RACHEL CARSON:  A SENSE OF WONDER STUDY GUIDE
by Cathy Kaemmerlen

    Program Description

RACHEL CARSON:  A SENSE OF WONDER is a one-woman portrayal of marine biologist, writer, ecologist Rachel Carson, designed and adapted for all grades.  The 45 minute program is a biographical sketch of Ms. Carson, concentrating on the writing of her most famous book:  SILENT SPRING and the controversy that surrounded the publication of the book in 1962.  Interspersed with factual episodes from her life are “sense of wonder times” designed to encourage an appreciation for and a curiosity about our natural world.  SILENT SPRING took a look at the dangers of unlimited uses of the pesticide DDT.  The government and public eventually accepted her vastly researched findings, putting restrictions on the types and amounts of chemicals used and how they are administered.  She is credited as the first “ecologist” of note and we honor her spirit and love of the natural world each Earth Day.  It is sadly ironic that she died of cancer and side effects of radiation treatment shortly after SILENT SPRING was published, at the height of her career.

   Artist Bio
Cathy Kaemmerlen, professional actress, dancer, and storyteller, is known for her variety of characters, one-woman shows, and for her rapport with audiences.  A performer and “creator of shows” since she can remember, she has toured in schools coast to coast, since receiving a BA in English/elementary education from UNC-Charlotte, and a MFA in dance performance/choreography/theatre at the University of Wisconsin.  She tours through Young Audiences of Atlanta, the Georgia and South Carolina Touring Arts Rosters, Fulton County SAP, and has received numerous grants and honors, including Outstanding New Interpreter for her region with the National Association of Interpreters. She is the author of three non-fiction books.

    Background on Art Form
Telling stories is an oral tradition, dating back to when mankind first developed a language or form of communication.  Storytelling is a universal way of passing down information to be saved and remembered for generations to come.  It is an interactive art form in which the storytellers’ passion for the story, material, and information, is passed on to the audience, who sorts through, interprets, stores, and synthesizes what is heard.

Prepare:

Teachers, please read this to your students.

Today we are going to have a program by actress storyteller Cathy Kaemmerlen in which she portrays Rachel Carson, our first ecologist of note who wrote a very controversial book called THE SILENT SPRING, criticizing our government's use of DDT without conducting extensive research into its long-lasting effects.  Rachel Carson was our first environmental watchdog who risked her health and reputation by writing this book.  She died shortly after the book was published.  SILENT SPRING has been called one of the most influential books of the twentieth century.

Warm Up Questions to set the stage for engaging students:

.Have you ever heard of Rachel Carson?  Have your parents and grandparents?
.Do you think of her when we celebrate Earth Day? Why should you?
.What do you think about the use of pesticides to control insects and undesirable plants?
.How do you think one change in our environment can trickle down or up to make bigger changes?
.Do you think we should do more to help protect our environment?
.Do you think the work and words of one person can make a difference?
.Do you think we have a right to criticize our government?
.Why do you think SILENT SPRING was one of the most important books of the twentieth century?

Vocabulary to look at before and after:

pesticides:  chemicals used to destroy insect pests
marine biology/zoology:  study of marine animals
saturate: to cause to become completely penetrated 
toxic:  poisonous
the Depression:  period of American history when we suffered an economic collapse due to a rush on the banks
contaminate:  to soil, stain, corrupt, or poison by contact
lichens:a group of fungi or algaeic plants
toxicity:  the act or state of being poisonous
integrity:  moral soundness, uprightness, honesty
post humously:  after death, typically a literary or work of art that comes to the public's attention after the death of the artist
ecology:  the study of our earth
sanctuary:  a refuge or consecrated place
cumulative poisoning;  poisoning that builds upon an already established structure and accumulates
fanatic:  one who fixates with great zeal on one subject or point of view
USDA(United States Department of Agriculture)   

Warm Up Questions for meeting the Georgia Performance Standards for "Listening/Speaking/Viewing":
.Describe the perfect audience.
.What are some of our class rules for being good listeners?
.How do we show someone we appreciate their visit to our school or classroom?
.How does being part of an audience help make you a good citizen?
.What are some examples of bad audience behavior or attitudes?
.How does a negative audience member effect your enjoyment of a show or performance?
.How would this make the performer feel?
.How do we want the performer to feel when they leave our school or classroom?

Reflect:

.Talk about the struggle Ms. Carson had as a woman  in a field dominated by men. Are there more opportunities today for women in the field of science?  Why do you think this has happened.
.Talk about the struggle Ms. Carson had in getting her book SILENT SPRING published and how it mirrored the struggles in her own personal life.
.Talk about the controversy surrounding her book.  Why was she so criticized?
.What do you think is the single most important contribution by Rachel Carson?.
.What can we do to carry on her work?
.Do you think we care enough about global warming, taking care of our environment, protecting our environment for the future?

Resources:

SILENT SPRING by Rachel Carson
UNDER THE SEA  WIND by Rachel Carson
THE SEA AROUND US by Rachel Carson
THE EDGE OF THE SEA by Rachel Carson
THE SENSE OF WONDER by Rachel Carson (published posthumously)
SEASONS OF THE WILD:  A YEAR OF NATURE”S MAGIC AND MYSTERIES by Sy Montgomery
ONE SMALL SQUARE:  BACKYARD (series) by Donald M. Silver
TALKING TO FIREFLIES:  SHRINKING THE MOON:  NATURE ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES by Edward Duensing
NATURE WITH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES by Edith A. Sisson
RACHEL CARSON:  THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR OF SILENT SPRING by Linda Lear
RACHEL CARSON:  VOICE FOR THE EARTH by Ginger Wadsworth
RACHEL CARSON:  PIONEER OF ECOLOGY (WOMEN OF OUR TIME SERIES) by Kathleen V. Kudlinski