Why Go Green?
Why Go Green?
Objectives
In this unit, students will understand the importance of natural resources, how humans use natural resources, and how human use affects the environment. Students will:
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identify biological requirements of humans.
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understand what natural resources are and why they are important.
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identify several ways we use natural resources.
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identify how human actions affect the environment.
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identify ways to conserve natural resources.
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know that there are laws and regulations for the environment.
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demonstrate how to recycle, reuse, and reduce at home and school.
Essential Questions
Related Unit and Lesson Plans
Related Materials & Resources
The possible inclusion of commercial websites below is not an implied endorsement of their products, which are not free, and are not required for this lesson plan.
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Natural Resources and Recycling http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_natresource.html
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Conservation Activities with online videos http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/conservation/
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Monthly Activities for the classroom about reducing, recycling and reusing
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Teacher Ideas for Protecting the Planet
Formative Assessment
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View
END OF UNIT ASSESSMENT
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What best describes a natural resource?
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something of value people get from the environment
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something made from animals
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something you only use on a farm
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something that is cold
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What best describes a way to conserve water?
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leave the water running while brushing your teeth
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turn off the water while brushing your teeth
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mow the lawn
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carpool
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What did the state of Pennsylvania do in order to make sure that its citizens recycled?
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Garbage cans have stickers on them telling citizens not to throw certain materials away.
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A recycling law was passed in 1988 requiring citizens to recycle.
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Garbage cans were taken away from citizens in order to increase recycling.
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Recycling cans took the place of all garbage cans.
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Which is an example of recycling?
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Using less paper at school
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Throwing trash out in the garbage
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Shredding old paper up and making it into new paper
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Burning leaves in a fire instead of throwing them away
Multiple Choice Answer Key:
1. A
2. B
3. B
4. C
Short-answer Items:
5. Explain to students that they will be giving messages and a picture to first graders on how to protect the planet. It is their job to educate other students about ways they can help conserve at home or school. Have students complete the following sheet:
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Name___________________________________________
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Draw a picture showing a student and how s/he can help the planet.
Explain three things a student should know and do about caring for our planet.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Short-Answer Key and Scoring Rubric:
Points
Description
2
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Student draws a detailed picture showing things a student could do to help the planet.
- Student explains in words how a student could help the planet.
1
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Student draws little detail in his/her picture showing things a first grader could do to help the planet.
- Student doesn’t explain in detail how a student could help the planet.
0
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Student does not draw a detailed picture showing things a first grader could do to help the planet.
- Student does not explain in words how a student could help the planet.
Performance Assessment:
Performance Task Materials:
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Performance Assessment worksheet (S-K2-17_Performance Assessment.doc)
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variety of seeds
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soil
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container to plant seeds, one per student
Remind, reread, or retell the story of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss to your students: The land was beautiful, and colorful trees grew everywhere until. . . Once-ler came to town. The land was left gray and desolate. Say to students, “There is only one tree seed left, and it is up to the reader to decide what will be done with it. What would you do with it?” Hand out Performance Assessment worksheets to students to complete. Give them a seed and have them plant it, and journal about the plant as they care for it.
Performance Assessment Scoring Rubric:
Points
Description
5
The student completes all five of the requirements:
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writes a paragraph in response to the Lorax question.
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plants and cares for a seed.
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records the seed’s growth.
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writes what s/he is going to do with the seed.
- indicates or shows evidence of knowledge learned in this unit.
4
The student completes four of the requirements.
3
The student completes three of the requirements.
2
The student completes two of the requirements.
1
The student completes one of the requirements.
0
The student demonstrates lack of understanding or does not attempt to complete the assessment.
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DRAFT 11/11/2010
