Lesson Plan - History Makers: Jane Goodall

Watch a Video: Dr. Jane Goodall: “We Must Take Action”
Discuss: What does Goodall say it was like to work with chimpanzees up close?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• primatology 
• impact

Set a Purpose for Reading
Have students think about words they’d use to describe Goodall—and why they chose them.

1. Why do you think the author includes the story about Goodall hiding in a hen house?
The author includes the story to show that Goodall liked studying animals from the time she was little. She later spent many years observing chimpanzees in the wild.
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2. Based on the article, what was unusual about the way Goodall observed chimpanzees in Tanzania?
Goodall didn’t just watch the chimps from a distance. She got close to them. She treated them like neighbors and gave them names.
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3. What were two similarities Goodall noticed between chimps and humans?
According to the article, Goodall noticed that chimps used tools, like humans do. She also observed that they have emotions, like humans do, and that mother chimps bond with their babies.
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FEATURED SKILL: Text Evidence
Use “All About Jane Goodall” to have students complete a biographical profile using details from the article. 
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