Students investigate one U.S. National Park to answer what makes a place worth protecting, using science, research, informational writing, and poetry to build a case for care and conservation. Over six weeks, they study landforms, weathering, and erosion; analyze real visitor guides; and revise their own writing through feedback, reflection, and peer critique. The work matters because students create a polished visitor guide zine and perform an original poem for families and community guests at National Park Night of Voices, sharing knowledge with a real audience.

Students research one National Park to explain how its landforms, weathering, and erosion shape the place and why it is worth protecting. They write a polished visitor guide zine with clear sections, strong text features, accurate paraphrased facts, and purposeful organization for a real audience. They use poetry techniques such as imagery, sensory language, and line breaks to create an original poem that helps others picture and value their park. They strengthen their work through discussion, critique, revision, and reflection, then present as both authors and park experts at a public exhibition.

Students create a National Park Visitor Guide zine that includes researched informational sections, labeled landform explanations, text features such as headings, captions, and illustrations, and an original poem about the park’s landscape. Along the way, they produce a research organizer, a park choice justification, landmark sketches, paraphrased notes, draft paragraphs, poem drafts, and revision-ready display pieces for gallery walks and Author’s Chair. By the end, each student also prepares a polished exhibition display and a short speaking piece for National Park Night of Voices, where they read their poem aloud and talk with guests about why their park is worth protecting.

Open with a “Poetry in the Wild Premiere” by showing a short video montage of several National Parks while students jot quick notices and wonders about what makes each place worth protecting. Read a vivid nature poem aloud, then invite students to sketch the landscape image that stays with them most and write one sentence describing why it matters. Move into a brief class discussion around the essential and driving questions, followed by a Know/Wonder chart that captures questions about landforms, wildlife, people, and park protection. End with a gallery walk of real park brochures and visitor guides so students begin noticing the text features, facts, and design choices they will later use in their own zines.

Host a two-day National Park Night of Voices that feels like an author reading and museum opening: students first perform their original park poems aloud, then stand by their visitor guide zines for a gallery walk with families, other classes, staff, and community guests. Invite a national park ranger and a local poet or children’s author to serve as featured guests who respond to student work, ask questions, and help make the audience authentic. Set up each display with the zine, labeled landform visuals, illustrations, and a short “Why this park is worth protecting” speaking prompt so every student shares both science learning and writing growth. End with student self-assessment and reflection cards at each station so visitors can leave comments and students can name one fact, one writing move, and one reason their park matters.