In an apocalyptic future where animals have disappeared from the face of the earth, 12-year-old Iowa Chapman finds what might be the last remaining dog.
- Genres
-
- Adventure
- Dystopia
- Themes
-
- Climate Change
- Conservation
- Family
- Responsibility
- Episodes
- 14
- Avg. length
- 20-25 minutes
- Total
- 5 hours
Synopsis
In a distant future, climate change and overconsumption have made our planet a very different place. The seas have risen, resources are scarce…and animals have disappeared off the face of the earth. Most people believe they never existed at all. But 12-year-old Iowa Chapman is not ‘most people.’ She’s a “collector”, devoted to learning about the past, diving deep into lakes and rivers in search of ancient artifacts. And when she encounters what might be the last remaining dog, a hidden world of ancient and guarded secrets begins to reveal itself.
Pursued by Regulators, Iowa and Doggo set off on a journey across a strange and dangerous land in search of Haven, a legendary island where some believe animals might still be living. Along the way, they’ll encounter strange new societies built on fragments of the past, people surviving at the edge of civilization, and an altogether different world from the one we live in today. As Iowa pieces together clues about the past, listeners can inhabit an imaginary world that is both stark and terrible, yet filled with adventure and hope for a better future.
Stay tuned to the end of each episode, where hosts Jess Fisher and Nate DuFort talk to experts and educators about issues explored in this adventure. This podcast has been adopted by 6th to 8th grade classrooms as part of the ELA and Natural World curriculum.
Buy the scripts for the entire series here.
Here is a handy link to a PDF of Standards associated with Iowa Chapman and the Last Dog classroom engagement.
Classroom Resources
Hey Educators! You’re excited to use Iowa Chapman and the Last Dog in class, and maybe you’re asking yourself where do I start or what’s the best way to listen? The answer is that thousands of teachers across North America use GZM Shows podcasts in dozens of different ways for multiple grade levels, classroom-wide, for breakout groups, to reward learning, and as homework. Below, you’ll find customizable materials that support a flexible and powerful staged approach to engaging with Iowa Chapman. And they’re free!
The Listening Guide offers a simple and effective way to guide your students through themes of story and character development, help guide their search for clues and evidence, and encourage their development of bigger ideas.
The Explore Board is a resource for students both before they start listening to the podcast and while listening. The Explore Board resource introduces students to concepts, themes and topics of the podcast and helps them hone skills for deeper learning engagement with the podcast. Customizable for your classroom with Workflow Instructions in video and PDF format.
The Choice Board is a resource for students to use after they have finished listening to the podcast. The Choice Board takes a deeper dive into major themes, concepts and topics introduced in the podcast. The Choice Board features a combination of anchor assignments and lighter exercises, so you’ll find helpful direction and support for every student. Customizable for your classroom with Workflow Instructions in video and PDF format.
