THE CASE OF THE TALKING TREE

Now here's a bit of imaginative material. We are aware that trees don't talk, but imagine if they could then they could explain a great deal about how they survive. This desert tree certainly does and in this novel way can involve students at primary and lower secondary levels in learning about the desert environment and how living things (plants/brown snake/rats/reluctant reporter) adapt. You can use this as a whole class/whiteboard presentation. You can use this as a role play using 2 or more students readings the text. I have even found students wanting to take up the character roles and adding to them by writing their own scripts. The script and the activity sheet are provided as attachments for black and white copies. It's a different approach but students do relate to it and learn from it. Be sure your reporters are equipped for the hot desert. Watch where you tread and sit under the shade of the tree. It can stand alone or it can be integrated with studies on hot desert environments.