Search for Resources

Kate, Who Tamed the Wind

Elementary

Description

This children’s book is a simple, lyrical story about the important role trees play in our lives and about caring for the world in which we live. It also highlights themes of creativity, perseverance, and using nature to solve problems.

A man lives in a house on top of a steep, windy hill where the strong wind constantly blows things away and damages his home. He tries many different ways to stop the wind, but nothing works. A young girl named Kate sees the problem and comes up with a simple plan. She fills an old wheelbarrow with small tree seedlings and plants them around the hill. At first the trees are too small to make a difference, but as they grow, they create a natural windbreak that slows the wind. Over time, the hill becomes greener and calmer, and the man’s house is finally protected.

Click here for more information regarding the author's books, school visits, or teaching resources.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

The book supports learning outcomes in science and language arts from kindergarten to grade four. It could serve as an excellent introduction to a science project in which students raise their own seedlings and learn about tree growth. The story could also inspire a class action project in which students plant tree seedlings on school grounds or in their community, helping them connect what they learned to real-world environmental action. Students learn how planting trees can act as a nature-based solution, using natural systems to help solve environmental problems such as strong winds while also improving the health of local ecosystems.

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

  • Step 1Select a province
  • Alberta
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported through applying varied strategies and processes, and considering both particular contexts and universal themes
        • Oral Language: Listening and speaking form the foundation for literacy development and improve communication, collaboration, and respectful mutual understanding.
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened by investigating natural systems and their interactions.
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported through applying varied strategies and processes, and considering both particular contexts and universal themes.
        • Oral Language: Listening and speaking form the foundation for literacy development and improve communication, collaboration, and respectful mutual understanding.
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened by investigating natural systems and their interactions.
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported through applying varied strategies and processes, and considering both particular contexts and universal themes
        • Oral Language: Listening and speaking form the foundation for literacy development and improve communication, collaboration, and respectful mutual understanding
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened by investigating natural systems and their interactions
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported through applying varied strategies and processes, and considering both particular contexts and universal themes
        • Oral Language: Listening and speaking form the foundation for literacy development and improve communication, collaboration, and respectful mutual understanding
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported by applying varied strategies and processes and by considering both particular contexts and universal themes.
        • Oral Language: Listening and speaking form the foundation for literacy development and improve communication, collaboration, and respectful mutual understanding.
  • British Columbia
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us.
        • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science: Plants and animals have observable features
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us
        • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world.
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us
        • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us.
        • Stories and other texts help us learn about ourselves, our families, and our communities
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
        • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
  • Northwest Territories
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us.
        • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science: Plants and animals have observable features
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us
        • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world.
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
        • Science 1: Plants and animals have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us
        • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us.
        • Stories and other texts help us learn about ourselves, our families, and our communities
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
        • Science 3:Plants and Animals are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
        • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Nova Scotia
  • Nunavut
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
  • Yukon Territory
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us.
        • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science: Plants and animals have observable features
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us
        • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world.
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us
        • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us.
        • Stories and other texts help us learn about ourselves, our families, and our communities
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
        • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment

Themes Addressed

Citizenship (1)

  • General Guide to Taking Action

Ecosystems (1)

  • Appreciating the Natural World

Land Use & Natural Resources (1)

  • Planting Native Species

A project of LSF Newsletter Sign-up