INVITE LENORA TO YOUR SCHOOL
K-2:
Around the World in Twelve Animal Habitats: A reading and slideshow based on Sea Lions in the Parking Lot
We talk about: why I wrote the book and how I did the research. I share my experience with wildlife as a child. Using my book as a guide, we explore: What is a habitat? We read the stories that represent a variety of habitats. I show photos of the real animals that inspired these stories. We talk about helping wildlife and what it means to be a citizen scientist. We conclude with a Q and A.
Gr. 3-5:
Home is where the Habitat is: A reading and slideshow based on Sea Lions in the Parking Lot
Gr 3-5:
Sidewalk Naturalists and Citizen Scientists: On Urban Wildlife, Habitats, and Citizen Science
We talk about why I wrote the book, and how I did the research. I share my experience with wildlife as a child. I ask what is a habitat? An ecosystem? How are people and animals interdependent upon one another?
Using the book as a guide, I read the stories aloud, with a follow-up chat about habitats highlighted in the reading, and a slide show of the real animals that inspired the stories. We can compare and contrast habitats. I ask kids what ways those environments might be affected by people and we can effect positive change by being citizen scientists. We conclude with a Q and A.
This presentation focuses on urban wildlife. I talk in general about how the Covid-19 lockdown affected wildlife in cities around the world and why that made me want to write this book. I explain how I did my research. I read vignettes from the book including city creatures like deer, coyote, and boars. I show photos of the real animals that inspired these stories. We talk about how the city is an ecosystem and how humans and wildlife can coexist in a city. We ask questions like: What is a habitat? Which habitats might you find in a city? Which type of wildlife lives in your neighborhood? We talk about volunteering to help wildlife. We conclude with a Q and A.
TESTIMONIALS
“An Open Book Foundation is so pleased that Lenora Todaro partnered with our team for our first in person AOB STEM residence. She shared her citizen scientist enthusiasm with students by modeling how to look for birds, track their songs, and observe different behaviors. Her fascination was contagious and the students were so engaged; this was the perfect introduction to recognizing the importance of preserving habitats, the main topic of her book SEA LIONS IN THE PARKING LOT. The overall experience was fun, thought-provoking, age appropriate and well paced. Working with Lenora was a pleasure, we would have her again any time.”
— Josarie Molina, Education Director, An Open Book Foundation
“Lenora Todaro gave a wonderful presentation and provided so much food for thought!”
— Basia Tov, Librarian and Special Education Teacher, PS/IS 276 Battery Park City School
“Sea Lions in the Parking Lot is an amazingly timely and stunning account of how animals were impacted by the pandemic. As educators we strive to encourage our students to become global citizens and this book points them in the right direction! If you are a teacher who covers Climate Change, Human Impact, Biomes, or Animal Habitats, this book is a great resource to enhance your unit!”
— Sasha Swift, Sixth Grade Science Teacher, Arts & Letters 305 United, Brooklyn, NY
“Timely, fascinating and informative! Sea Lions in the Parking Lot will make children laugh, wonder, and most importantly, see the interconnectedness between human life and wildlife. The short vignettes and beautiful illustrations make this book accessible to children of all ages. It lends itself perfectly to facilitating lively elementary classroom discussions about the pandemic, animal habitats and conservationism.”
— Rebecca McMurdie, Principal, KIPP Washington Heights Elementary School, New York, NY
“If you’re looking for a book with wide appeal and broad curricular connections, look no further than Sea Lions in the Parking Lot!”
— Laura Luker, MLS, Library Teacher, Massachusetts School Library Association President
How did people and animals respond to the global pandemic of 2020-2021? Two books offer some answers: Sea Lions in the Parking Lot by Lenora Todaro and The Longest Storm by Dan Yaccarino.
further resources
The Year the Earth Changed. Directed by Tom Beard, narrated by David Attenborough, BBC Natural History Studios Unit, 2021. Apple TV.
-This is the trailer for a wonderful documentary narrated by the inimitable David Attenborough about the anthropause phenomenon I describe in my book. I highly recommend seeing the complete film.
American Museum of Natural History: https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/biodiversity/educator-resources
-I have been visiting the American Museum of Natural History since I was a kid, and my children can attribute their excellent science education, in part, to AMNH. The Hall of Biodiversity is amazing, and I am indebted to AMNH’s way of organizing habitats and biomes as a guiding force in my book.
National Geographic Kids: Habitats
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/habitats/
-As a longtime Nat Geo reader and a former homeschooling educator, I love most any educational links and activities provided by this magazine and their children’s book series. This link will bring you to the habitats page. Understanding the importance of habitat preservation is crucial to my book.
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What Can You Do to help wildlife?
*Learn about wildlife in your neighborhood
*Be a citizen scientist and volunteer with local organizations such as: www.birds.cornell.edu/citscitoolkit/projects
*For Monarch watching: www.monarchwatch.org ; http://monarchalert.calpoly.edu/index.html ; www.swmonarchs.org/index.php ; www.mlmp.org
*Join a butterfly census or plant a butterfly garden: www.naba.org
*Join the Christmas bird count or The Great Backyard Bird Count: www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc ; www.birdsource.org/gbbcapps
*Join a frog watch: www.aza.org/frogwatch
*Go ladybugging: www/lostladybug.org
*help out at your local animal shelter
*visit national parks to learn about local wildlife through junior ranger programs
*find a sit spot in nature, close your eyes, listen carefully
*keep a nature journal with notes and sketches
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Go-to sources for science educators and for general interest:
National Center for Science Education: https://ncse.ngo
World Wildlife Fund: https://www.worldwildlife.org/teaching-resources
Wildlife Conservation Society: https://www.wcs.org/
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/
The National Audubon Society: https://www.audubon.org/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: marine mammals
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/marine-mammals