An environmental lesson plan for younger readers
It’s never too early for students to learn about and discuss the earth’s environment. “Leave It to Beavers?” examines the reasons humans build dams and the researched effects that dams have on ecosystems, the water cycle, and earth’s climate.
This lesson plan, appropriate for use in grades 3–6, has:
- The complete text of the nonfiction selection “Leave It to Beavers?”
- Step-by-step instructions for three in-depth classroom sessions, including prereading, question sharing, and discussion activities
- Answer forms for students to fill out and reflect upon
Use this lesson plan to help your students investigate the impact we have on the ecosystems we all share!



For more great nonfiction texts that will engage your young readers, visit this page to examine Junior Great Books Nonfiction Inquiry for grades 3–5!