Date: May 1994

Grade Level(s): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Subject(s):

• Science/Environmental Education

Introductory lesson in measuring individual, family, and community involvement in caring for the earth. Includes using questionnaires, interview techniques, statistical information, graphing skills, and being able to compare and contrast beginning and ending results.

Purpose: This unit could be a 9-week to year long project where all of the following objectives would be taught and achieved by all students.

Objectives:

1. Interview techniques.
2. Develop questionnaire or survey to gather raw data.
3. Develop graphs using raw data to present at the end of the unit.
4. Compare and contrast beginning and ending results of the survey.

Introduce project by reading "Brother Eagle, Sister Sky" a message from Chief Seattle. Discuss the story in class and the importance of saving our planet. Brainstorm ways in which the community has been successful in helping the planet and where help is still needed.

The following is an example of the Pollution Quotient that I will be using in the classroom. It is something to go by when children are developing their own. I give credit for the idea to Earth Child: Games, Stories, Activities, Experiments & Ideas About Living Lightly and Planet Earth. Kathryn Sheehan and Mary Waidner, Ph.D. Council Oak Books, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120, 1991. This is a wonderful reference for ideas on protecting our planet and everything that is living.

• If you recycle newspaper, used computer paper, and some junk mail, add 10 pts.
• If you picked up litter in the past week, add 5 pts. If you littered in any way. Subtract 20 pts.
• If you planted one or more trees in the past year, add 10 pts.
• If you drove your car (or had someone drive you) to destination fewer that two blocks away in the last week, subtract 20 pts.
• If you have taken your children to a natural setting, such as the woods, a stream or a mountain trail in the last month, add 10 pts.
• If you recycle aluminum cans and aluminum foil, add 10 pts.
• If you burn or bag your leaves or grass clippings, subtract 10 pts. If you compost, mulch, or leave you leaves or grass alone to decompose, add 5 pts.
• If you have a compost pile, add 10 pts.
• If you have a family vegetable garden, add 5 pts.
• If you have forgotten to turn off a light, television, or radio in an empty room today, subtract 10 pts.
• If you have purchased a product packaged in a foam container in the past week (that includes food from some fast food restaurants), subtract 5 pts.
• If you use both sides of a piece of paper before throwing it away, add 5 pts.
• If you recycle glass and plastic, add 10 pts.
• If you have volunteered your time for an environmental cause in the past year (such as paper drive, trash pick-up, etc.), add 10 pts.

90 points or above: Indeed you are a friendly family of the Earth!

80 to 89 points: You are a concerned family and doing OK.

70 to 79 points: Your family needs to make a plan and try harder.