Nature Writing Lesson Plan: Giving Nature a Voice with Carson, London & Didion

Engage your students with this comprehensive nature writing lesson plan. Explore how authors like Rachel Carson, Jack London, and Joan Didion give a voice to the environment. Students will analyze classic texts, compare literary techniques, and create their own original work of environmental literature. Includes prompts, discussion questions, and creative project options.

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Lesson Plan: Nature's Voice, Human Echo

A Creative Exploration of Environmental Writing

Materials Needed:

  • Copies of (or excerpts from):
    • Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (Prologue "A Fable for Tomorrow" and one other chapter of choice)
    • Jack London's White Fang and/or The Call of the Wild (key chapters showing the main character's perspective on the world)
    • Joan Didion's essays "The Santa Anas" and "Los Angeles Notebook" from Slouching Towards Bethlehem
  • Notebook or journal for brainstorming and reflection
  • Computer with internet access and word processing software
  • (Optional) Art supplies, camera, or video editing software for the creative project

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, we will explore how three distinct and powerful authors—Jack London, Rachel Carson, and Joan Didion—give a voice to the natural world. While London channels nature through the minds of animals, Carson makes it a victim calling for help, and Didion presents it as an unsettling force that shapes human psychology. Our goal is not just to understand their work but to borrow their tools to create our own powerful piece of nature writing.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Analyze and Compare: Identify and compare the literary techniques each author uses to portray the natural world (e.g., personification, imagery, tone, scientific data).
  • Synthesize: Explain the different relationships between humans and nature presented in these texts.
  • Apply and Create: Produce an original creative work (writing, visual, or digital) that uses techniques inspired by London, Carson, or Didion to capture the essence of a specific natural environment or phenomenon.

Part 1: The Spark (30 Minutes) - Quick-Write & Discussion

Let's begin by connecting with your own experiences.

  1. Journaling Prompt (15 minutes): Choose one of the following and write freely for 15 minutes. Don't worry about perfection; just explore your thoughts.
    • Describe a time you felt that the weather was affecting your mood or the mood of everyone around you. What did it feel like?
    • Think of a place in nature you know well (a park, a forest, a beach, your backyard). If that place could speak, what would it say about the people who visit it?
    • Have you ever watched an animal and wondered what it was thinking or feeling? Describe the scene from the animal's point of view.
  2. Discussion (15 minutes): Share your thoughts from the journal entry. What challenges did you face in trying to capture the feeling of weather, the "voice" of a place, or the perspective of an animal? These are the very challenges our authors tackled.

Part 2: Deconstructing the Masters (60 Minutes) - Guided Analysis

Now, let's dive into the texts. For each author, read the selected passages and consider the guiding questions. Jot down your notes and key quotes.

1. The Primal World of Jack London

  • Guiding Questions: How does London put you inside the mind of an animal? Does he use human-like emotions, or does he focus more on instinct and sensory details (smell, sound, sight)? What is the "law of the wild" in his stories, and what is humanity's place in it? Is nature a friend or an adversary?

2. The Alarmed World of Rachel Carson

  • Guiding Questions: Carson is a scientist, but Silent Spring doesn't read like a dry textbook. What storytelling techniques does she use in "A Fable for Tomorrow"? How does she blend scientific facts with emotional language to persuade her reader? Who is the "villain" in her story, and who is the "victim"?

3. The Ominous World of Joan Didion

  • Guiding Questions: Didion writes about the Santa Ana winds, "the weather goes out of focus." What does she mean by that? How does she describe the *psychological* effect of the wind and fire season on the people of Los Angeles? Notice her short, sharp sentences and unsettling imagery. How does her style create a feeling of unease and dread?

Synthesizing Discussion:

Let's talk about the connections. If London's nature is a powerful force of instinct, and Carson's nature is a fragile system under attack, what is Didion's nature? Which author's portrayal feels most relevant to our world today? Why?

Part 3: The Creative Challenge (90+ Minutes) - Find Your Voice

This is your chance to become the author. Your task is to create a piece that gives a voice to a natural subject you know well. It could be a local environmental issue, a specific place, a type of weather, or an animal you often see. Choose one of the following paths.

Option A: The London Lens

Write a short story (500-750 words) from the perspective of an animal in your chosen environment. Focus on sensory details and instinct. What are its primary goals (survival, food, shelter)? How does it perceive the human world encroaching on its own?

Option B: The Carson Call-to-Action

Write a persuasive essay or blog post (500-750 words) about a local environmental concern (e.g., pollution in a local creek, the disappearance of a certain bird, light pollution). Begin with an evocative story or description (your "Fable for Tomorrow") and then weave in facts and a clear call to action for your community.

Option C: The Didion Mood Piece

Write a personal essay or create a photo-essay (10-15 images with captions) or a short film (1-2 minutes) that captures the unique mood of a natural phenomenon in your area (e.g., the feeling of the first snowfall, the tension of an approaching thunderstorm, the oppressive humidity of summer). Focus on how this phenomenon subtly affects human behavior and psychology, using a sharp, observant, and evocative style.

Part 4: Reflection & Connection (15 Minutes) - Sharing Your Work

After completing your project, present your work. Then, let's reflect on the process with these questions:

  • Which author's style was the most difficult to emulate? Which was the easiest? Why?
  • How did this project change the way you see your chosen subject?
  • What have you learned about the power of language and imagery to shape our understanding of the environment?

Assessment Criteria

Your creative project will be celebrated for its effort and creativity. We'll look at it together based on these points:

  • Clear Voice & Style: Does the project clearly echo the chosen author's style and perspective?
  • Application of Theme: Does the project thoughtfully explore the relationship between humanity and nature?
  • Creativity & Originality: Does the project demonstrate your unique perspective and creative effort?

Going Further (Optional Extensions)

  • Expand Your Reading: Explore other great nature writers like Annie Dillard (Pilgrim at Tinker Creek), Edward Abbey (Desert Solitaire), or Henry David Thoreau (Walden).
  • Start a Nature Journal: Spend 15 minutes each day for a week observing the same natural spot. Record your observations in detail, focusing on small changes.
  • Citizen Science: Research local environmental organizations. Are there opportunities to volunteer or participate in a "citizen science" project, like a bird count or water quality testing?
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