Date: 10-25-14 Lesson Title: Shrinking Our Footprint Grade Level: Kindergarten Next Generation Science Standard (NGSS): K-ESS3-3. Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.* [Clarification Statement: Examples of human impact on the land could include cutting trees to produce paper and using resources to produce bottles. Examples of solutions could include reusing paper and recycling cans and bottles.] ISTE-T Standards: 3A. facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards. 3B. use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students. Driving Question for Lesson: What changes can we make in our classroom to reduce our impact on the environment? Content: Our actions have an impact on the environment. Such as driving cars, using electricity, cutting down trees and many other things. Too many of these things can be harmful to the environment. There are steps we can take to reduce our impact on the environment. We can do that in our own lives and classroom. Practices: Students will view a PowerPoint that explains recycling. As a class read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, discuss how it focuses on human impact. Take class on a clean-up walk, either to a local park, their own playground, or even the lunch room. Everyone must wear protective gloves and clothes that can get a little dirty. Have them collect safe litter (be sure to monitor what they are picking up, no broken glass or dangerous items). Collect items that are paper, plastic, and metal. Set up four bins in the classroom labelled Paper, Plastic, Metal and Trash. While wearing gloves have students rinse dirty materials and sort into proper bins. Count how many of each was collected and how much of it was able to be recycled. Record data in a graph in a Word Document. Brainstorm ways to reduce human impact in the classroom every day. Some suggestions include, recycling scrap paper, turning off the lights when leaving the classroom, reducing the amount of water used and helping other classes to recycle.
Assessment: Assessment should ensure that students know what kind of items can be recycled. They should also have some ideas for how to reduce impact on the environment. (Examples provided below).
24 15 9 12 Paper Plastic Metal Trash Items Collected Items Collected Trash Recyclable
Can It Be Recycled?
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
YES
NO
Circle the pictures that help reduce human impact, put an X on the ones that do not: