Created by the members of the Society of Emerging Educators at Temple University Ambler for EarthFest 2014

Project Leader: Catie Koruba

Society of Emerging Educators Officers: Emily Bacon (President); Jaclyn Deegan (Vice President); Lauren Zaluski (Secretary); Holli Goldenberg

(Treasurer); Catie Koruba (Public Relations Liaison)

Organization Advisor: Janine Warnas

About this resource

The members of the Society of Emerging Educators (SEE) at Temple University Ambler developed these lesson ideas intended for elementary

school students to supplement the EarthFest experience. We hope the teachers that bring their students to EarthFest will find these engaging

activities useful for their classrooms before and after EarthFest.

There is a recommended lesson for each grade, kindergarten through fourth. Although the lessons meet Pennsylvania state standards for particular

grades, they can be adjusted to meet the needs of your class! The lessons will, hopefully, foster an enhanced understanding of the importance of

sustainability and how students play a crucial role in protecting and preserving our environment and communities.

You don’t have to attend EarthFest to use this resource, though! We hope that these activities can bring EarthFest to you no matter where you are!

Many of the online resources in this document were found through learningscience.org, a “free and open learning community for sharing new and

emerging tools to teach science.” These tools can help connect teachers and students to science.

For more information on EarthFest, visit ambler.temple.edu/earthfest.

To learn more about SEE, like us on Facebook.

Hands-On (Inquiry Based) Activities: 1. After reading the book Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert, have students

sort real, toy, or cut-outs of fruits and vegetables. After the sorting, come back together and discuss why they go into the category.

2. Do a Seed Sort: Provide students with many different kinds and sizes of seeds. Students can arrange the seeds by size. They can glue their seed onto paper; they will be able to see that seeds come in all sizes and shapes!

3. Create Your Own Classroom Garden! By using your own sand table (or creating your own sand or dirt area using a kiddie pool), you can give students the opportunity to practice gardening with garden gloves, watering cans, child friendly trowels, and “seedlings” (from paper or twigs). Students can plan and practice to build their own garden.

4. Grow your own plant (Chia Pet): Typically, this activity is done with a lima bean. Another great way to grow seeds is to use grass seeds. Take a clear plastic cup. Have the students decorate the cup with a silly face. Fill the cup with soil. Plant grass seeds in the soil. Place the cups in a sunny area and water the seeds. Observe the cups throughout the week. Have students make their own observations and create their own plant diary.

Recommended Read-Alouds:

1. Lois Ehlert’s Planting a Rainbow

2. Lois Ehlert’s Growing Vegetable Soup

3. Eric Carle’s The Tiny Seed

4. Lois Elhlert’s Eating the Alphabet

5. Jill Krementz’s A Very Young Gardener

6. Dianna Aston and Sylvia Long’s A Seed Is Sleepy

7. George Ancona’s It's Our Garden: From Seeds to Harvest in a School Garden

Topic of Learning Activities: How Does Your Garden Grow: The Life

Cycle of Plants

Grade Level Kindergarten

Objective of Learning Activities:

1.) Students will be able to discuss the different foods we eat that come from a garden.

2.) Students will be able to explain the life cycle of plants.

3.) Students will be able to tell the difference between a fruit and vegetable.

Standards: 1.) 3.1.K.A3: Observe, compare,

and describe stages of life cycles for plants and/or animals.

2.) 4.4.K.B: Identify common plants and animals used by people.

Related Online Resources: 1. The Exploratorium in San Francisco: This website gives an in-depth look at the make-up

of flowers. Some of the information is above a Kindergarten level, but it shows different kinds of flowers up-close. http://www.exploratorium.edu/gardening/bloom/secret_life_of_flowers/index.html

2. Vegetable Gardening: Recommendations for Home Gardeners in Pennsylvania: Although this website is above a Kindergarten level, it is a great resource for teachers to learn about gardening and the vegetables that are compatible for Pennsylvania. http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/agrs115.pdf

3. National Association of Agriculture Educators: This document gives many lesson idea about agriculture that could be extend a lesson on plants. The document also demonstrates a plan to implement agricultural education into your school. http://www.naae.org/teachag/resources/after-school-ag-club.pdf

4. This website is a great interactive website for students to learn what happens to seeds in varying conditions. It also demonstrates seed dispersal and the parts of a flower. http://www2.bgfl.org/bgfl2/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/science/plants_pt2/

Hands-On (Inquiry Based) Activities: 1. After going through body parts of insects through the presentation

(provided), students can create their own insect. They can do this by drawing or creating their insect out of recyclable items. The creation must include the three main parts of an insect: head, thorax, and abdomen. Students can write in their journal about their insect (habitat, diet, etc.)

2. Using plastic insects or cut-outs, students can sort insects from non-insects in pairs. Students will need to defend why they placed insects or non-insects in their particular category. Students can use magnifying glasses to observe their “specimens.” Once the insects are sorted, students can share their findings to the class.

3. Students can read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Afterwards, students can create their own “Insect-Map” showing the life stages of a butterfly.

4. Students can create their own “insect booklet” with insect vocabulary words. The booklet can include pictures and labels of the insects learned in class.

Recommended Read-Alouds:

1. Jim Arnosky’s Creep and Flutter: The Secret World of Insects and Spiders

2. Doreen Cronin’s Diary of a Fly

3. Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar

4. Gail Gibbons’s The Honey Makers

Q: What kind of fly has a frog in its throat?

A: A hoarse fly!

Topic of Learning Activities: Insects

Grade Level First Grade

Objective of Learning Activities:

1. Students will be able to recognize insects and label the parts of an insect.

2. Students will be able to recognize insects found in Pennsylvania.

Standard:

1. 3.1.1. A1: Categorize living and nonliving things by external characteristics.

Related Online Resources: 1. Head, Thorax, Abdomen: Here’s a great hook to get your students excited about an

insects lesson. http://sharonmacdonald.com/teaching-web-archives/ants-head-abdomen-thorax-song.aspx

2. Teachervision.com: Here’s a great resource that has lessons, activities, quizzes and texts to go along with a lesson on insects. https://www.teachervision.com/insects/teacher-resources/47559.html

3. Cocoon.org: This is a great interactive website that explains the life-cycle of butterflies and provides information on other insects. http://www.cocoon.org/

4. The Children’s Butterfly Site: This website, geared towards children, offers great information about butterflies. http://www.kidsbutterfly.org/life-cycle

Hands-On (Inquiry Based) Activities: 1. Students, after learning about natural resources, will be given (in

groups) different items used in their everyday life. Students will need to determine: a.) where the items come from, b.) how they can be recycled, and c.) can we reuse the items. This lesson would be done in groups and can be adjusted to meet the needs of the group.

2. After learning about pollution, show students different pictures with pollution. Ask students to list the different ways they think we can reduce pollution (waste). Student can create their own presentations (which will be recorded) that demonstrate the negative aspects of pollution and how people can change their habits. It would be great for the students to demonstrate their knowledge through a video performance to demonstrate classroom assessments that use less waste.

3. Students will use recyclable items and reusable items to create items that are meant to solve a problem in the school or classroom. The item does not need to be functional, but the students need to apply what they learned about the 3 R’s.

Reommended Read-Alouds:

1. Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax 2. Shel Silverstein’s The

Gving Tree

3. Alison Inches’s The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: A Story About Recycling

4. Gail Gibbons’s Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids

5. Alison Inches’s I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Topic of Learning Activities: The Three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Grade Level Second Grade

Objective of Learning Activities:

1. Students will be able to identify the natural resources that make everyday products.

2. Students will be able to identify how they can reduce pollution in the classroom and in their own life.

3. Students will be able to describe how people can implement the three R’s.

Standards:

1. 4.5.2.A: Identify the natural resources used to make various products.

2. 4.5.2.C: Identify how people can reduce pollution.

3. 4.5.2.D: Describe how people can help the environment by reducing, reusing, recycling and composting.

Related Online Resources:

1. BrainPop Jr.: This BrainPop has students sort items that can be recycled, composted, reused, or thrown away. http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/conservation/reducereuserecycle/draganddrop/

2. Green Planet for Kids: This website has many great resources about the three R’s. http://greenplanet4kids.com/rrr/why-reduce-reuse-recycle-01

3. Kids Be Green: This website provides coloring books pages, games and how-to sheets about the three R’s. http://www.kidsbegreen.org/

4. Solid Waste Authority: This PDF provides a full lesson with visuals and a song that has to do with the three R’s. http://swa.org/pdf/recycling/lesson_plans_presentations/second_Grade_Reduce_Reuse_Recycle.pdf

Hands-On (Inquiry Based) Activities: 1. Show the students pictures of birds, and explain to the class how they

act in their environment. (This can be done through a PowerPoint or through various books. Make sure the birds being shown to the children are local species.)

2. Once students are familiar with bird species, it’s time to start birding. Become familiar or have your students watch the videos about birding from this website: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1053 a.) Keep in mind the four ways to help identify a bird: Shape and Size,

Color Pattern, Behavior, and Habitat 3. If you have bad weather or are unable to see birds at your school, use

bird print-outs to place around the room. 4. Binoculars: If your school does not have binoculars, you can follow the

craft from this website: http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/binoculars-for-kids/

5. Students can create a journal of their favorite 5 birds they have found. They can describe their characteristics and why they like them.

Reommended Read-Alouds:

1. George H. Harrison’s Backyard Bird Watching for Kids

2. Bill Fenimore’s Backyard Birds of Pennsylvania: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds

3. Mel Boring’s Birds, Nests & Eggs (Take Along Guides)

4. May Garelick and Trish Hill’s What Makes a Bird a Bird?

Q: What do you give a sick

bird? A: Tweetment!

Topic of Learning Activities: Let’s Get Birding

Grade Level Third Grade

Objective of Learning Activities:

1. Students will be able to explain the use of binoculars and be able to use binoculars.

2. Students will be able to identify local birds based on their physical characteristics.

Standards: 1. S3.B.1.1.2: Classify living

things based on their similarities and differences.

2. S3.B.1.1.1: Identify and describe the functions of basic structures of animals and plants

Related Online Resources: 1. Birdsleuth.com: This website, through Cornel University, gives some great resources

about birds. This link takes you directly to the free bird cam. http://www.birdsleuth.org/bird-cam-webinars/ Also, from birdsleuth.com, here’s a PDF demonstrating how to make your schoolyard bird friendly. http://www.birdsleuth.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Habitat-Heroes-Final.pdf

2. National Audubon Society: This website provides a great interactive website for children. There are games about migration, bird calls, and testing your eagle eyes. http://web4.audubon.org/educate/kids/

3. National Geographic: This website is all about Birds! They provide information about many different kinds of birds. They even have a “What’s that Bird” generator to help determine what kinds of bird is in your backyard. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/

Hands-On (Inquiry Based) Activities: 1. Mineral Classification: Students can learn how to classify minerals

according to hardness, luster, streak and color. Students can create a chart and record their details. A great lesson on this topic is found at Education.com http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/what-tests-can-use-identify-minerals/

2. Different Kinds of Rocks: Students need to understand that there are three different kinds of rocks, and they are classified into these groups based on how they were formed. To demonstrate the three different kinds of rocks (and the rock cycle), teachers can demonstrate the “Crayon Rock Cycle.” MyScienceBox.org provides a great lesson on how to demonstrate the rock cycle. http://www.mysciencebox.org/crayonrock

3. After students have learned about the different types of rocks, they can create a rocks and minerals flap book (a template for a flap book is included). In the flap book, they can label and draw the kind of rock on the outside flap. On the inside, the student can write about the features of the rock.

Reommended Read-Alouds:

1. Peggy Christian’s If you find a Rock

2. National Geographic’s Rocks and Minerals, My First Pocket Guide

3. Dianna Hutts Aston’s A Rock Is Lively

4. Dan Green’s Scholastic Discover More: Rocks and Minerals

Q: What kind of rock is furry and squeaks?

A: A Pumice

Topic of Learning Activities: Fun with Rocks!

Grade Level Fourth Grade

Objective of Learning Activities:

1. Students will be able to explain the techniques for mineral classification.

2. Students will be able to describe the characteristics of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.

3. Students will be able to explain the rock cycle.

Standards:

1. 3.3.4.A2: Identify basic properties and uses of Earth’s materials including rocks, soils, water, and gases of the atmosphere.

2. S4.A.3.3: Identify and make observations about patterns that regularly occur and reoccur in nature

3. S4.C.1.1.2: Categorize/group objects using physical characteristics.

Related Online Resources: 1. Rock Hounds: This website includes information about many aspects of rocks, lesson

plans and puzzles. http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/index2.html

2. Compton Unified School District: This school district has created a PDF that explain all of the different characteristics and classifications of rocks, crystals or minerals. It also explains the rock cycle and how the earth’s surface can change. http://web.compton.k12.ca.us/pages/departments/Curriculum/PDF/4thSciUnitC.pdf

3. Rocks and Soils Learning Tool: This interactive learning tool teaches students about the features of different kinds of rocks. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/rocks_soils.shtml

Insects! Name Parts of an Insect

Catie Koruba Society of Emerging Educators 2014

Insects Arthropods

Exoskeletons

Segmented Bodies

3 pairs of legs

Catie Koruba Society of Emerging Educators 2014

Head All insects have a head

On the head is: eyes, antennae

Cricket

Catie Koruba Society of Emerging Educators 2014

Antennae -Perceives sound and

vibrations (feeling)

-Helps with environmental

factors (dangers) Ladybug (Ladybird Beetle)

Catie Koruba Society of Emerging Educators 2014

Thorax -Middle section

-Winds and legs attached

-Muscle that control movement

Wasp

Catie Koruba Society of Emerging Educators 2014

Legs - 6 legs

- (3 pairs)

Butterfly

Catie Koruba Society of Emerging Educators 2014

Wings -Normally have four

-Used for flying

-Does not need to have wings

to be an insect (silverfish)

Beetle

Silverfish

Catie Koruba Society of Emerging Educators 2014

Abdomen Contains organs

-Stomach, intestines

Mosquito

Catie Koruba Society of Emerging Educators 2014

What about the

Spider? Are they an insect? Why or why

not? Spider

Catie Koruba Society of Emerging Educators 2014

Flap Book (Fourth Grade Resource)