Park Rangers in Yellowstone

Title: Park Rangers

Grade: 2nd
Standards
RL.2.1 Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and
how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
Art Content Standard 6.2: identify interrelated elements among the Arts and
other subject areas.
Objectives
Students will correctly recount different information from the story in order to
answer questions such as who, what, when, where, and why.
Students will identify how different parts of the National Parks symbol
represent park rangers and will create a symbol that characterize their
personality.
Materials
"Hey Ranger!" Kids Ask Questions About Yellowstone National Park by Kim
Williams Justesen and Judy Newhouse
Projector connected to a laptop with Skype
Call and arrange a time to skype with a Park Ranger in Yellowstone National
Park
Enough pieces of paper for each student (suggested to give half per
students)
Markers or colored pencils
Activity
1. Start by asking the students about what they believe the book Hey Ranger!
Kids Ask Questions About Yellowstone National Park by Kim Justesen and Judy
Newhouse. Prompt them by asking about the illustrations and the title. Ask if
any students have met a park ranger or if they know what a park ranger
does. While reading, ask questions about the plot, main characters, and
different facts learned by reading the story.
2. After reading the book, explain that the students will have the chance to
develop their own set of questions for a real park ranger. Each child will start
with three questions. They will do a think-pair-share with their neighbor and
pick one question both students agree upon. Once the class compiles a list of
questions, skype with a predetermined ranger. After the questions are
answered, have the park ranger talk about the symbol for the park rangers.
3. Next, discuss the different parts of the National Park Symbol and why they
chose to create the symbol.
a. Shape: arrowhead was chose to represent the protection of the culture
and history of the National Park.
b. Interior: different things that are protected within the park.
4. Students will create their own symbol that either represents themselves, their
family, or the school. Make sure the students write a description, on the back

of symbol, that explains why the symbol has the chosen shape, color, and
included items.

Assessment
1. Read the story to the students asking questions about various topics in the
books.
a. What do park rangers do?
b. What type of animal is in this picture?
c. Why does the question posed by the student sound silly?
d. How could the child improve this question?
e. Specific details on animals.
2. After reading the book, make sure to check in with each group of students to
help develop a question for the park ranger.
3. Collect the symbols created by the students.
Citations
Justesen, K. W., & Newhouse, J. (2006). "Hey Ranger!": Kids ask questions about
Yellowstone National Park. Guilford, CT: FalconGuide.
United States. National Park Service. (n.d.). National Park Service Symbols.
Retrieved March 27, 2016, from
http://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/education/classrooms/npssymbols.htm