiction can be woven into teaching environmental science and climate change as outlined in the core curriculum standards. See: Alabama State Standards for Science: https://study.com/academy/popular/alabama-state-standards-for-science.html (“ … The effect of human activity on the biosphere will be discussed . . . students will chart weather conditions and climate change in addition to studying the effects of humans on the environment that alter the planet's surface.”)

Lesson Plans: Using Red Flag Warning: An Eco Adventure as supplemental reading provides a way to ignite students’ imaginations and integrate the teaching of climate science into the curriculum.

Questions for Classroom Discussion After Reading Red Flag Warning: An Eco Adventure (Note: The questions are geared toward middle grade and up, however, they can be modified appropriate to the grade level. Additional resources are listed in Red Flag Warning)

  • 1. Wildfires and climate change: what’s the connection? Historically, wildfires have not been uncommon in Australia, Sumatra and in the Western US and other places across the globe. What is different about the current fires in the last decade? Answer Key: Climate scientists have correlated the growing incidence and intensity of wildfires with rising global temperatures. Few places seem immune. See:
  • https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/07/wildfires-and-climate-change-whats-the-connection/

  • 2. What were some of the immediate effects of the wildfires on Aisyah, Kerri and Hector? Answer Key: They had to recover from the physical wounds and pain caused by the burns sustained in the fire—and overcome the damage to their self image and their confidence.

  • 3. What were longterm effects of these wildfires on Aisyah, Kerri and Hector, their families and communities? How do they overcome the wounds to their self-image and find a way forward? Answer Key: Destruction of their homes, their towns, the animals they love, their self-esteem. The three throw themselves into saving the animals that they love, and to working on community projects.

  • 4. In Red Flag Warning what do the Aisyah, Kerri and Hector know or believe about the immediate causes of the wildfires that trapped and burned them. What do they find out about the causes later on? Answer Key: Aisyah understood that slashing and burning the forest started wildfires. Kirri knew that the dry, hot weather caused the fire. Hector knew that the tinder dry vegetation caused the fires. They find out later that the wildfires were also connected to climate change. “The rise in average global temperatures has led to higher spring and summer temperatures, and importantly an earlier onset of spring. This pattern has led to a rapid melting of spring snowpack, causing soils to dry out earlier and remain dry longer.” https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/07/wildfires-and-climate-change-whats-the-connection/

* 5. How did they three teens figure out the causes of wildfires? (clues are woven throughout the story) Do the characters in the novel take notice of things we are all seeing around us: fewer birds/butterflies/fireflies etc. Plastic trash in the rivers, oceans, and beaches. Invasive plants, and more extreme weather-related events.) Answer Key: Aisyah’s mentor, Ranger Eka helps to provide accurate information about climate change. Hector’s science teacher, Mr. Hawkins helps him make connections between the wildfires and climate change. Hector also finds reliable explanation on the internet. Kirri is able connect the dots between extreme hot and dry weather resulting the wildfire that almost killed her.)

  • 6. What did Aisyah, Kerri, and Hector loose in the wildfire that matters the most to them and why? Answer Key: The three suffered from severe injuries in the wildfire, loss of self esteem and self confidence. In their own way, however, they take advantage of new opportunities to work at animal rescue centers to save the animals they love. Kirri becomes a champion of handicapped athletes, too.

  • 8. What are some ways in which the three teenagers chose to take action to help themselves, and the other victims—human, animal, and environmental—of wildfires? Answer Keys: see Answer Key. Aisyah, Kirri, and Hector inspire other students to understand the causes and the damage of wildfires, and the take action in their communities. See Red Flag Warning chapters 21, 22, 23.
    • 9. Wildfires are becoming more common and more severe in many parts of the world. Have you had an experience that made you aware of this problem than before?
  • 10.  Does the threat of wildfires feel connect to your life in some way? Why or why not?
    • 11. In what ways might we all feel impacted by wildfires even if it is happening far away?
    • 12. What did the three teenagers find out about the role of global climate change in causing more frequent and larger wildfires?
  • 13. What do climate demonstrators, like Greta Thunberg, hope to accomplish? Who are they targeting to motivate them to take action to slow down climate change? What groups, organizations, or protesters are the marchers focusing on?
  • 14. Discuss what are some ways in which you and your peers can take action to halt climate change? What approaches do you think might be most effective
  • 15. Is this an issue that feels relevant to your life currently? Why or why not?

    • Student Projects, Individual and Small Group Activities:
    Everything is STEAM focused on the small group activity that could include:
    Building something or a technology component.
    Creating a new ending to the story, for example what happens next to each of the characters?
    Writing their own environmental stories/poems.
    Reviewing some of the vocabulary in the story.
    Researching some aspect of climate change.


    Monarch Mysteries: Role Playing Cards

    Have students role play the characters in the eco mystery by reading the cards.
    Students can also use these cards to have the characters debate the issues with one another.

    Alex Kohn a student at Stone Middle School: (the main Protagonist)

    I was very upset when I found out that the population of monarch butterflies has become so
    small. Scientists say the migration of monarch butterflies—considered one of the world’s great
    natural spectacle—is in danger of vanishing! Milkweed is the only plant on which monarch
    butterflies will lay their eggs, and it is the major food source for monarch caterpillars. But
    farmers are spraying their crops with herbicide that is killing the milkweed plants. To help save
    the monarchs scientists and conservationists are encouraging people to grow milkweed in their
    own yards and gardens. I can’t believe that our neighborhood association and our city council
    are trying to stop people like Mrs. Mariposa from planting milkweed in their gardens! The
    Sizzling Six have got to find a way to overcome these obstacles in order to save the monarchs
    before it is too late.

    Mr. Prickles, President of the City Council (Antagonist)
    I’m tired of do-gooders like Mrs. Mariposa trying to get people to believe that they’re letting their
    garden become overgrown with weeds to save monarch butterflies. The Weed Ordinance of
    Mortaburg states that residents must maintain their yards free of weeds and shrubs higher than
    twelve (12) inches. It’s clear that Mrs. Mariposa has violated Mortaburg’s weed ordinance
    because she’s growing weeds higher than 12-inches tall. Worse yet, Mrs. Mariposa doesn’t cut
    all the weeds back in the fall, so the seeds from her weeds start growing in our yards. Her yard
    attracts mice, groundhogs, snakes and all sorts of bugs. Perhaps the pests appreciate her
    neighborhood eyesore, but the neighbors do not. A child could be dragged in there and never be
    found—or even bitten by a poisonous snake there.

    Mrs. Mariposa, Homeowner and Wildflower Gardener (relationships/wise person)
    I do not cultivate weeds in my garden. I grow plants native to this area. You see, a plant is called
    a weed when it grows where it is not wanted. I am a horticulturalist. That means that I am an
    expert on the science of growing wildflowers. Not to brag, but I am the most successful grower
    of wildflowers in Mortaburg. There’s a big difference between letting invasive plants like poison
    ivy, kudzu, privet, and bramble bushes get out of control, and growing wildflowers that attract
    butterflies, bees, birds, and other wildlife. Ordering me to cut down my wildflower garden may
    seem to be just a little thing that does not truly hurt any one or any thing. But, you see, my
    garden attracts all kinds of pollinators, including bees. Without bees, most of the flowers we love
    and the food we eat would disappear. Can you imagine living in a world without flowers or fruit?
    Or a world without butterflies?” Did Mr. Prickles or the city officials think about this when they
    fined me and wanted me to destroy my garden?

    Mr. Freed, Director of the Mortaburg Botanical Gardens (Helper)
    Any human activity—construction of new buildings or roads, clearing land for farms or houses,
    cutting down forest for lumber, or spraying herbicides on plants—damages the wildlife's habitat.
    Wildflowers gardens can replace some of the lost habitat. We humans are the real culprits,
    because we destroy nature without thinking about the consequences. Mrs. Mariposa’s garden
    with it’s tall wildflowers is not a weedy jungle. It’s an attractive haven for wildlife.!

    Driving Questions from The Adventures of the Sizzling Six:
    Monarch Mysteries (Book 7 of the Eco Mystery Series)
    Why do monarchs migrate to this part of Mexico each winter?
    Why do the monarchs return to the US and Canada each spring?
    Why do Monarchs lay eggs on milkweeds which are toxic?
    Where does the Monarch Butterfly fit into the food web if it becomes
    poisonous to its predators when they eat milkweed?
    What is the name of the poison in the monarch butterfly's body and how
    potent is it?

    How can the we help save the monarchs before it is too late?
    How do the monarchs know where to go in Mexico if they’ve never been
    there?
    How can it be a crime to grow our state’s wildflowers?

    What attracts butterflies to land on people?
    What dangers do the monarchs have to overcome on their migration to
    Mexico?
    Why do they tag butterflies?
    Will planting milkweeds help the monarchs migrating from Mexico?

    Questions from the last paragraph on the book:
    The Sizzling Six are helping the monarch butterflies. Why should they care?
    What difference does it make if the monarch migration disappears? Or little
    the bugs and big weeds disappear? Or even if half of all the species on earth
    disappear?
    All these questions are in the book with answers revealed as the story
    progresses. Do you found them useful?
    How to Become and Eco Detective,
    on the top of this page.

     Author Presentations for School Visits, Conferences and In-Service Training

    Claire is available for author presentations at libraries, bookstores, elementary, and middle schools free of charge. This applies to events within 30 miles of Birmingham, Alabama. I am available for events farther away if travel costs are reimbursed.
    “Visits” with Claire via Skype are also offered for free.

    Presentation Topics
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    * Bringing Books to Life! Claire leads her audiences on a fascinating journey that integrates technological innovation, ecology and writing. Claire demonstrate how innovative new technology transports readers from the printed page to video clips, to allow readers to see and hear what the characters in the story are seeing and hearing. Wow! How? To see how please view a two-minute video clip at:
    Media Mint Publishing
     * How to Become and Eco Detective: A highly interactive, hands-on presentation, illustrated with photos and videos. Using examples from The Adventures of The Sizzling Six series, Claire guides students through the process of writing their own eco mysteries, illustrating how to weave scientific principles into the stories to help characters solve ecology mysteries, and then how to take action to resolve them.

    • Reading and Q&A Forum: Claire reads selections from The Adventures of The Sizzling Six series and take questions. She passes out ringer questions with humorous answers to the audience in advance. Particularly appropriate to bookstores, short library programs, or ecology clubs.
    * Book Discussion: Claire meets with small groups of students who have already read her eco mysteries to talk about the book. Presentation will focus on topics of interest to students.

    How to Schedule a Presentation

    Email Claire at: cldatnow@me.com. If you'd like to discuss a presentation on the phone, let her know and she'll email back telephone numbers where she can be reached.

    How to Prepare for a Presentation:

    It is preferable for participants to have an opportunity to buy or check out a copy of The Adventures of The Sizzling Six before the author arrives. Make sure everyone on your team knows about and promotes the presentation. English teachers, Earth Sciences teachers, school librarians, administrators, public librarians and booksellers can all contribute to making it a successful visit. You can order books from your local bookseller, or through Amazon.com and other on-line booksellers. I can provide books at signings myself.
    Links to the author’s curriculum guides and related activities will be provided.

    Reviews and Testimonials:

    A superb ending that kids will love. A well researched and balanced presentation, grounded in solid facts and real conservation issues that educates and engages the young adult reader.
    Cleo Lackey, Media Specialist, Brookwood Forest Elementary School.
    The way you wove lessons in ecology, economics, civics, group dynamics, and growing up into a good read accessible—no, engaging—to younger readers, is inspiring. You have developed the skill of making clarity from complexity.
    George Terrian, environmental architect
    Claire’s presentations are truly engaging and highly interactive. By the time she left we had a room full of students eager to try their hand at writing their own eco mysteries.
    Karen Kapp, Director, Birmingham Better Basic

    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    Links to Additional Resources:
    Project Wildlife Resources
    Project Learning Tree
    Audubon Teaches Nature
    Alabama Wildlife Federation
    Wildlife Habitat Assessment
    Alabama Wildlife Conservation Status
    Alabama Endangered, Threatened Species List
    Interdisciplinary Unit on Endangered Animals

    _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Visit :clairedatnow.com

    Visit my Author Page on Facebook

    Visit my Author Page on Amazon

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