Rachel Carson was born on her family farm near Springdale, Pennsylvania. Since childhood, she was an enthusiastic reader and writer, and by the age of 10, she published her stories in Children’s magazines. She went to the Pennsylvania College for Women, majoring in English before switching to Biology, graduating magna cum laude. She continued her education at Johns Hopkins University, studying zoology and genetics while financing her tuition as a laboratory assistant. After receiving her Master’s degree, she joined the University’s faculty and taught for several years. In 1936, at the age of 29, Carson was the second woman to be hired in the US Bureau of Fisheries. She began her 15 years career in the bureau, writing radio scripts, brochures, and informational materials for the public. Over time, she was appointed editor and then Editor-in-Chief of all the bureau’s publications. In addition, she published articles on natural history in various magazines. In 1937, she published the article Undersea, which was the foundation of her first book, Under the Sea-Wind, published in 1941, in which she took the readers on a journey along the ocean floor. In her next book, The Sea Around Us, published in 1951, Carson provided a history of the ocean’s life. The book became a best-seller for 86 weeks, was translated into 30 languages and awarded Carson numerous accolades, including the National Book Award. Following her successes, Carson resigned from the bureau, and at the age of 46, she moved to Southport Island, Maine, to devote herself to writing. In her following book and articles, such as Help Your Child to Wonder and Our Ever-Changing Shore, Carson aimed to teach the public about the wonders of the living world. Her writing style combined scientific accuracy and lyrical prose, making research accessible to the average reader and the professional scientist. In the content, she emphasized that human beings are part of nature and the power they have on it, for better or worse. In 1962, the 55 years old Carson published her last and most known book – Silent Spring. In the book, she describes the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment, and claims that the planetary ecosystem is reaching the limits of it sustain. She used the platform to warn the public about the dangers of environmental pollution and encourage scientists and governments to take action. Carson’s book had a huge impact. It led to a nationwide ban on pesticides and sparked the environmental movement in the US and abroad, including the establishment of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In the following year, Carson was called to testify before Congress, where she suggested different policies to protect both humans and the environment. She had died at the age of 57 after a long battle against breast cancer.   Dive deeper into the inspiring story of Rachel Carson with our fun and engaging printable worksheet! Available now on Etsy and Teachers Pay Teachers. Read more...