How to Save the Earth

Activity: Save Our Earth
To Pollute or Not To Pollute? That is the Question!
Overview
Waste, litter, and pollution negatively affect life on Earth. Responsible actions leading to pollution reduction could save money, protect resources, improve health, and lead to an overall higher quality of life. Strong values and good character traits are needed – now – for EVERYONE’S sake! Students can learn to help their environment by understanding the problems and solutions of pollution and exhibiting the character traits of respect, caring, trustworthiness, responsibility, and stewardship.

SCIENCE: Life Processes – Resources, Pollution CHARACTER: Respect, Caring,
Trustworthiness, Responsibility, and Stewardship

GRADE LEVEL
1st Grade

Objectives
Students will be able to 1. describe what pollution is, what causes it, and its effects upon the Earth; 2. name 3 ways that litter can harm wildlife, plants, and humans; 3. sort trash into man-made or natural materials; 4. propose ways to help eliminate and/or clean up pollution, litter, and waste; 5 develop and express an appreciation of and responsibility for stewardship of the Earth.

VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING
Mathematics: 1.12, 1.18 Science: 1.1, 1.8 English: 1.2, 1.12

LENGTH/DURATION
6 weeks or 1-2 hours per day during Earth Week

MATERIALS
paper, pencils, washed and clean white t-shirts, fabric paint, various sponges or stencils, cardboard pieces, single subject notebook or several blank pages bound together, bulletin board display area, natural and manmade trash, writing paper

Background
A pollutant is a harmful chemical or waste material discharged into the land, water, or atmosphere leading to a state of dirtiness, impurity, or unhealthiness. Pollution affects everyone! It can be very dangerous for plants, animals, and humans. Much of the waste that is thrown away can be reduced, reused, recycled, or refused (example: simply don’t take a bag at the grocery store if not needed). There are many...