Learning about Animal Shelters for Earth Day - Week 3

Engage

Week 3 – Project Implementation
 
1. Implement the project you chose and started in Weeks 1 and 2.

2. Throughout the week, you will take digital pictures of the project’s progress.  Your teacher will save these pictures on the computer to use next week.  Since the project will extend over several days, everyone in your class will have a chance to take some pictures.

Explore (Notes to the teacher)

1. Keep the following tips in mind when completing this inquiry-based project:

* Provide time at the beginning of each day’s work period to review what progress was made the previous day.  Then, set a plan / goal for that day’s work session.

* Ask higher-level questions throughout the project so that children have to really consider what they are doing and its impact.

* Encourage children to brainstorm solutions when there are problems with the project.  Don’t just give them the easy solution.

* Encourage families and other school members to get involved in the project to increase its impact.  Share your successes.

* Find authentic sources for help.  For example, if you are having problems starting the compost project, contact a local farmer or the agriculture department at a college for help.  Important: Do this sooner rather than later!

* Provide time at the end of each work session to review what progress was made that day.  Encourage children to make reflection comments.  Delve deeper than “it was fun.”  Record this participation on the assessment checklist.

Explore

1. Keep the following tips in mind when completing this inquiry-based project:

* Provide time at the beginning of each day’s work period to review what progress was made the previous day.  Then, set a plan / goal for that day’s work session.

* Ask higher-level questions throughout the project so that children have to really consider what they are doing and its impact.

* Encourage children to brainstorm solutions when there are problems with the project.  Don’t just give them the easy solution.

* Encourage families and other school members to get involved in the project to increase its impact.  Share your successes.

* Find authentic sources for help.  For example, if you are having problems starting the compost project, contact a local farmer or the agriculture department at a college for help.  Important: Do this sooner rather than later!

* Provide time at the end of each work session to review what progress was made that day.  Encourage children to make reflection comments.  Delve deeper than “it was fun.”  Record this participation on the assessment checklist.

Explain

1. You will complete one page in your journals each day.  A sample journal appears in the Elaborate section.  Your teacher will print one cover for you.  You’ll have as many pages as you may need. 

2. You may have more than one week to complete this project, if needed. 

Elaborate

1. When the project is completed, periodically revisit your project, discussing its impact on the Earth and your immediate environment.  If the project requires upkeep (such as refilling a birdbath), discuss how your class will share this responsibility.  Will there be a specific helper or team of helpers each day?  Will the helper(s) report back to the class on the project’s status?  Allow the class to make these decisions together so that they feel a sense of pride and ownership.

2. At the end of the project, complete the “project reflection” form. (See Evaluate section of the .doc version of this lesson plan--posted at the top of this web page for the form.)

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 teacher should evaluate whether or not you are able to use the cameras effectively.

“Ways to Help the Earth” Lists – During week 2, you will be working 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, or create one that fits your own requirements.

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.

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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
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest, Lynne Cherry
Let’s Get Ready for Earth Day, Lloyd G. Douglas
On the Day You Were Born, Debra Frasier
Planet Earth / Inside Out, Gail Gibbons
Recycle: A Handbook for Kids, Gail Gibbons
Our Big Home, Linda Glaser
Tanya’s Big Green Dream, Linda Glaser
Why Should I . . .? Books, Jen Green
For the Love of the Earth, P.K. Hallinan
Garbage and Recycling, Rosie Harlow
Earth Mother, Ellen Jackson
Our Earth, G. Brian Karas
Earth Day, Linda Lowery
The Wartville Wizard, Don Madden
I Love Our Earth, Bill Martin, Jr.
Celebrating Earth Day, Janet McDonnell
Earth Day – Hooray!, Stuart J. Murphy
Earth Day, Marc Nobleman
Earthshake: Poems from the Ground Up, Linda Westberg Peters
Recycle That!, Fay Robinson
The Three R’s: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, Nuria Roca
Our Earth, Anne Rockwell
Let’s Celebrate Earth Day, Peter Roop
Earthdance, Joanne Ryder
Earth Day, Nancy Sanders
Earth Day Birthday, Pattie Schnetzler
The Lorax, Dr. Seuss
One Well: The Story of Water on Earth, Rochelle Strauss
Earth Day, Trudi Strain Trueit
Just a Dream, Chris Van Allsburg
Recycle Every Day!, Nancy Wallace

Earth Day Books – Teacher Resources:

50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save the Earth, The EarthWorks Group
Habitats: Making Homes for Animals and Plants, Pamela Hickman
Teaching Kids to Love the Earth, Marina Lachecki
Earth Day Book for Kids, Linda Schwartz