Learning about Animal Shelters for Earth Day - Week 2

Engage

Week Two – Earth Day Information and Project Selection:
Activity 1 – Introduce Earth Day with KWL:

1. You will begin discussing Earth Day today.

2. Your teacher will read aloud an introductory book about Earth Day. Some suggested books can be found in the attached book list.

3. Begin a K-W-L chart about Earth Day.  Discuss what you Know about Earth Day and things that you Want to know about Earth Day. (The letters KWL are an acronym for "what we know", what we want to know, and "what we learned". A KWL table is typically divided into three columns titled Know, Want and Learned.).

Your teacher may review these web sites for helpful suggestions in creating your KWL chart.

a. http://www.readingquest.org/strat/kwl.html
b. http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/kwl.pdf
c. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KWL_table

Activity 2 – Continue Introducing Earth Day with Video (see #4 directly below):

1. Your teacher will read aloud another book about Earth Day.

2. As a class, you’ll review the K-W-L chart created yesterday.

3. You will be learning more about Earth Day, because you will be completing a special Earth Day project at school next week to help the animals you learned about last week.  You need to remember as much as you can about the animals and shelters you discovered, and you need to learn as much as you can about the holiday, because you get to decide what your project will be.

4. Watch a video about the Earth Day holiday.  There are two good videos available on-line at unitedstreaming.com.  These videos are listed below:

“Holiday Facts and Fun: Earth Day (2nd edition)” – 14:05
This video describes the history of Earth Day and what people do to celebrate the holiday.  If this video seems too long, the segment entitled “How We Celebrate Earth Day and Keep the Earth Healthy” is only 5 minutes, 20 seconds and gives clear ways children can help the Earth.

“Taking Care of Our Earth” – 17:00
This video visits a landfill and discusses ways people can save the Earth’s natural resources.

“Discovery Education streaming is a digital video-on-demand and online teaching service to help improve students' retention and test scores; it is aligned to U.S. state and provincial standards.”   If you do not have access to United Streaming, you can sign up for a free 30 day trial at www.unitedstreaming.com

Explore

Activity 2 – Continue Introducing Earth Day with Video:

1. Read aloud another book about Earth Day.

2. Review the K-W-L chart created yesterday.

3. You will be learning more about Earth Day, because you will be completing a special Earth Day project at school next week to help the animals you learned about last week.  You need to remember as much as you can about the animals and shelters you discovered, and you need learn as much as you can about the holiday, because you get to decide what the project will be.

5. Watch a video about the Earth Day holiday.  Videos are available online at unitedstreaming.com and PBS.org.  These videos are listed below:

* “Holiday Facts and Fun: Earth Day (2nd edition)” – 14:05
This video describes the history of Earth Day and what people do to celebrate the holiday.  If this video seems too long, the segment entitled “How We Celebrate Earth Day and Keep the Earth Healthy” is only 5 minutes, 20 seconds and gives clear ways children can help the Earth.

* “Taking Care of Our Earth” – 17:00
This video visits a landfill and discusses ways people can save the Earth’s natural resources.

* Downloadable, Share the Earth Day videos from PBS: http://pbskids.org/earthday/videos.html These can be played online via a computer or laptop and projected in the classroom using iTunes (http://official-downloading.com/itunes/) or another media player. 

“Discovery Education streaming is a digital video-on-demand and online teaching service to help improve students' retention and test scores; it is aligned to U.S. state and provincial standards.”   If you do not have access to United Streaming, you can sign up for a free 30 day trial at www.unitedstreaming.com

Explain

Activity 3 – Research Using Earth Day Books:

1. Today you will be getting together with small groups to look at some books about Earth Day and brainstorm ideas of how to help the Earth. Your teacher will keep track of your participation today on the Participation Checklist (see Evaluation section).

2. Your teacher will model in a guiding session for the student the process of looking at a book about Earth Day and finding a way that people can help the Earth.  For example, what do you learn when you see a girl picking up trash off the ground and putting it in the trash can?

3. You will work in small groups.  Your teacher will assign roles and explain what each role means.  Groups should be heterogeneous and should contain three students.  The three roles are:

* Page Turner – The Page Turner’s job is to hold the book(s) and turn the pages.  The page turner needs to check with the other members of the group to see if they are ready to move on before turning a page.

* Noticer – The “noticer’s” job is to point out interesting things in the text and pictures that the group might want to write down.  The noticer gets to be the first one to make a comment after the page has been turned.

* Writer – The writer’s job is to record the things noticed by the group.  Teachers should carefully select students with high writing skills to be the writer, so that groups can easily get their ideas recorded.  While the groups meet, the writers should be recording ways that people can help the Earth or ways that people have celebrated Earth Day in the past.  Since we are discussing Earth Day, it would be best to have students record their responses on scrap paper or in another paper-conserving manner.  However, there is a ½-page recording sheet attached, in case some teachers would prefer using something more structured.

Note to Teacher: At least one book about Earth Day should be gathered for each group.  It is best if each group can have access to more than one book and that each group has at least one non-fiction book about the topic.  Again,a book list is offered in the Extend section for some good resources to use.

4. You will work at tables.  Your teacher will give you adequate time to view the book(s) and write down at least 3 ways to help the Earth.  Your teacher will visit the tables to see how you are progressing and to share your excitement!

5. You will share the things you wrote down with the class.  Take turns having sharing ideas so that each group can give a way to care for the Earth. Your teacher will record your responses on a piece of chart paper labeled “Ways to Help the Earth.”

Activity 4 – Brainstorm Ways to Help the Animals at School:

1. As a class, you’ll think about more ways to help the Earth.  Today, you will be focusing on how to help the animals around the school.

2. Review the chart of ways to help the Earth that was created yesterday.  Put a star next to any item on the list that pertains to helping animals.

3. Read aloud the class book you created last week, thinking about the animals and their habitats around the school grounds.

4. Brainstorm other ways to help the animals.  Think about what 4 things animals need (air, water, food, shelter).  Brainstorm ways to provide the animals around school with these things.  Add to the list of ways to help the Earth as you brainstorm. 
* There are also some suggestions made by the American Humane Association of ways children can help animals both at home and at school. These can be found on the website: http://www.americanhumane.org/kids/school.htm.

5. Talk to your families at home to brainstorm any other ways to help the animals around the school grounds.  New  ideas will be added to the list tomorrow.

Elaborate

Activity 5 – Decide on a Project

1. Review the list of ways to help animals created yesterday.  Add any new suggestions made by families.

2. Select one of these projects to complete next week in order to celebrate Earth Day.  Narrow down the list in case there are specific projects you could not complete as a class.  As a group, discuss the reasons why these projects would not be feasible (i.e. financial constraints).  If there is a lofty project you’re especially interested in, consider brainstorming ways to receive the goods and/or services needed to complete it.  It may not be possible to complete it in the next week, but don’t rule out extending the project.

3. Vote on which project to complete.  Select a project that you think will have a lasting impact on the animals around the school grounds, as well as being a fun way to celebrate Earth Day.

4. Below is a list of some possible projects that could be feasible to complete with your class.
* Creating Birdfeeders – In order to attract more birds to your school ground, you could build birdfeeders.  There are many resources on-line that describe how to make bird feeders from recycled materials.  One resource is http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/famf87project/famf87project06.html.  Also, instructions for creating bird feeders out of recycled bottles can be found on page five of the following document: http://downloads.cas.psu.edu/4H/HabitatsareHomes.pdf.
* Creating a Butterfly and/or Hummingbird Garden – Attract more butterflies or hummingbirds to the school and beautify the place by planting a flower garden.  Instructions for teachers wanting to create a butterfly garden can be found at the following website: http://www.monarchwatch.org/garden/guide.htm.  For more information on hummingbird gardens, visit the following website: http://www.rubythroat.org/ActivityHummerGardenMain.html.
* Planting Trees – Trees are home to many animals, so, by planting more trees, you will be providing more shelter for the animals around your school grounds.  For more information about planting school trees, review the following document: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/forests/extension_notes/pdf/plng_schl_plnt.pdf.
* Cleaning Up Trash – You might choose to clean up your school grounds so that animals are not tempted to eat potentially dangerous trash items.  Instead of just picking up trash, think of ways to make the effects lasting, such as by creating informational resources (pamphlets, signs, etc.) for others about littering or by providing more trashcans around the school grounds.
* Creating a Birdbath – Provide the birds with some much-needed water by constructing a birdbath.  For instruction on how to make one using old clay pots, view the following website: http://birding.about.com/od/bathsponds/ht/aa042400b.htm.  You can also try making some hanging birdbaths out of old pie tins.
* Making Bird Houses – Give the birds on your school grounds some shelter by constructing bird houses out of recycled milk cartons.  For instructions, view the following website: http://birding.about.com/library/bleasyhouse.htm.
* Starting a School Compost Pile – Compost piles create rich soil, which leads to healthy plants, which, in turn, leads to happy herbivores!  Having a compost pile also reduces the amount of trash thrown out in the school cafeteria each day.  For more information about starting a school compost pile, see the following website: http://www.recyclingconsortium.org.uk/teachers/recycling_procedures/school_composting.htm.
* Creating a School Pond – While birdbaths may provide birds with more water, a small pond on your campus could give many animals the water they need.  A school pond can also provide students with a valuable look at an ecosystem.  For information about creating a school pond, see the following website:  http://www.kidsgardening.com/growingideas/projects/june04/pg1.html.
* Building Nesting Boxes – Give nesting birds a good shelter for raising their young.  For information on implementing this project at your school, view the following document: http://www.auduboninternational.org/programs/PartnersforEnvironment/tracks/1-%20Nest%20Box%20Project%209-05.pdf.

Evaluate

There will also be several  student assignments throughout the lesson (Weeks 1-3) for teachers to evaluate:

Digital pictures – Throughout the unit, you will be using digital cameras.  Your teachers will evaluate whether or not you are able to use the cameras effectively.

“Ways to Help the Earth” Lists – During week 2, you worked in groups to develop a list of ways to help the Earth.  These lists can be used to determine if you understand the ways people celebrate Earth Day. 

Earth Day Project Journals – During week 3, you should reflect in a journal daily.  You will be able to record how you contributed to project, what you enjoyed during that day’s work session, and what was difficult.  “Reflection Worksheet” – At the conclusion of the project, you will reflect by completing the worksheet entitled “We finished our project!”  Note:  You will find a sample worksheet in the Evaluate section of the MS Word version of this lesson plan posted at the top of this web page, OR create one tailored to your classes efforts and needs.

Participation Checklist (for use with Earth Day Project)
During group discussions about the progress of your class’ Earth Day project, use this form to keep track of student participation.  You will find a copy of the table in this section (Evaluate) in the .doc version of the lesson plan posted at the top of this web page. 

Extend

Share your project with the school community.

Days 3-5 – Sharing the Project

1. Decide with whom you would like to share your work.  Depending on how your class would like to share results, it could take a few days to prepare and then present, or it might only take one day.

2. Some suggestions for sharing the project are:

a.  In-Class Presentation – Students invite administrators, other teachers, and/or family members to the classroom.  The PowerPoint version of the class book is shared on the projection screen.  Students take turns reading aloud the text.  Students can also share their journals and reflection sheets with the invitees.

b.  Morning Announcements / Library – Choose a two or three class representatives to speak on the morning announcements, telling the student body about the project.  Make an additional copy of the class book and “donate” it to the library.  On the announcements, encourage other students to come and read it.

c.  Classroom Tours – Send small groups of students to other classrooms to share their experiences with other students.

School Web Site - If your school has a class news or latest projects section, you could upload the PowerPoint presentations and/or a story with student photos about these lessons. 

d. Community Groups -  Have the students present the material to a local community group, such as, Rotary Club or Lions Club.  This is a good opportunity for students to interact with the community and for the community to gain insight into the students work.

e. Parent Night - Present the project to during a parent night.  Invite parents and friends to school and present the project.  Ask the parents ways they can help with continuing the project or other ways they can extend the project.

Talk with the students before all presentations about how to speak loudly and clearly for others.  Remind your students to answer questions and respond to comments politely.

Related Resources

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/general/educate/svclearn.pdf
This website features a 32-page booklet, Service-Learning – Education Beyond the Classroom, that describes previous Earth Day projects completed by students around the country. 

http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr068.shtml
This website describes two different simple Earth Day projects (“Earth Day Groceries” and “Down the Drain”) and gives links to others on the internet.

http://www.earthday.net/programs/handson2007.aspx
This website shows some examples of how schools have “greened” up their campuses in the past.

“Can It!  Save the Planet!” Song – This song is available for download at unitedstreaming.com  It is a fun way to start a discussion about recycling and keeping the Earth clean.

http://42explore.com/animhom.htm -- This website features information about animal homes and link to other sites on the same topic.

http://www.epa.gov/kids/ -- This is a great website that gives children a wealth of information about caring for the Earth.

Books About Earth Day

Earth Day Books for Children:

Earth Day, Mir Tamim Ansary
The Earth and I, Frank Asch