Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Purpose:
The students define environmental stewardship and determine responsibility for caring for the environment.
Duration:
One 45-Minute Session
Objectives:
The learners will:
- define environmental stewardship.
- reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of pavement.
- determine responsibility for caring for the environment.
Vocabulary:
- environmental stewardship: the careful and responsible management of the environment and the earth's natural resources
Materials:
- Internet access for video and online article/statistics (if possible)
- Chart paper for group notes
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set
Ask youth to think about the meaning of “paradise.” Tell youth that one definition of paradise is “a place where somebody finds comfort and beauty.” Describe a place that you consider to be paradise with the group. Perhaps it is a place you visited, a vacation destination, or even your backyard. Encourage the learners to join you in identifying these types of places.
- Ask: “What would happen to your paradise if it were paved, blacktopped, or cemented?”
- Read the lyrics of “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell. Then play the song at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgMEPk6fvpg
Have the whole group discuss the implications of “paving
paradise.”
Some possible answers:
1. Paved areas may be unattractive and may become wasteful or polluted.
2. Trees and other plants cannot grow there.
3. Water runoff has no place to go because the ground is impervious.
- Distribute copies of a map of the community. Ask students to highlight all those places where there is no pavement such as golf courses, parks, empty land, water. Ask them to reflect on this question: Is there more pavement than green space in our community? Ask them to imagine how the map might look different if it were for another neighborhood or region.
- Discuss the term environmental stewardship and have the learners share what they know or think they know about the meaning of these words. Once the group has finished hypothesizing, share the definition of environmental stewardship: "the careful and responsible management of the Earth’s natural resources.”
- Ask:
Who has been entrusted with the care of the Earth’s natural resources? Are they the government’s responsibility, the individual’s, business, environmental organizations or all?
What actions can we take as environmental stewards?
More specifically, what can we do to care for our natural groundcover? (Possible answers include: plant gardens and planter boxes, collect rainwater, make and distribute rain barrels, write letters to the government about pavement concerns, etc.)
Cross-Curriculum Extensions:
Science: Invite a guest speaker to talk to the group about a sustainability issue. Have youth prepare questions in advance, and then allow time for questions after the guest shares information and resources.
Science and Math: Pour a pint of water on two different surfaces. Time how long it takes for the water to soak into the ground. Compare.
Music: Challenge the students to find music/ songs with an environmental theme. They may bring approved music to play for the group. After they play the music, they describe the song’s message and how they feel about it.
Language Art: Write a poem (Haiku or Cinquain) about the Earth.
Physical Education: Run a half mile on pavement and on grass. Compare personal times and determine the better surface for speed and comfort.
Bibliographical References:
Read the lyrics of “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell. Then play youth the actual song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgMEPk6fvpg
Handouts:
Unit Contents:
Overview:Environment: Sustaining Our World (9-12) Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- Pavement or Dirt?
- 2.
- They Paved Paradise
- 3.
- Carefully Managing the Earth's Resources
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
