ACTIVITY ONE: Reading a Chipko Story

I. Read the following book: Aani of the Tree Huggers by Jeannine Atkins, illustrated by Venantius Pinto

II. Read the following book, if desired, as supplementary material: The People Who Hugged The Trees by Deborah Lee Rose, illustrated by Birgitta Saflund

Both of these books are picture books written for children, and while there may be some resistance to using such books with an older audience, I strongly disagree. Children's picture books often carry a weight well beyond their years, so to speak. Often spare and direct, the text as well as the illustrations can offer themselves up for reading on multiple levels. In addition, because they are illustrated children's books, they offer graspable, accessible entry points into the subject matter, which can be made more complex throughout the course of study.

III. Take "observation and inference" notes on Aani and the Tree Huggers and follow with a discussion of the same format:

It is essential for students to understand the distinction between making observations and making inferences. In explaining this to students, I like to frame these two processes with the questions: "What do I see and what do I observe?" and "What do I think about what I see and what do I think is happening?" respectively.

An example, albiet a rough one lacking much depth, of how "observation and inference" notes might look.

Questions for writing and discussion.

1. Look at the first illustrated page. (Opposite: “Aani set down…”) What do you see? What do you observe? What do these images tell you? What do you infer about the situation depicted by the images?

2. Look at the illustrated page opposite “Aani’s mother looked past…” What do you see? What do you observe? What do these images tell you? What do you infer about the situation depicted by the images?

3. Look at the illustrated page opposite “’Namaste.’” What do you see? What do you observe? What do these images tell you? What do you infer about the situation depicted by the images?

4. Look at the illustrated page opposite ‘’Already you’ve cut more…’” What do you see? What do you observe? What do these images tell you? What do you infer about the situation depicted by the images?

IV. Write on and discuss the following questions:

1. What is the main message of Aani and the Tree Huggers?
2. Who are the various characters and what are their roles in the story? What are their points of view?
3. What is the primary conflict?
4. How do Aani and the others resolve the conflict?
5. By what other means could the conflict have been resolved? Is their resolution built to last, so to speak? Will it work?