Workbook Q&A

“What my mother said to me is what I say to young people all around the world: ‘If there’s something you really want, you’re going to have to work really hard and take advantage of [opportunities] and above all, never give up.”

THE FAMILY WORKBOOK

Scientist:

  1. Have you ever wondered about scientists and what they were like as children? What drew them to their chosen professions?
  2. What is culture? What culture are you a part of?
  3. At school, Jane enjoyed biology, history, and English. What subjects do you like? Why?
  4. When Jane was sad her mom told her to read a book because it would help her forget her troubles. What books cheer you up?
  5. What is your dream? What steps will you take to make your goals a reality?
  6. Have you ever experienced a special moment with an animal like Jane did with David Greybeard?
  7. How do you make up after a fight?
  8. What items do you use as toys or in creative ways?
  9. What problems do the chimps face because of habitat loss?
  10. Do you always like what you do? Could you change? Do you want to?
  11. Dr. Jane says there is still a lot to learn about the animal and plant kingdoms. Which plant or animal would you like to discover new facts about? Why?  What plants you use for medicine?
  12. Can you think of examples of movies and television shows with anthropomorphism?

Activist:

  1. Do you think our materialistic lifestyle negatively affects the environment?
  2. What daily pledge have you taken to experience the outdoor world, of greenness and growing things?
  3. What native plants should be grown where you live?
  4. What natural ways can you think of to resolve problems between animals and humans?
  5. Is your carbon footprint above average, or below average?
  6. Why are so many people taking water for granted?  Why do we purchase bottled water?
  7. Is there a tree you love in your backyard or at the park? Do you know how trees communicate with one another?
  8. Why does picking grapes in a vineyard at full moon make them juiciest?
  9. Do you have a backyard organic garden or window box? Is there a community garden where you can plant your own crops?
  10. Has your child or grandchild expressed interest in becoming a vegetarian?
  11. What food does your family buy? Where does it come from? How was it made? Did it come from very far away using a lot of fossil fuel? Could you buy the same thing made locally? Did it involve harm
    to animals?
  12. Do you think you hold power in their own hands to think locally? Do you get together with other like-minded people and take action?
  13. Dr. Jane encounters climate change skeptics, she never argues with them. If she argues with them, they don’t listen. The only possible way to get them to listen is to reach their hearts. How does Dr. Jane do this?
  14. When you have had a disagreement with someone, how did you resolve it? Did you try to understand where they were coming from?
  15. Do schools offer volunteer opportunity on a project to find out if they want to do it for a living as an adult?
  16. Who are your role models?  Do you know abut TACARE who is a leader in how community conservation can be done the right way across the globe?

Hope:

  1. Have you wondered why the program for youth is called Roots & Shoots? Why is this the motto? “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.”  What type of tree does Dr. Jane think of when she thinks of Roots & Shoots?
  2. What are kinds of technology that have allowed us to live in greater harmony with nature?
  3. What are Dr. Jane’s four reasons for hope?