Overview:
In the early twentieth century, President Theodore Roosevelt
was a dynamic force in a relatively new movement known
as conservationism. During his presidency, Roosevelt
made conservation a major part of his administration.
As the new century began, the frontier was disappearing.
Once common animals were now threatened. Many Americans,
including Roosevelt, saw a need to preserve the nation's
natural resources. He wanted to protect animals
and land from businesses that he saw as a threat.
Roosevelt said, "the rights of the public to the
natural resources outweigh private rights, and must
be given its first consideration." By the
end of his time as president, he had created five national
parks, four game refuges, fifty-one national bird reservations
as well as the National Forest Service. It could be
said that Theodore Roosevelt, through laws, executive
orders, and his strong personality, opened the nation's
eyes to the natural wonders of the land. Roosevelt
had changed the attitude of America. As we begin
the twenty-first century, conservation is once again
an issue that the United States faces.
Objectives:
- Students will gain a better understanding of Theodore
Roosevelt's presidency.
- Students will be able to explain and evaluate the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt as it relates to conservation.
- Students will understand the reasons behind the
conservation movement in the first part of the twentieth
century
Procedure:
Have the following written on the chalk board, on a screen or on a handout. These quotes could be used as a springboard for discussion. The students, also could be asked to react to them in writing. Do they agree or disagree with the statement? They could explain through discussion or in writing.
"Conservation is the state of harmony
between man and land"
Aldo Leopold (an early twentieth-century American ecologist, forester and environmentalist)
"There can be no greater issue than
that of conservation in this country."
President Theodore Roosevelt
"The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem it will avail us little to solve all others."
President Theodore Roosevelt
"The movement for the conservation
of wild life and the larger movement for the conservation
of all our natural resources are essentially democratic
in spirit, purpose, and method."
President Theodore Roosevelt
This will be the introduction to the discussion and activities on Theodore Roosevelt, his achievements in conservation and the current state of conservation in America. Before assigning Activities 1 and 2, it might be helpful to ask the class the Pre-Activities questions. This may take a few minutes or an entire class period. Then assign Activity 1 and Activity 2 (some teachers may not want to assign Activity 2 until Activity 1 is complete). As a wrap-up and part of the processing, ask the students the Post-Activity Discussion Questions.
Pre -Activities Discussion Questions:
These questions are designed to stimulate interest in
Theodore Roosevelt as well as the conservation movement.
If the class cannot answer some of the questions, the
teacher may give the students the answer or require
the answers to be found. Some teachers may want
the students to put the answers in the video project:
What do you know about Theodore Roosevelt?
What does it mean to conserve?
What does it mean to reclaim something?
What does the word "green" mean in the context
of conservation and politics today?
What grade would you give our nation on the conservation
of natural resources?
About how many national parks are in the US today?
(Fifty-eight national parks)
What do you think a national forest /grassland is?
About how many are national forests and grasslands are
there in America? (fifteen national forests and
twenty national grasslands)
What does are government do to protect threatened animals,
birds and fish?
Can you think of wildlife that our government has had
to protect?
What does Theodore Roosevelt have to do with or natural
resources in America?
Post -Activities Discussion Questions:
What are some concrete/tangible things (laws, executive
orders) that Teddy Roosevelt did to conserve America's
natural resources?
Why is Theodore Roosevelt one of the faces on Mount Rushmore in South Dakota?
What did Teddy Roosevelt "reclaim" during
his time as President through his Reclamation Projects?
Does modern man need wilderness?
Was Theodore Roosevelt the nation's first "green"
president?
Do you agree that national parks bind us together as a nation?
Will there ever be an end to conservation in the United States?
What is one word that Theodore Roosevelt would use to describe the current state of conservation in America?
Do you agree with the following statement: "The
national park idea is the finest contribution of the
United States to world culture" -George Herzog.
If Teddy Roosevelt were alive today, to what political
party would he belong?
Materials:
- computers with internet connection
- movie making software such as I-movie (Powerpoint software may be substituted)
- other library materials including books on Theodore Roosevelt and conservation
- markers, colored pencils, large paper/poster board
- word processing software and or paper/pencil
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