Overview and Background: Unit: Earth Day

 

Connie Moore : Cheney USD 268

Science : Science : Science

Cheney Elementary : Grades 0 - 5 : day : Aug. - May.

 

Title:

Earth Day

Topics:

personal health and environmental practices, changes in the environment, pollution, scarcity as a resource issue, population, scientific inquiry

Time Frame:

 

Start Date:

-

 

Other Designers:

 

Summary:
Students will demonstrate personal health and environmental practices, awareness of changes in the environment, recognize pollution as an environmental issue, scarcity as a resource issue, and crowded classrooms as a population issue. Students will experience some things about scientific inquiry and learn about people from history.

 

Print Materials Needed:
Celebrating Earth Day by Robert Gardner
(Commemorates the annual anniversary of Earth Day and suggests activities and experiments for learning more about the Earth and how to improve its condition.)

Resources:
(video cassette) America's Special Days (Earth Day program)

 

Resource Attachments:

Put in GO

http://www.cheney268.com/Curriculum/rubrics/Speaking/3-5_Speaking.htm

 

Internet Resource Links:
Link 1:http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/earthday/
Link 2:http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/kids/hey.htm
Link 3:http://pblmn.k12.ca.us/PBLGuide/Activities/LookInterviews.html

 

Notes:

 

 

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results

 

State:

KS       Standard 6, Benchmark 2; Standard 7, Benchmark 1

Title:

Science

Standard(s):

Standard 6: As a result of the activities for grades 3-4, all students will demonstrate personal health and environmental practices.

Benchmark 2: All students will demonstrate an awareness of changes in the environment.
Through classroom discussions, students can begin to recognize pollution as an environmental issue, scarcity as a resource issue, and crowded classrooms as a population issue.

 

Understandings:

Citizens need to become informed about environmental issues in their communities.
Recycling and/or properly disposed of waste limit air pollution and conserve and protect water resources.

 

Essential Questions:

How can our community become more aware of Earth Day environmental issues?
What can we do to promote wise management of resources?

 

Knowledge and Skills:

How to recognize waste, pollution, and conservation issues in their homes and at school.
Use technology, library resources, and experts in the field to gather, organize, and present information about their environment.

 

Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence

 

Assessment Summary:

 

Task/Prompt: Earth Day

 

Type: Performance Task

Topics: personal health and environmental practices, changes in the environment, pollution, scarcity as a resource issue, population, scientific inquiry

 

Summary:

 

Print Materials Needed:

 

Resources:

 

Resource Attachments:

 

Internet Resource Links:
Link 1:
Link 2:
Link 3:
Link 4:
Link 5:

 

 

Notes:

 

Student Directions:
Our class will be presenting a television program on environmental issues. You will be working in one of the four following groups: waste management, air pollution, water pollution, or conservation of resources in our homes or at school. Your group will be asked to write and demonstrate a TV interview on community projects pertaining to Earth Day. Your group will construct a set of questions and responses to be used for this interview. One person will represent the host on a newscast or talk show and the others will represent the ones being interviewed. Your project should include all relevant issues studied and demonstrate an understanding of basic interviewing procedures.



 

 

Other assessment evidence to be collected:

 

Stage 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

 

Learning Activities:

W

Students will complete the Water Cycles unit.

 

Students will work in groups of 3-4 to construct a graphic organizer web giving examples of waste and pollution they believe exists in our homes or at school.
They will complete a graphic organizer showing cause/effect relationships What are causes of these identified problems?)

H
Show video cassette VC 394.26 America’s Special Days (15 min. section on Earth Day)


E
1. Students will work in groups of three to four to research issues involving waste management & recycling, air pollution, water pollution, or conservation of resources in our homes and community. They will use observation, interviews, library and online sources to gather information. A problem/solution graphic organizer will help them to organize this information. (See Web links)
1. Each group will construct a set of questions and responses to be addressed during their interview.
2. The teacher will provide a video of a taped interview process. There will be a follow-up class discussion about the role of the interviewer and the interviewee (one being interviewed).
3. Sample questions and procedures for beginning and ending the interview will be addressed.


R
Practice interviews in front of other students.


E
Use the local speaking rubric and a content rubric to assess oral presentations by group.