Earth Day. We Care About the Earth. Grade Levels: 3-6. Objectives

Transcription

1 1 Earth Day

2 Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. The first Earth Day celebration was in 1970, and was organized by the United States Senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson to bring political attention to all Americans about how the earth was being neglected by trash and waste of water, electricity and natural resources, like gas. He noticed that there was a lot of pollution and waste in the United States, and believed that if enough people wanted to change the bad habits of turning the Earth into a garbage pile and making all the water dirty, then they could do it one person at a time. Now Earth Day is celebrated all over the world by many countries. Different social and political groups speak out about various environmental issues on Earth Day. These groups use Earth Day to talk about important environmental issues and show people of all ages different ways that they can save the earth and mother nature. A few of the environmental problems that are brought attention to on Earth Day are oil spills in the ocean, air pollution from factories, toxic waste dumps, the use of pesticides on our foods, and the extinction of animals and plants. In- dividuals talk about what these activities are doing to the earth, and what everyone should be doing to make it a better place to live for now and in the future. On Earth Day every individual makes a change in his or her environment by doing something to help the earth. "Reduce, reuse and recycle" is a phrase that is symbolic of Earth Day. For example, if everyone on the planet would reduce the amount of trash they make, the amount of energy (electricity, for example) they use, and the amount of water they waste, this would greatly help the Earth save land, water and power to be used in the future. Right now, if we keep wasting and using these things too often, we could run out of them. Earth Day also teaches everyone to reuse and recycle trash. A fun activity can be to collect garbage at home or school and take it to be recycled at a recycling center starting on Earth Day, and then every week during the year. Another tradi- tion for Earth Day is to plant a tree to celebrate by giving back to the Earth. Trees are necessary for humans to be able to breathe clean air and without them we would not survive. As an important part of the earth, on Earth Day we should take the time to give back to the earth and by planting a tree or even a tiny seed, we are replacing life that has been taken away. Earth Day was first celebrated only by the United States, but now it is recognized in more than one hundred and seventy-five countries around the world. Different countries celebrate in various ways. In Kenya, Earth Day is on the same day as their national tree planting celebration. Many countries have summits, large groups with guest speakers discussing important environmental issues. School children around the world celebrate Earth Day in the classroom by discussing environmental problems and solutions, and by taking part in arts and crafts that symbolize the earth and mother nature. The following pages will have some general ideas of ways your students can celebrate the day. 2

3 We Care About the Earth Grade Levels: 3-6 Objectives Students will integrate writing, reading, and oral language. Students will become familiar with public service announcements. Procedures 1. Divide the class into groups. Three to six children per group, depending on the children's talents and the size of the project. 2. Model. Allow children to listen to or watch a PSA as a model for the activity they will engage in. 3. Brainstorm. What messages does the public need to hear about REDUCING, REUSING, and RECYCLING and protecting wildlife? What are some slogans (such as "Don't Throw It All Away" or "Put Litter in Its Place") that can be used? 4. Write. Each group creates a "spot" (as broadcasters call them) with a statement of the problem, a suggestion, and a slogan. A writer's workshop approach with peer conferences to refine and organize is highly recommended. 5. "Publish." Videotape or otherwise record the spot. The group may want to choose their best reader or "turn-read" in which each member takes a portion. The recorded "spots" can be shared with other classes and make great presentations at the PTA, PTO, Home-School Association, or open house. Materials Writing materials Media equipment Examples of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) Optional: Camera, video camera, or tape recorder to record students' PSAs Credits: 3 Themes Across the Curriculum.

4 What are the three R s? REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE! Every April 22 nd people from everywhere celebrate earth day. You can show how much you care about earth by joining in this earth friendly adventure. Task You can help earth by learning about how to use the 3 R s everyday! You and your partner will be writing tips on how to take better care of earth. You will also design some litterbugs out of reused materials. These activities will help keep earth beautiful and remind us to help protect our planet earth. Process 1. Reduce Materials: Paper Pens Recycle items Poster board Reducing garbage can help earth. Turning off the water while you brush your teeth and reusing containers can really help. Draw and write 3 earth tips using sheets or paper. 2. Reuse Reusing things around your house can really help earth too. Create a litterbug using the things we throw away. Try the activity on the following page. 3. Recycling Recycling helps limit the amount of trash that goes to the landfills. Paper, aluminum, and plastic can all be recycled and made into new products. 4. How did this all begin anyways? The first earth day was April 22 nd It began when a senator named Gaylord Nelson wanted to have people learn about what was happening to our earth. This new awareness leads to many new laws of how people should protect earth. Not only does this day remind us about how to lend a hand to earth but it also brings people together. To show you care for earth make an earth day poster. Credits: 4

5 Introduction: Make a litter bug or creature for Earth Day. This easy craft is made from an egg carton section and junk. This project is not only inexpensive, but is also excellent for encouraging creativity. Children have to find or change items to resemble eyes, ears, mouth, hair, etc. Directions: 1. Use a single segment of an egg carton for the litter bug s body. 2. Use discarded objects to make eyes, mouth, legs, hair and other body parts. Glue them to the egg carton segment. Materials A segment of a paper egg carton Glue Junk: Recycling paper, twigs, and other found objects, like plastic lids, bottle caps, packaging materials, etc. Older Students Glue gun Boxes Used auto parts, household items etc Use your imagination and see what the students can create. This can be used with older students too by using the recycling bin items and glue guns. Credits: 5

6 Planet Earth Maze Worksheet Directions: The Earth s rotation is going crazy! Help! Show the Earth the way to the proper rotation. 6

7 Things you can do to Be Earth Friendly and Celebrate Earth Day! Recycling is when an object can be shredded, melted or otherwise processed and then turned into new raw material -- for instance, aluminum cans can be melted down to make more cans, glass can make more glass, cardboard and paper make more cardboard and paper, plastic bags and containers can be turned into other plastic products. This takes some energy (very little for aluminum), but it is a good choice. Reusing is when you find a use for an existing item - like decorating a bag and using it as a gift bag instead of buying wrapping paper; putting leftovers into a clean container from some other food; turning a used box into storage; decorating a can to hold pencils; saving packing peanuts and boxes and using them the next time you need to ship something or give a gift. It is important to 'reuse' items wisely -- reusing packing peanuts to pack an item is by far the best way to use them. Recycling them, if it is available, would be the next best thing. Turning them into an art project would be the least effective, and eventually they will end up in the landfill. Now many of us love art projects, and would be using materials to make crafts anyway, and so using an item that would otherwise be discarded may still be a sensible choice, it depends on the project. Make a Laundry Bottle Pet Food Scoop crafts is a great ways of making art out of would-be "junk." Directions on the following page. Giving things in good condition that you no longer need to charity is another good way to reuse things like outgrown clothing or toys. Reusing is often the best way to save resources. This is something to consider year-round, not just around the winter holidays. Shop Wisely to save resources. Can the container be easily recycled or reused? Will a larger container reduce the amount of packaging and perhaps cost less per serving? Is everything that can be recycled being recycled? Save resources (and money) by asking yourself if the item is something you really need, and if it is well suited for the task, and if it will last. Not only can this save you money, it can save you space and work, too. And, when you're out shopping in the stores, bring your own reusable bag instead of taking a plastic bag you'll eventually just throw away. Clean Up and Beautify Organize a project to clean up or beautify some area in your town. It could be at your school, or some other spot. Make sure to have a plan for how to take care of the spot after you've made it nice. Plant a Tree Plant-It ( is a nonprofit tree-planting foundation. For every dollar contributed to this foundation a tree will be planted, and the contributor selects where the tree(s) will be planted from an international site list. Better yet plan your own Plant a Tree site. Eat environmentally friendly! What better way to honor Earth Day than to prepare a dish that's easy on the environment? Our Earth Day recipes feature seasonal fruits and vegetables that are less likely to contain harmful pesticides. (Peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes typically have the highest pesticide levels, according to the Environmental Working Group in Washington, D.C., while onions, avocados, frozen sweet corn, pineapples, mangoes, asparagus, frozen peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli and papayas have the lowest. Choosing the latter and avoiding the former - unless organic - could slash your family's pesticide exposure by almost 90 percent.) Look for spring gems like asparagus, blueberries, cabbage, cauliflower, mushrooms and peas at your nearest farmer's market. Eating local supports your economy and involves fewer miles traveled - and fewer pollutants emitted - to get dinner on your plate. 7

8 Make as many words as you can from the words EARTH DAY Make as many words as you can. Write your words on the lines below

9 Earth Friendly Foods to Try Fruit and Nut Coleslaw Sweet and tangy tropical fruits mingle with crunchy cabbage, raisins, walnuts and yogurt for a refreshing slaw that makes an ideal sidekick for burgers, ribs and all things barbecue. Ingredients 1 (8 ounce) can sliced pineapple, drained with juice reserved 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 banana, peeled and sliced 3 cups shredded cabbage 1 cup diagonally sliced celery 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1/4 cup raisins 1 (8 ounce) container orange flavored yogurt 1/2 teaspoon salt Cooking Instructions 1. Drain pineapple, reserving 2 tablespoons juice. Cut pineapple into thin strips, and place in a large bowl. 2. In a medium bowl, combine reserved pineapple juice and lemon juice. Toss with banana, and add to pineapple. Add cabbage, celery, mandarin oranges, walnuts and raisins; toss to combine. 3. Blend yogurt and salt together, and add to cabbage mixture; toss lightly. Cover, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Dirt Cups What kid won't love putting gummi worms into "dirt" made from JELL-O Instant Pudding and chocolate-sandwich cookies? Little boys and girls love to play in the dirt, and these delicious dessert cups allow them to really enjoy it. Crushed chocolate cookies and instant chocolate pudding create a muddy earth in these cups, while gummy worms and insects wriggle out of them. You can even tuck them into new, foil-lined clay pots, if you like. Ingredients 2 cups of cold milk 1 package (4 serving size) instant pudding (chocolate flavor) 3-1/2 cups (8 ounce container) whipped topping, thawed 1 package (16 ounces) chocolate sandwich cookies (crush them into tiny pieces in a plastic bag) Gummy worms or insects Equipment: Measuring cup Medium mixing bowl Wire whisk Rubber scraper or large spoon Measuring spoons 8-10 paper or plastic cups (8 ounce size) Cooking Instructions 1. Pour the milk into the mixing bowl and add the pudding mix. Beat with the wire whisk until well blended (about two minutes). Let pudding stand for 9 five minutes. Stir whippped topping and 1/2 of the crushed cookies into the pudding (very gently) with rubber scraper until mixture is all the same color. Place about 1 tablespoon of the remaining crushed cookies into the bottom of each cup. 2. Fill cups about 3/4 full with pudding mixture. Top each cup with the rest of the crushed cookies. Add gummy worms and insects to decorate. 3. Put cups into the refrigerator for about one hour to chill them-- and enjoy!

10 Laundry Bottle Pet Food Scoop Even your pets can go green for Earth Day! Recycle an empty laundry bottle into a use scooper for your pet s food. We even have a suggestion for the part of the bottle you cut off and don t use! How to make it: 1. Have a grown up cut the top of the laundry bottle off, leaving the handle in tact. 2. Remove packaging labels and wash the outside to remove any residue. 3. Wash the inside thoroughly, making sure that all soap residue has been removed. A good rinse with very hot water will ensure all soap is gone. 4. If using felt alphabet stickers, stick them to the front of the bottle, spelling out your pet s name. If you don t have the felt stickers, simply cut your pet s name out of felt and glue them to the bottle. 5. Cut out fun shapes such as bones, biscuits, and paw prints, and glue them all over the bottle. 6. Let dry completely before using. Tips: Use the top section of the bottle to create a pretty flower bouquet. Make some lovely Tissue Paper Flowers and wrap with a sheet of felt. Turn the top of the laundry bottle upside down and insert flowers into the pour spout. Decorate the flower spout handle with stickers. Save plastic bottles, cans, paper towel rolls, cereal boxes and other recyclable materials to make fun craft projects. Use your imagination to develop more craft projects from what might otherwise be garbage. Tissue Paper Flowers Material: Plastic laundry bottle Felt in your favorite shades White craft glue Scissors or a sharp knife Felt alphabet stickers (optional) For Flowers Pastel colored tissue paper Chenille stem Scissors These flowers are quick to make and the children enjoy making them. Younger children may need some help with accordion-pleating the tissue paper. How to make it: Cut tissue paper into rectangles of desired size (5"x7" is the size pictured ). 1. Stack around 15 pieces of tissue paper. Use the same color or different colors. If you want to use a smaller number of pieces of tissue paper, flower will not be as full. 2. Accordion pleat the tissue paper working from the long side. 3. Wind one end of the chenille stem around the middle of the accordion pleated tissue paper. 4. Trim the ends of each side to give the pedals a unique look. 5. Trimming the ends into a point (like a triangle), or a bump (like a half circle) will look very pretty. 6. Gently separate each layer pulling upwards toward the middle of the flower. Do the second side. Tips: If you want to give your flowers some leaves, include a stack of green tissue paper folded accordion style during step 3. Trim the green paper into a shape of a leaf. 10 Visit for more tips or directions Credits: Kaboose

11 Teacher Resources and Lesson Plans Find an array of environmental and science based lesson plans, activities and ideas at teachers.html EPA Resources Air Climate Change Ecosystems Energy Health Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Water Earth Day information and sites that can give your students some additional information are: