Earth Day: The Lorax

The Lorax is a great story to share with your students around Earth Day (or any other time, for that matter).

There is a video available, but I'm partial to reading to my students (and they seem to enjoy it as well). 

Following the telling of the tale (or the watching of the DVD), have your students consider the following:

• What does a "Thneed" represent?
• List some "Thneeds" in our society today.
• Who does the "Once-ler" represent?
• How was the "Once-ler" irresponsible?
• What could the "Once-ler" have done to protect the natural resources while still manufacturing "Thneeds"?
• Did the "Once-ler" feel that he was part of the Truffula Land?  Explain.
• Can we separate ourselves from our natural environment?  Why or why not?
• The "Once-ler" excuses himself with "Well if I didn't do it, then someone else would."*  Is this a valid excuse?  Why or why not?
• Who does the "Lorax" represent?

*In the video version (at least in an older version, it looks like there's a newer edition, which I haven't seen, so I don't know if it's word-for-word the same or not).