Life just seems to be saying “what a crazy week” over and over, doesn’t it? So on that note, Earth Day is Every Day! And *technically* I still made it in time for Earth Week, right? Right?
Happy Earth Day week! Let’s talk about the environment. There’s a lot going on right now, but we can make our students feel empowered to make a difference while engaging them in meaningful science.
Of course we always start with phenomena. Decide which works for your students or find more here. Then use this sheet and have students record observations.
K- 2
This image is simple, yet powerful enough for even the youngest learners to have observations and questions about pollution and its effects on wildlife. What do they notice?
Keep track of their wonderings, knowledge and questions.
3-5
This clip is more intense, showing the results of plastic pollution on an island of seagulls. Its powerful message is one that can get through to older elementary students, engaging them while bringing the matter more maturely for upper elementary scientists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm0HeSKrm7ghe
After making observations, make a list of questions your students would like to
know the answers to, in order to better understand the phenomenon you observed. Make a chart together for younger students, while older students can write their own.
As always, students should think-pair-share or turn and talk to help them become accustomed to “talking science.”
You can then decide as a group which questions are testable and proceed to make a project out of it, or choose one of these ready-made citizen science actions!
- Tracking Trash (following geo-tagged trash in the ocean)
Get the app on Google Play or the Apple App Store
This citizen science project helps scientists collect the data they need to understand pollution, especially at its source in communities. This kind of data would be much too difficult for scientists to collect on their own, and that is where citizen science comes in.
- Literati citizen science
Another great app available on Google Play or the Apple App Store to track trash in your neighborhood. The site also has great STEM lessons and a Facebook Page you can join.
- Sink or Float (investigating how plastics behave in the ocean, depending on density reflected by resin code)
This activity has students study the infographic to understand how different plastics behave in the ocean.
For sources of data that were used to create the infographic above:e:
http://www.eunomia.co.uk/reports-tools/plastics-in-the-marine-environment/
- Dear Humans (effects of plastics)
This video details the effects of plastics from the point of view of marine animals. This powerful video was made by 4th graders and would be a great start to your own letter writing campaign, video, or project on the effects of plastics marine life.
Still have questions? Get some answers!
How much stuff actually gets recycled?
What kinds of things can we recycle?
Earth911 search “how to recycle” and get tips on everything from paper to glow sticks!
Se
TerraCycle this site has a great feature where you can start recycling programs for hard-to-recycle items.