PLANET EARTH

2. In the spring, discuss Earth Day and have students make special Earth Day T-shirts.Each student should bring in one clean,white T-shirt. Place cardboard pieces inside the shirts to keep the paint from soaking through to the other side. With clothes protected, dip each child’s hand and arm into brown fabric paint and press it onto the shirt for the “tree trunk.” Once the paint dries, have the students sponge-paint leaves on the tree with green paint. They may add more details to their shirt, e.g., birds, flowers, insects, sun, clouds. Finally, have an adult write “Save Our Earth,” the child’s name, and the date on the shirt in fabric paint. Have the students wear their shirts on Earth Day to demonstrate pride for the environment.

3. Develop an experiment to demonstrate the effect of pollutants on plants. Using two labeled, reusable containers filled with dirt, have each child plant alfalfa or lima bean seeds (or any fast-growing plant). One container should be watered with pure, clean water and the other with polluted water (such as with vinegar,
lemon juice, soap suds, oil). All other factors should remain constant. Have the students record daily observations and conclusions in their journals.

4. Help students learn about the negative effects of litter and pollutants on animals.Examples might include sea turtles mistakenly ingesting plastic bags instead of jellyfish, birds’ eggs weakened by pesticides,small animals trapped helplessly in bottles or cans, starving sea birds caught in broken fishing line, and fish swimming through plastic packaging loops from 6-packs of drinks. A bulletin board representing the various scenarios could be created and displayed in an area visible to all. Add a creative title, such as “CLEAN
UP TRASH - SAVE A FRIEND!”



5. Have a big Spring Cleanup at your school or on a trip to a local park. Remind students to wear plastic gloves to avoid germs. Discuss the difference between “man-made” and “natural” trash. Which items will eventually return to the soil if allowed to naturally decompose? How long will it take? Students can proudly
wear their Earth Day shirts on the day of the “cleanup.”Set a perimeter and have students work in pairs to collect the trash. As it is gathered it can be sorted into piles of “humanmade” or “natural trash.” Each pile can be compared, in size, with a known object (e.g., a car, bush, child, basketball, marble) and then weighed. Discuss how many pounds of trash were collected and how the students have helped the Earth. Ask the students how collecting trash demonstrates good character (being a good citizen) and discuss how this action represents being good stewards for the Earth.

6. Create a “To Pollute or Not To Pollute”bulletin board. Divide a bulletin board into two defined sections. On one side,have a beautiful, green Earth (sun shining, etc.). On the other side, have an Earth that is polluted, dirty, and “gross” (sad sun, brown clouds). Have children collect trash from their home, both natural and
man-made. Cover the polluted side withlots of garbage. On the beautiful side, have students draw or cut out pictures of animals, streams, happy people, recycled items, etc. Use things that make the Earth and environment beautiful and enjoyable. Have students explain and discuss the difference we, as trustworthy good stewards, can make in our world.

to be continue.............................