Lesson Plan #:AELP-ENV0004

All I Want for Christmas is a Nice, Clean Earth

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Therese Lloyd, Holy Rosary Elementary School, Idaho Falls, ID
Endorsed by: These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met at the Workshops.

Date: May 1994

Grade Level(s): 4, 5, 6

Subject(s):

OVERVIEW: This particular activity is designed to allow students to investigate those items of litter that cause harm to the environment. It may be extended to increase awareness of the natural role of energy sources within the living organisms of the environment.

OBJECTIVE(s): Students will be able to:

  1. Observe the properties of the items being studied.
  2. Determine the time it takes for various items to decompose. Include both organic and inorganic materials.
  3. Identify differences/similarities between the decomposition of organic and inorganic matter.
  4. Identify practical uses in litter/garbage control.
  5. Establish reasons for a recycling program.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
Teacher Materials: samples of the kinds of items
Student Materials: hand lens, science notebook, pencil

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

  1. Select certain items to be used. Be sure to include organic and inorganic materials.
  2. Put the items in the school yard or another area where they will not be disturbed by other people.
  3. Record any changes you observe for a given period of time. This can vary from a short period of about three weeks or can be extended to a year long project from September through the end of school.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: Culminating activities:

  1. Use the observations as a springboard for a writing activity on comparisons and contrasts, editorial writing, or scientific writing styles.
  2. Create a bulletin board at Christmas using the above theme and display items that can be easily recycled.
  3. Study the landfill problems in your area and begin a recycling program in your school or classroom.
  4. Concentrate on the organic items and begin a study of the organisms of the ecosystems and their inter-relationships.