Dan Anderson, Prairie Public Education Services

Transcription

1 TITLE: WRITTEN BY: EDITED BY: GRADE LEVEL(S): TIME ALLOTMENT: Protect Our Planet Robbie Benedict, Educator Dan Anderson, Prairie Public Education Services Grades 3 5 and Middle School 45 minute lessons OVERVIEW: Before the lesson on pollution, students will make a web describing the setting in the painting The Rocky Mountains. Students will watch a video about the Exxon Valdez and discuss the disaster in a large group. Students will read the book Sea Otter Rescue: The Aftermath of an Oil Spill by Roland Smith and discuss the effects the oil pollution had on the animals in the videos. Students will design a colorful poster focusing on reducing, reusing, and recycling and other ways students can help Protect Our Planet. Students will become aware of the problems with transporting oil through the oceans. Students will also learn the effects oil pollution has on Earth. SUBJECT MATTER: Language Arts Art Social Studies LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to explain why people should be ecologically conscious. Students will learn about a famous artist and his artwork The Rocky Mountains Students will explore a variety of websites in a whole group Students will construct a web describing a piece of art Students will learn the effects of oil pollution has on living organisms on the earth Students will apply their knowledge and design a poster to help Protect Our Planet NORTH DAKOTA CURRICULUM AND CONTENT STANDARDS: Standard Recognize changes that may alter the balance within a system (e.g., the effects of limited resources on populations, global climate change) Standard Identify details of an object s form which determine its function (e.g., webbed feet for use in water, human feet for walking, shovel for scooping dirt, a rake for collecting leaves, tape measure and ruler to measure distance) Standard A Identify factors that affect growth and reproduction of organisms in ecosystems Social Studies

2 Standard Evaluate current events using print and electronic media (e.g., newspaper, children s news magazines, television, Internet) Art Standard g Describes how the arts inform viewers about people and events from history. Language Arts Standard Accessing Information: Use relevant resource materials to access information; e.g., dictionaries, encyclopedias, newspapers, magazines, videos, interviews, cassette recordings, electronic databases, and Internet. Standard Media Genres: Compare and contrast characteristics of common types of media; e.g., books, magazines, newspapers, cartoons, radio, television, films, electronic sources. Standard Read a variety of texts; i.e., fiction, nonfiction, multicultural Standard Analyze features of non fiction text; i.e., headings, subheadings, captions, graphics, tables, conventions of print Standard Plan a written text using a variety of techniques; e.g., webbing, listing, graphic organizers, taking notes to develop a topic or purpose MINNESOTA CURRICULUM AND CONTENT STANDARDS: Standard Living things are diverse with many different characteristics that enable them to grow, reproduce and survive. Standard Natural systems have many parts that interact to maintain the living system Standard Humans change environments in ways that can be either beneficial or harmful to themselves and other organisms Language Arts Common Core Grade 5 Reading Standards Key Ideas and Details: Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text. Craft and Structure: Compare and contrast the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts. Craft and Structure: Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent. Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably. Language Arts MN Common Core Grade 5 Writing Standards Text Type and Purposes: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. a. Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer s purpose. b. Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.

3 c. Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically). d. Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented. Art Standards Grade 4 5 Visual Arts : Describe how visual art communicates meaning Visual Arts : Justify personal interpretations and reactions to works of visual art. MEDIA COMPONENTS: Websites The Rocky Mountains by Albert Bierstadt Albert Bierstadt biography information Videos Balance in Nature video: Other balance in nature videos available at q=balance+in+nature&go= Exxon Valdez oil spill video: &ID= Other oil spill videos available at: q=exxon+oil+spill&go= MATERIALS: 1. Website to view The Rocky Mountains by Albert Bierstadt 2. Website to view biography about Albert Bierstadt 3. Short video clips about the balance of nature and oil spills 4. Teacher computer, interactive white board (or screen) and projector 5. Small paper (8 ½ by 11 inches) for each student to construct a web 6. Classroom set of the book Sea Otter Rescue: The Aftermath of an Oil Spill by Roland Smith, ISBN Large paper for each group of students to design a poster 8. Markers PREP FOR TEACHERS: 1. Order a classroom set of the book Sea Otter Rescue: The Aftermath of an Oil Spill by Roland Smith from the Fargo Public School District Office 2. Preview and read the book Sea Otter Rescue: The Aftermath of an Oil Spill by Roland Smith 3. Preview and set up multimedia components, bookmark or make a playlist of video clips 4. Connect the computer to projector and screen to show media

4 5. Collect small paper (8 ½ x 11) and pencils for each student 6. Collect large paper 11 x 17) and markers for each group of students INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY SETTING THE STAGE: 1. Show the digital picture of The Rocky Mountains by Albert Bierstadt and discuss the beauty of nature in this bucolic piece of art. Briefly, review Albert Bierstadt s biography. Have the students contribute ideas during the discussion. Students will construct a web describing the characteristics of this artwork. Teacher may guide with a starting point for their web. LEARNING ACTIVITIES: 1. Students will share in groups of four their Rocky Mountains web, then collaborate and determine four characteristics from the entire group they would like to share with the whole class. 2. Share the balance in nature video clip(s) and discuss why it s important to protect our world. Students can add characteristics to their webs. 3. Discuss with students What If... there was an oil spill in the Rocky Mountains. Ask them what would happen to the plants and animals. Show the students the Exxon Valdez oil spill video clip(s) and discuss. 4. Introduce the students to the book Sea Otter Rescue: The Aftermath of an Oil Spill by Roland Smith. Briefly preview the book and discuss vocabulary. Have students read Sea Otter Rescue: The Aftermath of an Oil Spill by Roland Smith in small groups. Students can take notes while they re reading. After reading, discuss the effects the oil pollution had on the animals in the videos. How were the people affected by the oil spill? 5. Reflection and Discussion: State As people who inhabit this earth, we are the caretakers of our planet our home. We need to care for our earth with respect and responsibility. How could you help our earth? Discuss ways students can make a difference. CULMINATING ACTIVITY: 1. Divide students into small groups. Each group will design a colorful poster focusing on ways to help our earth. Some possibilities are to reduce, reuse, and recycle as ways to help protect our planet. 2. Share the posters with the entire class. CROSS CURRICULAR ACTIVITY: This activity could be used in language arts, social studies, and art classes Students could read current event newspapers or periodicals about a variety of oil spills and compare the amount of oil spilled and effects on the land and water

5 COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: Learn about recycling programs in various communities Learn about the laws against littering in various communities Invite RiverKeepers in Fargo/Moorhead or representatives of other ecology based organizations to share the effects pollution has upon the water Have the students (teachers/administration) organize a group of students that will clean up the litter throughout the school playground and school ground EXTENSION ACTIVITIES: Extension Lesson Plan: lessonplans/protecting our planet.cfm Biome video: ormat= &id= Biome video: ormat= &id= Other videos on various biomes: q=grasslands&go= q=desert&go= q=water+habitat&go= q=rain+forest&go= q=coniferous+forest&go= q=tundra&go=