“The Lorax” in the Classroom
This book is about the consequences of logging and
manufacturing products. ”The Lorax” teaches us that
we need to respect and care for our environment. This
book would be a great segway into a unit about
climate change and various other factors contributing
to it. This book could be used for science, history, and
writing. For science, students could do a research
project on various factors of climate change and show
their findings on a poster. This could be varied
depending on the age. For history, students could
learn about the recycling laws and various other things
that affect the environment. For writing, students
could be prompted to write a creative paper on what
the world may be like in 50 years. Other prompts
could include creating a “perfect world” with ideas of
Book Synopses & Critique what they think the world should be like in a pollution THEODORE SEUSS GIESEL
free environment.
”The Lorax” by Dr. Suess, was published in
1971. In this book, the Lorax has disappeared
and the world is not the same. A young boy,
walking in polluted town, ponders why the
Biographical Information
Lorax is no longer around and stumbles across A writer, a poet, and a cartoonist, Theodor
a tragic story of the Lorax’s mysterious Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was
disappearance. He learns that an old man an influential author and illustrator in the
named the Once-ler once used to harvest and world of children’s literature. He was born
cut down the tufts of Truffula trees to make a March 2nd, 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts
fancy garment named Thneed. The Lorax tells and passed away September 24th, 1991.
the Once-ler the dangers of harvesting and Growing up, his mother often encouraged his
chopping down the trees to make the Thneed, drawing and writing and Theodor actually
but the the Once-ler creates a business anyway credited his mother for being his first
selling Thneeds at the cost of the Truffula inspiration. Theodor went to Dartmouth
trees and the surrounding environment. The College where he was editor in chief for a
wildlife are forced to migrate and the Once- humor magazine. The first book Dr. Seuss
lers factory pollutes the air. The Once-ler runs published was “Horton Hatches the Egg” in
out of Truffula trees to harvest and has to shut 1942. Dr. Seuss has published more than 60
down his business. The world becomes a sad books and has had movies made based off his By:
polluted mess. The young boy receives the last books, like ”How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
Jennifer Aceves
Truffula seed and is prompted to plant it to see and “The Lorax.” Some awards he has won
the return of wildlife and the Lorax. This book includes three Emmys, three Grammys, an Matilda Bunch
is a great story that represents protecting our Academy Award, and the 1984 Pulitzer Prize.
environment and has a very valuable lesson. He has an award named after him called the
The illustrations are beautifully rendered and Theodor Seuss Geisel Award which recognizes
portray the meaning of the story. The pages of distinguished early literacy, beginning reader
the book are even printed on recycled paper. children books that are creative and engaging
with children.
Other Dr. Seuss Books: Summaries & Classroom Uses
When Sally and Sam’s Down in Whoville, everyone Horton the elephant
mother leaves for the loves Christmas, except the stumbles across a noise
day, they are home Grinch. He devises a plan that he hears coming from
alone, inside on a to steal the happiness and a clover. He is intrigued
dreary, rainy day until a joy from Christmas Day. and realizes that a whole
mysterious Cat shows up This book might be world lives upon that
and brightens up their controversial for some clover and vows to find a
day. This book could be schools, but it could be safe spot for it. A good use
used in the classroom to used to show students that of this book in curriculum
help students with their some people celebrate would be to talk about
rhyming words, like different things around the perspective in the animal
”cat” and ”hat”. holidays . kingdom and the world.
A fun and exciting, yet A story about tackling There are so many pets
simple, rhyming book, problems head on instead a a pet store, how do
”One Fish Two Fish Red of avoiding them, a man you pick just one? In
Fish Blue Fish” is a journeys a long way to get this book, we learn just
great book for beginner to Solla Sollew, where he how hard it is to make
readers. This book runs into many obstacles. such a decision. This is
would be a wonderful This is a great rhyming a great early literacy
addition to a book, another great boo for beginner
kindergarten or first addition to help practice readers. This book
grade classroom to help fluency, but this book can could be used to help
with rhyming words. also spark conversations practice fluency in the
about problem solving. classroom.
Some sneetches have A young boy explores ”Oh, The Places You’ll
green stars on their the ins and outs of his Go” is about the ups and
belly, and some don’t. house and finds a bunch downs we go through on
The ones who do are of fun characters where our journey through life.
looked as better than he wasn’t expecting. This book is a great book
the rest, until one day This is another great to read aloud to get
Sylvester McMonkey early literacy book for students excited about
McBean comes to town young readers. In the their future’s and all of
with a machine that can classroom this would be the things they have
print or remove stars at a fun book to use with ahead of them. This book
will. This book is a great rhyming and the could also be used as
book to spark discussion concept of nonsense inspiration for a writing
in the classroom about words assignment about the
discrimination. student’s aspirations.
References:
Book Modules. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2019,
from
[Link]
ookModule/BookModule.
Dr. Seuss. (2019, September 5). Retrieved September 29,
2019, from
[Link]
Dr. Seuss. (n.d.). Retrieved September 29, 2019, from
[Link]
Seuss, Dr. (1957). The cat in the hat. New York, NY:
Random House.
Seuss, Dr. (1982). Horton hears a who!. New York, NY:
Random House.
Seuss, Dr. (1957). How the Grinch stole Christmas.
New York, NY: Random House.
Seuss, Dr. (1965). I had trouble in getting to Solla
Sollew . New York, NY: Random House.
Seuss, Dr. (1971). The Lorax. New York, NY: Random
House.
Seuss, Dr. (1990). Oh, the places you’ll go!. New
York, NY: Random House.
Seuss, Dr. (1960). One fish two fish red fish blue fish.
New York, NY: Random House.
Seuss, Dr. (1974). There’s a wocket in my pocket.
New York, NY: Random House.
Seuss, Dr. (1961). The Sneetches and other stories.
New York, NY: Random House.
Seuss, Dr. (1982). What pet should I get hears a
who!. New York, NY: Random House.