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Objective(s)
In this unit, students will use the Internet to research the
history of Earth Day and use the Internet for other activities
celebrating Earth Day.
National Standards
Science: changes in Earth; Earth's history
Summary
This unit extends over five days in which students learn about
the history of Earth Day as as ways in which it can be celebrated.
Technology and/or Materials Needed
- Computers with Internet access, at least one per three students
- brown grocery bags
- art supplies
- Dictionaries
- Printer accessiblity
- Crayons
Implementation Time Frame
Each day's activities should take approximately 45-60 minutes.
Activities
Day 1: Students will research two web sites provided by the
teacher to obtain facts about the history of Earth Day.
- Begin the lesson, by posting a blank KWL chart (a chart divided
into three columns, including What I Know, What I Want to Know,
and What I Learned). Lead a group discussion asking for student
reponses to fill in the first two columns of the chart on the
History of Earth Day. (The third column will be filled in at
the end of the lesson.)
- Depending on facility, students may work individually or
in a group of two or three.
- Introduce activity by reminding students of their responsibility
when using the Internet. Students will first launch the Internet
and go to the site www.earthday.net.
- Ask students to read the page silently. Next, ask where they
should go on this site to find information about the history
of Earth Day. Let students click on their response even if it
is not productive in finding the information needed. This will
give students a feel for how to search for information on the
Internet.
- Eventually, all students should click on "About Earth
Day Network" at the top of the page.
- Students will read this page. In searching for history of
Earth Day, ask students where they should go next.
- Students should eventually be directed to "How It All
Began" toward the bottom of the page.
- Students will record two facts they find from this web page
about the history of Earth Day. Findings should be recorded on
a separate piece of paper.
- Next, students will go to the site www.sdearthtimes.com/edn/earthday.
- Allow some students to browse briefly.
- Students should then be directed to click on "History
of Earth Day".
- From this page, students will record two more facts about
the history of Earth Day.
- To conclude the lesson, students may share their research
by returning to the KWL chart to fill in the last column.
Day 2: Students will create their classroom/school Earth Day
theme by using ideas from other schools found on the Internet.
- Explain to students that today's activity will involve developing
a theme or message for an Earth Day celebration.
- Students, in groups or individually, will launch the Internet
and to the site www.sdearthtimes.com/edn/earthday/.
- Next, students should click on "Earth Day Project Ideas"
found in the top right corner of the page.
- Studnet will then click on "Summary of Themes for Earth
Day" at the bottom of the menu. Using these ideas as motivation,
students will begin to brainstorm theme ideas that will reflect
their school/community involvement for Earth Day.
- Students will work individually developing a school or classroom
theme for Earth Day.
- Collect the students ideas and read them aloud. Students
will vote for the best theme.
- Now that one theme has been chosen, each student will illustrate
the theme.
Day 3: Using the Internet, students will view decorated grocery
bags to get ideas for decorating their own grocery bags.
- Collect enough grocery bags for each student, and then explain
to students that they will be decorating the bags in celebration
of Earth Day and then returning them to the grocery store so
the store can distribute on Earth Day to inform others of this
important day.
- Students, in groups or individually, will launch the Internet
and go to the site www.sdearthtimes.com/edn/.
- Students will click on "Earth Day Project Ideas"
and then click on "Earth Day Grocery Bags '97". Remember
to let students find what they are looking for before telling
them where to go. You are there to guide their search.
- Students will read about the Earth Day Grocery Bag activity.
- Next, students will go to the site www.earthdaybags.org.
- Students will click on "Project Pictures". There
are many schools listed, so students may choose different schools
to view other students' design of the grocery bags.
- Students will now have an opportunity to decorate their own
bags. Students may be assessed on the design and completion of
the bag using a rubric.
- Students' work can be published on the site listed above
by clicking on "How to Get Your Pictures Here" from
the "Project Pictures" link.
Day 4: Student will identify the importance of an environmental
issue and list strategies to help the environment with respect
to their issue.
- Students, in groups or individually, will launch the Internet
and go to the site www.nwf.org/nwf/kids/index.html.
- Students will select the "virtual tour".
- Students will complete the tour by answering the questions
along the way.
- Upon completion of the tour, students will answer the following
questions (to be printed out on a handout for each student):
- What environmental tour did you take?
- Why did you choose this tour?
- How does this topic concern or affect you?
- List three things you can do to help the environment.
Day 5: Students will print a picture from the Internet to
color.
- Students will go to the site www.earthday.wilderness.org.
- Students will go to "Kid's Stuff" and browse around.
- After a short time, direct the students to click on "Earth
Day Coloring Book".
- Each student should click on a picture he/she would like
to color and then click on print.
- Students will then color the picture to enter in an Earth
Day contest and hang around the classroom and/or school.
Assessment
Students can combine their work on the Internet and Earth
Day into a portfolio or folder created out of recycled paper.
Students will write a letter to their parents explaining the
contents of the portfolio and what they learned about Earth Day
and the environment. Portfolios can be evaluated using a rubric
assessing the completeness of the portfolio.
Resources and Links
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