The Quest for the Tree Kangaroo – Common Core Exemplars/Informational Text

Bibliographic information

Montgomery, S. (2008). Quest for the Tree Kangaroo. Boston, Houghton Mifflin.

Genre: Non-Fiction
Suggested Grade Level: 6-8

Response to the book:
This is an AMAZING book that takes you to places you have never even heard of in Papua, New Guinea. I was impressed at the lengths that scientists go to follow their passion and learn more about what they are researching. This is a book that will inspire many students to dream, work hard and achieve their dreams. The details of the cloud forest were brought to life with the intricate descriptions and beautiful photography. This was not a boring science book, but a bridge to a place that has been left alone by the greedy hands of human explorers.

This book is an informational narrative of a scientist whose passion is learning more about tree kangaroos. They are a mammal that resides in a cloud forest of Papua, New Guinea. The narrative clearly describes the lengths that must be taken in order to learn more about this endangered animal. The researchers spend time with the villagers and observe cultural customs. The trek is long and perilous, steep hikes and slippery slopes abound. The task of searching and finding Matschies is arduous, they are one of the world’s rarest and most elusive animals. Locals join the researchers on the mission to find this magical animal. Once tree kangaroos are found they are medically checked, microchipped and have a collar placed that falls off after 5 months, so that the researchers can document their movement and habits.

Lesson Plan:

After reading the book, “Quest for the Tree Kangaroo”, the students will be able to write an essay about one of the animals found in Papua. New Guinea with minimal guidance from teacher.

Lesson Ideas:

Students will illustrate one of the animals described in the story.

Students will write about an animal they would be interested in observing and research where they can do this.

Students will visit the zoo to observe and document behavior and habitat of their favorite animal.

Discussion questions:
What animal would you like to learn more about? Where/how can you do this?
What are you passionate about?

Outside Resources:

https://www.calacademy.org/learn-explore/scientific-expeditions/papua-new-guinea