Dianne Moran-Naturalist View

Voices of the Lewis and Clark Trail: “Nature’s Plethora, Natural History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition”

Performance

A myriad of trees and flowers, natural formations of rainbowed waterfalls, strange rock outcroppings, miles of endless plains and “the most horrible mountains I ever beheld.”  All this and more is brought to life through the descriptive journals kept by the men of this famous expedition.  Animal life was described and drawn to perfection as the men carefully counted toes and head shapes, recording for us animal species as yet unknown to the civilized world.  This was a journey of exploration and the 122 animal and 178 plant species they recorded would amaze the world upon their return in 1806.  They are still amazing us though over 200 years have passed since their return.  Their discoveries live on in the journals they kept and in the hearts of all naturalists and adventurers who share the dream of wonderment in the natural world.  This program invites audience participation with an incredible animal biofact display of skins, skeletons and unusual body parts for volunteers who try to identify.  A boy will be dressed as one of the naturalist captains; he'll help us discover the beauty of nature as he shows us his journal and plant presses.  Another volunteer will assist in showing a live animal that was described in the men's journals.
3rd-Adult/Communication Arts/Literature, History/Social Studies, Science/Ecology, Missouri/St. Louis History, Theater, Customized to Curriculum

Workshop

This is an hour of pure excitement for all with a passion for the natural world.  After a brief introduction, students work in cooperative learning groups with numerous biofacts spread before them.  Their challenge is to identify the specimens, draw pictures and present their findings when the activity is finished.  Printed guides are provided to aid the groups in their discoveries.  Dianne will then confirm the correct identity of the specimens.  The workshop concludes with a visit of a live animal like the ones recorded in the soldiers' journals.
3-Adult/Communication Arts/Literature, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, History/Social Studies, Science/Ecology, Missouri/St. Louis History, Visual Arts, Customized to Curriculum

Residency

Each class will participate in three hour-long encounters with the Natural World of Lewis and Clark, encompassing writing/drawing in their own journals and Dianne's compelling tales of various journal entries.  Split into cooperative learning groups, students will identify, draw and share their conclusions about their biofacts with the rest of the class. Several students will demonstrate writing with a quill and ink and a few more will close their documents with sealing wax and a seal.  We'll need to question a soldier or Sacagawea (students) each day about his or her natural adventures.  On the final day, we'll experience primitive fire making as Dianne displays her favorite wilderness skill.  The best is saved for last, of course...touching several live reptiles and amphibians as recorded in the original journals.
3rd-Adult/Communication Arts/Literature, Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, History/Social Studies, Science/Ecology, Missouri/St. Louis History, Visual Arts, Customized to Curriculum

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