Our Environment

AUTHOR:   Michelle Fawson;  Bennion Elementary, Sandy, Utah

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:   2nd, 3rd Grade  / Science

OVERVIEW:   Our world is in danger.  Pollution of the air,
water, and land is rampant, overwhelming the delicate
balance of nature of the planet.  Many species of plants and
animals face extinction at an alarming rate.  Until all of
the peoples of the world are educated and informed, this
destruction will continue.

PURPOSE:  Because children are the leaders of tomorrow,
educating them today to become responsible users and
protectors of their environment, will result in a more
positive future for our planet.

OBJECTIVES:
     Students will receive a general overview of the world's
environmental dilemmas, thereby understanding the global
implications of their actions.
     Students will learn about ten endangered species and
understand the conditions which led to the endangerment.
     Students will identify five concrete steps which they
can take to improve their environment.
     Students will select a project which will improve their
environment and complete it. Each student will present
his/her project to the class in a creative or imaginative
way.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
Introduction:
Teacher will read the poem by Shel Silverstein, "Sara Jane
Amanda Stout Wouldn't Take the Garbage Out".  The class will
then discuss the implications of the poem, the mounting
garbage, and move the discussion toward the concept of
disposal of the garbage.  The class will then discuss the
idea of all people in the world's garbage and its' size and
volume.

Students will then have a variety of activities to teach
them about the plight of our environment:
1.   Collect the garbage cans from different classrooms.
     Categorize and graph it.  The class will then calculate
     the weekly, monthly and yearly volume of each type of
     material, i.e., newsprint, copier paper, construction
     paper, etc.
2.   Students will collect newspaper and magazine articles
     and share them with the class.  The class will then
     make posters about the different issues of the
     environment, using the articles and making their own
     illustrations and lettering.
3.   100 Simple Things You Can Do To Save The Earth will be
     read by the teacher to the students.
4.   The class will take a field trip to a recycling center.
5.   The class will learn the songs and put on the play from
     the "Earth Day 1990 Teaching Packet".
6.   The student will learn about the endangered species
     from the "Earth Day 1990, 1991 Packets".  Students will
     be divided into teams to create a board game for a
     selected endangered specie.
7.   Students will make signs for each classroom in the
     building to remind them to turn out the lights and turn
     off the water when not in use.  Recycled paper will be
     used.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:
During the entire period of the unit, students will be
encouraged to write down the problems which are identified
on a chart posted on the door.  As the unit evolves, the
list will grow.  For the culminating activity, groups of
four students will select one of the problems from the list
and brainstorm many and varied solutions.  The group will
then decide which solution will be the most appropriate for
their group to work on.  The group will plan the steps which
need to be taken to achieve the best results and implement
their plan.  The group will then present their project to
the class in a creative manner.