It’s no secret that today’s educators are searching for engaging, high-impact projects that go beyond the typical research report or science fair. More teachers are now using literature to create hands-on learning through meaningful book tie-in classroom projects.
Inspired by The Big Empty from author-illustrator Kirbi Fagan, teachers and homeschoolers can connect environmental storytelling to a real-world project that brings art and science together. This 32-page picture book, told from the perspective of a sagebrush, introduces children to the plant’s resilience and its importance to the harsh ecosystem it calls home, “The Big Empty”.
Students can use the sagebrush as inspiration to give nature its own voice through a National Park classroom project. The “Adopt a National Park” Poster Project is a cross-curricular ELA science project that provides a creative way to teach conservation through literature and promote environmental protection.
Turning Storytime Into Stewardship:How a Single Picture Book Can Inspire Young Conservationists
The Big Empty uses kid-friendly, poetic language to introduce complex ecological concepts, making it ideal for grades K–4. The story revolves around resilience, showing how the sagebrush revives its environment after a fire destroys everything. It also highlights interconnection by showing how the plant provides shelter and food for the animals that live there.
By exploring these themes, students begin to understand the importance (and challenges) of conservation while developing empathy for nature. To deepen their comprehension, teachers can tie these themes into a classroom conservation activity, the National Park poster project.
This “sagebrush survival story” takes place in the deserts of the Western U.S., which includes National Parks such as Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park, but this “Adopt a National Park” poster project can extend to National Parks across the country. Other National Parks, such as Yellowstone National Park, are home to similar plant communities. This encourages students to discover the “essential plant” or key species in their adopted park.
Double the Impact: From Nature’s Voice to Human Action
To further extend the theme of conservation, pair The Big Empty with another book illustrated by Fagan, Summer of the Tree Army. Two books with one powerful message: Nature always finds a way.
This book explores the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This program helped shape and protect many of our national parks during the 1930s, showing how people have historically worked to protect and restore land. It follows a boy named Charlie in northern Michigan who learns about the work of the CCC as they help in forest conservation, planting trees, building infrastructure, and fighting fire.
A key moment in the story comes when a forest fire threatens Charlie’s home, and the CCC crew of young men works to contain it, showing the value of conservation labor and stewardship. This historic movement shows students that young people have always played a role in conservation.
By pairing these stories, educators show different narrative approaches to conservation, deepening students’ understanding of stewardship before they begin the poster work.
Give Nature a Voice: The ‘Adopt a National Park’ Classroom Project
Using The Big Empty as a model for perspective writing, students can “speak for” their chosen or assigned National Park. This “Adopt a National Park” classroom activity can be done individually or in small groups, making it adaptable to classrooms, homeschooling, and library settings.
The students “adopt” one U.S. National Park to research and create a poster that includes three important elements:
- Unique Wildlife/Ecosystem: What makes this park special? What animals and plants call it home?
- Why It Needs Protection: What are the threats affecting the living things that call this park home (climate change, human impact, etc)?
- How to Help: What is at least one action kids can take to help preserve it? (students might use examples from the CCC, such as tree planting, fire fighting, or trail restoration)
Through this environmental action project, students blend creativity with research and persuasive writing to inspire others to take action for the planet.
Make it Simple: How to Bring This Conservation Poster Project to Life
Here’s how to bring this project to life in your classroom.
STEP 1: Introduce the Theme — Anchor the project’s themes by leading a class discussion around the books, such as:
- What is worth protecting in this story’s setting?
- What are the essential plants and animal species of your chosen park?
- What does the sagebrush give the animals?
- Imagine your National Park lost its one special animal or unique plant. How would the story of that park change?
After the discussion, assign or let students choose their “Adopted Park” from a list of U.S. National Parks. Then, review the project guidelines together.
STEP 2: Research Phase — Provide reliable kid-friendly research sources like NPS.gov’s kids page and reputable conservation sites to gather factual data for their park. For design inspiration, provide links to vintage WPA-style National Park posters.
To help guide their research, create a graphic organizer structured around the three required poster elements (Wildlife, Threats, Action).
STEP 3: Poster Creation — This step is all about encouraging creativity and should be broken into two parts:
Part 1: Create a rough draft — Students use their notes to draft clear, persuasive text for their poster. Next, the students will decide on the high-impact visuals or ideas for their design. For older students, encourage them to replicate The Big Empty’s poetic tone within the poster’s text.
Part 2: Design the poster — Using the guidelines provided, students can start designing their poster, including the park name (or making up their own,) the three required content elements, and an iconic image that defines the park’s spirit. Students transfer their drafts and designs to an 11×17 poster.
Along with the project guidelines, you can provide students with suggestions for art and topics to include on their posters.
- Daytime vs Nighttime
- Animals
- Plants
- Tourists
- Landmarks
If the guidelines require students to create artwork for the poster inspired by the type of illustration used in The Big Empty or The Summer of the Army, provide tips they can use to simplify the process of creating the art piece:
- Landscape: Help students understand the concept of landscape by having them consider the foreground, middle ground, and background of the setting. Ask them to point out what is closest to them and how large it is compared to items in the middle and background, which are smaller.
- Focal Point: The focal point should instantly tell the viewer what the poster is about. Instruct students to determine what they want the audience to notice first. For this specific project, that may be:
- A key animal species
- A landmark
- A conservation message
Tips to emphasize:
- Placement: Place the focal point near the center, or use the Rule of Thirds.
- Scale: The focus should fill a significant portion of the poster space.
- Contrast: Use a contrasting color or sharp detail to make the focal point pop against a simplified background.
- Limited Palette: Suggest using only 3–5 colors, similar to the vintage WPA-style posters. This helps unify the design and makes coloring less overwhelming.
- Mix Art and Text: Remind students that text is part of the artwork. Typography is just as powerful as images in communicating the message. The words should be part of the artwork, not just placed on top of it. Encourage them to use bold, striking fonts or hand-lettering that complements the image.
STEP 4: Present & Display — Students present their posters to the class by making a 1-2 minute pitch on why their park is important and what actions the class can take to help. As they are presenting, students should connect back to the stories used to inspire the project by showing how resilience and interdependence are vital in all National Parks.
After all presentations, host a classroom “National Parks Gallery Walk” where students can explore one another’s work and learn more about the country’s beautiful parks.
Beyond the Poster: Fun Ways to Elevate Your National Park Project
You’ve done the heavy lifting. The research is complete, and the posters are brilliant! But the learning doesn’t have to stop there. Transform that hard work into high-impact community and cross-curricular events.
- Get Everyone Involved: Turn it into a school-wide event for Earth Day or National Park Week, or display the posters in a community center or library to promote conservation awareness.
- Add Creative Writing: Ask students to write a short story or poem from the perspective of their park’s wildlife to include on the poster.
- Virtual Exploration: Incorporate a virtual field trip using National Park Service online tours.
- Art Extension: Have students create artwork inspired by Fagan’s illustration style (pastel, colored pencil, collage) to represent their parks on the poster.
- Invite a Guest Speaker: Connect with a local park ranger, wildlife expert, or conservation group for a virtual or in-person Q&A. Students can prepare questions about protecting local habitats and national parks.
More Than a Poster: The Lasting Lessons That Stick Beyond the Grade Book
When students create their “Adopt a National Park” posters, they’re not just completing an art or science project… they learn what it means to care for the world around them. The “Adopt a National Park” poster project turns abstract concepts like ecosystems, conservation, and empathy into something students can see, feel, and create. The best part? The lessons stick long after the posters come off the wall.
- Reinforces Cross-Curricular Learning: This project seamlessly blends reading, science, art, and environmental studies, making it a great hands-on way to meet multiple learning objectives in one activity. Students use:
- Literacy skills to understand the books
- Research and analyze scientific facts about their national park
- Express their learning creatively through poster design and writing
- Encourages Real-World Awareness and Advocacy: Students learn that even small actions, like reducing waste or spreading awareness, can make a meaningful impact. Students take ownership of their park, explore real-world environmental issues, and become advocates for conservation.
- Helps Students Connect Emotionally with Nature: By personifying the environment through The Big Empty, students form empathy and emotional connections with wildlife and ecosystems. This personal connection helps foster a deeper respect for the planet and a lifelong sense of environmental responsibility.
- Builds Research and Critical Thinking Skills: As students research their chosen park, they learn to identify credible sources, summarize key points, and think critically about environmental issues.
- Fosters Creativity and Expression: Students get to blend imagination with learning. The project invites creative expression while reinforcing factual accuracy, providing a balance that makes learning stick.
- Promotes Collaboration and Communication: When done in groups, this project nurtures teamwork, communication, and decision-making. Students learn to divide tasks, share ideas, and present their work.
Let’s Grow the Next Generation of Conservationists… One Classroom at a Time
Ready to bring conservation to life in your classroom? Start your own ‘Adopt a National Park’ Poster Project today! By using stories like The Big Empty and Summer of the Tree Army, educators can inspire real-world stewardship in young children. The “Adopt a National Park” poster project transforms a book into an impactful, hands-on learning experience that brings conservation to life.
To create an entire lesson plan around ecosystems and habitats, read our post showing educators how to use The Big Empty educators’ guide with printable worksheets, vocabulary words, and more that can be used alongside the national park project.