Date: October 11, 1999 

Grade Level(s): All

Subject(s):

• Science/Environmental Education

Description: During the week prior to Earth Day, you can introduce the concept of Earth Day, why and when we celebrate it, and engage the students in a fun, helping the environment activity.

Goals: The students will:

• become aware of Earth Day.
• realize that pollution is one of the world's biggest problems.
• find out what he or she can do to help clean up our Earth.

1. comprehend environmental issues our planet faces.
2. state some facts about recycling.
3. help clean up a school playground.
4. chart different types of pollution on a bar graph.

• paper garbage bags
• gloves
• graph paper
• newspapers (old)

1. Before the activity, explain that pollution is one of our biggest environmental concerns.
2. Ask the students what they think they can do to help.
3. Explain that the class will be broken up into two or three teams.
4. Each team will be given rubber gloves and a garbage bag.
5. Explain that no sharp or glass objects are to be picked up by any student.
6. The teacher or custodian may pick these up.
7. Tell each of them that they will have 15 minutes to pick up as much litter on the school playground as possible.
8. Explain the boundaries as well to them so they are aware of where they can and can not go.
9. After the 15 minutes, gather them up outside and sort out the trash into separate bags so that each can be properly discarded and recycled.
10. Have each team chart the various types of garbage he or she found like plastics, metals, paper, etc.
11. Make sure they recycle the gloves, too.

Assessment:

What objects were most abundant?
What objects were least abundant?
What else can we do to help the Earth?
Do we see how 15 minutes can help our Earth?
Imagine what 3 hours could do?