Rachel Carson Discussion Prompts & Pause Points

Before the Movie

What do you think of when you hear the word environment? (Tap prior knowledge)

What can people do to protect natural resources? (Tap prior knowledge)

During the Movie (Pause Points)

Stop at the following times in the movie and ask questions or prompt a discussion to keep students focused and to assess their understanding before moving on:

Timecode 1:19: Why do you think Carson chose a career as a science communicator rather than work in a lab? (Make connections)

Timecode 3:29: Why was Carson concerned about DDT despite its effectiveness? (Identify main idea and details)

Timecode 6:45: What effects did Carson’s advocacy have on policy? (Identify cause/effect)

After the Movie

Look at the four related movies at the bottom of the page. Explain how each is connected to the Rachel Carson topic. (Make connections)

What did Carson mean when she said, “Man’s endeavors to control nature by his powers to alter and destroy the world inevitably evolve into a war against himself, a war he would lose unless he came to terms with nature.”? (Apply new knowledge; Make inferences)

BrainPOP recommends reading the movie description that appears on the Rachel Carson Topic Page to your class. Then show the movie once through without pausing.  Watch it again, this time using the discussion prompts.

*BrainPOP’s Discussion Questions and Prompts align to CCSS Speaking and Listening Standards.