Tree of Life, The
Publication Information
Author:  Sis, Peter	Illustrator:  Sis, Peter
Title:  Tree of Life, The	Date:  2003
Publisher:  Farrar Straus Giroux	City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:  0-374-45628-3	ISBN, hardback:
Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes	ESOL:
Family:	Young Adult:   Yes
Picture:   Yes
General Information:
Book Type(s):    nonfiction, biography and autobiography, diaries and journals
HSE Descriptor(s):    science
Summary:
Peter Sis introduces the reader (of almost any age) to the life of Charles Darwin through fascinating illustrations and excerpts from journals and diaries. Sis drew on the notes of Darwin for the illustrations because Darwin noted his observation with language rather than drawings. The biography focuses more on the life and times rather than the theory of evolution. Some readers may have difficulty reading the handwritten entries and the unusually formatted text.
Teaching Ideas:
Because the text can be visually confusing, teachers may want to support the students by reading parts aloud or by having students read parts of the book instead of the entire book in one sitting. Rather than emphasize the theory of evolution, the author emphasizes the obstacles that Darwin overcame, something learners might want to track using a chart or matrix. The illustrations encourage math and map activities. Perhaps the most interesting topic for discussion and writing, aside from Darwin himself, is the relationship of the illustrations to the text.
Teaching Strategies:
Agree? Disagree? Why?    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/agree_disagree_why.pdf
DR-TA: Directed Reading Thinking Activity    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/dr_ta.pdf
Helping Students in the Writing Process    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/help_writing_process.pdf
Herringbone    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/herringbone.pdf
Problem and Solution Outline and Text Frame    http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/prob_solution.pdf
Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
Celebration > holidays > Hanukkah Geography Geography > locations > countries > Japan Geography > locations > continents/regions > South America History > time period > 19th Century Science > scientific method Sports/Recreation > travel > journeys/voyages History > topic > exploration Science > scientists/inventors > Darwin, Charles Science > evolution

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