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At the elementary level our vision is for the following to occur (but feel free to deviate and be creative):
All teachers in grades K – 5 should review the document on how to talk to kids about climate change in an age-appropriate fashion· Kindergartners will view the Recycling Rover youtube video
· Grades K – 2 will use the Curious George Goes Green DVDs as a springboard for discussion
· Grades K – 3 will show a Global Warming Slideshow and then use resources to expand upon it (a tutorial is provided)
· Grades 4 – 5 will show “A Student’s Guide to Climate Change” video and then use resources to expand upon it
· Grades 3 – 5 will show “Young Voices for the Planet” inspirational mini-movies throughout the week or in the tech lab
We realize we have provided you with an abundance of resources, some of which you will use during Earth Week and others that you may want to explore in the future. Accordingly, the Earth Week Science Enrichment Web Resources will be posted permanently on the district website. Your input is valuable. As you peruse the sites, please feel free to give them a "star" rating. Additionally, in the near future you will receive a survey that will help us determine what you found useful, what your students liked, and what improvements we can make. Thanks for being our front-line environmental stewards!
Created by our very own Red Oak kindergarten teacher Laura Ornstein, this video helps explain to kindergartners how to recycle in the lunch area using an earth-friendly “repurposed” sock puppet.
Global Warming Slideshow and related activities that address the following questions: What is Energy? Where does energy come from? What types of energy are there? What can happen? How can we save energy? Includes a word bank, fun facts and teacher resources. This website has a LOT of information.
Curious George Goes Green DVD- 8 short cartoons (This is not a link- it is an actual DVD):
The Perfect Carrot -
George learns how to grow carrots but when a friend's bunnies go missing, he has to make a decision: the bunnies or the carrot?
Contains an educational video which provides complete overview of the issue. Also includes basics, impacts, thinking like a scientist, and being part of the solution, an online emissions calculator for kids, and teacher resources. Created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Young Voices for the Planet is a film series featuring young people who are making a difference! They are shrinking the carbon footprint of their homes, schools and communities. Eight short movies document how individual students and groups of students have made an impact. They include:
Kids vs. Global Warming (4:55)
At 12, Alec Loorz was filmed putting up his SLAP (Sea Level Awareness Posts) on the beach in Ventura, California. At 15, Alec presented his Declaration of Independence from Fossil Fuel to Senator Barbara Boxer on Capitol Hill. Alec travels widely to talk to audiences to encourage them to take action. Kids vs Global Warming is a non profit organization founded and led by Alec.
Plant for the Planet (5:54)
As a 9-year-old boy, Felix founded Plant for the Planet and has planted more than 500,000 trees in Germany which he says help sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Now 11, Felix talks about "climate justice."
Slideshow and
accompanying teacher guide created in response to a survey that
National Wildlife Federation conducted with 200 young readers of
Ranger Rick magazine. It showcases the most common questions from this age group on the topic of global climate change. The slideshow can be shown as part of a science class or social studies class. This could be an alternative to using the "Students' Guide to Climate Change" Slideshow.
Kids vs Global Warming is a non-profit organization founded and led by Alec Loorz, who is now 15 years old. This group is committed to creating opportunities for youth to learn about the science and solutions of climate change, and then take action that will reduce dependence on fossil fuels and influence the Ruling Generation to make good decisions NOW that will impact our future. Through educational presentations, community activism projects, multi-media, and leadership training, this group empowers youth to use their voice, and reminds kids that WE MATTER! and there really is something we can do about global warming. Based in Ventura, CA.
Lesson plan to introduce concepts of reducing, reusing and recycling. They will learn new vocabulary, read labels, and connect environmental concepts to their everyday experiences. Students will perform a skit highlighting what they have learned about taking action to conserve the earth's resources.
Students create a mini landfill and fill it with items from their school lunch remains. They investigate what items from their school lunch are sent to the landfill and learn how these items decompose. They brainstorm ways to reduce and reuse the contents of their lunches, repeat the lunchtime investigation and compare the results.
Students will examine ways to save electricity and create a Save Electricity Tips sheet. They will initiate the energy saving tips at home and compare two electric bills to determine how much energy they saved. Long-term planning needed.
Very cute and informative.
Comprehensive kid-friendly carbon footprint calculator, but it requires a log-in which the school can't handle as a class, so it would be best used as a homework or extra-credit assignment. Data can be compared in class.
In this short and funny video clip, the Blue Men send a plea to humanity to do something about climate change. May be good for morning announcements (2 minutes).
See Edd, Tom & Matt save the Earth. tve asked some of the world's leading YouTubers to make films ahead of the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (has almost 2 million views). About 4 minutes.
Comprehensive kid-friendly carbon footprint calculator, but it requires a log-in which the school can't handle as a class, so it would be best used as a homework or extra-credit assignment. Data can be compared in class.
Can be used as inspiration for creative writing activity. Verses provided.
Created by students in the San Diego area, this is a website that advocates
eating less meat to reduce your own carbon footprint.Created by students in the San Diego area, this provides a list of ten facts about how eating less meat reduces your carbon footprint.
From the website: Use The Nature Conservancy's carbon footprint calculator to measure your impact on our climate. Our carbon footprint calculator estimates how many tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases your choices create each year. Use The Nature Conservancy's carbon footprint calculator to measure your impact on our climate. Our carbon footprint calculator estimates how many tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases your choices create each year.
Also contains footprint basics, footprint science, and other resources.
National Wildlife Federation website with links to games, quizzes, and more related to climate change. If not used in class, may be a good website to give your students to explore at home or in the tech lab.
National Wildlife Federation website with links to games, quizzes, and more related to climate change. If not used in class, may be a good website to give your students to explore at home or in the tech lab.
Think climate change is too big of a problem to solve? Think again. Small changes in our everyday lives can make a big difference. We can all lower our carbon emissions by following these energy and climate-saving tips.
“(OF)2: Our Footprints, Our Future!" is an international initiative that encourages youth (ages 19 and younger) from around the world to use online tools and resources to measure their carbon footprint and develop ways to reduce their carbon usage. This link provides more resources for ways to reduce your footprint, other footprint calculators, a section for educators, news and games.
Might make a good project for the tech lab. May need teacher guidance, but is very kid-friendly. It was created in Europe, so different measurement terms are used.
Kids learn that there is an environmental cost to all the gadgets they love!
Animated short video about garbage and how it can be separated.
