Farmer Will Allen
One Plastic Bag
Energy Island
Vocabulary
100

How could you make a difference in your community like Farmer Will Allen? 

e.g. I could grow vegetables on the rooftop.

100

What was Isatou's grandmother's reaction when she saw Isatou's plastic bag? Why? 

She frowned, because she already knew that plastic was harmful. 

100

Initially, why were the adults on the island not supportive of the project? 

Because they thought it would be expensive, and they were comfortable using non-renewable energy. 

100

Explain the word and use it in a sentence: 

scarce

to have very little of something 

200

Where did Farmer Will Allen find all the farmers to work on his farm? 

He found farmers in his community- they were students, workers, and grandparents. He taught them to be farmers. 

200

What positive impacts did Isatou have on her village? 

various

200

What was the important event in the story that persuaded the islanders to support the energy project?

There was a blackout on the island, and the only people with electricity were the people with a wind turbine. 

200

Explain the word and use it in a sentence: 

pollution 

something that makes air, water, or soil dirty 
300

How did Farmer Will Allen grow so much on his small plot of land? 

He grew vertically to the ceiling, to use all the space he had. 

300

What did other people think about Isatou's idea? 

They thought it was weird at first, and laughed at her purses. But later, they loved them and Isatou sold all the purses! 

300

Why was Samso such a good place for the 'Energy Independence Project'? 

It was so windy. 

300

Explain the word and use it in a sentence: 

confess

to say that you did something bad 

400

When Farmer WIll Allen realized the soil on his plot was polluted, how did he solve the problem? 

He composted using red wriggler worms and food scraps.

400

Explains Isatou's solution to her town's problem. 

She decided to recycle the plastic bags into crocheted purses by cutting the plastic bags into strips. They were better because they were stronger than the normal plastic bag. 

400

What is the most important lesson we can learn from the Samso islanders?

various answers

400

Explain the word and use it in a sentence: 

convert

to change something from one form into another form

500

What difference did Farmer Will Allen make in his community? 

He helped people learn to farm, he provided fresh food to people in the city etc. 

500

When plastic bags arrived in Isatou's village, why did they cause such a problem?

Because people were used to using baskets made of leaves, which they just dropped on the floor. They did the same to the plastic bags, but the plastic bags made the town very dirty and polluted. 

500

How did Samso become energy independent? 

They harnessed the wind energy, and other forms of renewable energy, so they no longer needed oil or electricity from the mainland. 

500

Explain the word and use it in a sentence: 

renewable recourse

a resource that will not run out