The Wandering Wombles
#2 of 6 in The Wombles Series
What’s inside...
In 'The Wandering Wombles', the pointy-nosed furry creatures known as Wombles, who live in burrows and help the environment by recycling human rubbish, face a new challenge when their home on Wimbledon Common is threatened by heavy lorries. The vibrations make their burrow unsafe, forcing the Wombles to embark on a journey to find a new home. Great Uncle Bulgaria sends young Wombles Bungo and Orinoco on an adventure to search for a suitable new burrow, encountering various challenges along the way.
Discussion points
What do you think motivates the Wombles to collect and recycle rubbish?
How do you feel about the way the Wombles work together as a team? Can you think of a time when you worked with others to solve a problem?
If you were a Womble, what special skill would you bring to the group to help keep the environment clean?
How do the actions of the Wombles inspire you to take care of our planet?
What ideas do you have for reusing or recycling items that we usually throw away?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing your own thoughts about the themes of teamwork and environmental care in the story to encourage your child to open up.
Ask follow-up questions based on your child’s answers to the key questions, to deepen the discussion and help them reflect further on the story’s themes.
Connect the story’s messages to real-life situations by discussing ways your family can implement environmentally friendly practices at home.
Encourage creativity by asking your child to draw or create something inspired by the Wombles’ recycling efforts, furthering their connection to the book’s themes.
Revisit the story after implementing any environmentally friendly actions inspired by the book to discuss how your actions are aligned with the lessons learned from the Wombles.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Cooperation
Explanation: In 'The Wandering Wombles,' the characters work together to clean up litter and make their environment a better place. Their collaborative efforts highlight the importance of teamwork.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities at school or in community clean-up events, learning the value of working together towards a common goal.
Example Lesson: Responsibility towards the Environment
Explanation: The Wombles are dedicated to recycling and reusing discarded objects, showcasing a strong environmental ethic.
Real-World Application: This lesson can encourage children to practice recycling at home and teach them to be mindful of reducing waste to protect nature.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Resourcefulness
Explanation: The Wombles use found objects to create useful tools and items, demonstrating innovation and resourcefulness.
Real-World Application: Children can channel their creativity into crafting projects using recycled materials, learning to see value in what others might consider waste.
Example Lesson: Importance of Community
Explanation: The story emphasizes the Wombles' sense of community as they care for their local area and each other.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of being active members in their own communities, helping and supporting those around them.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Despite challenges, the Wombles persist in their mission to clean up the environment, showing determination and perseverance.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of not giving up in the face of challenges, whether it's completing a difficult school project or learning a new skill.