This unit teaches young students a sense of responsibility to take care of the environment that G-d created. It also demonstrates that even young students have the power to contribute to the community.  One main piece of this is the importance of recycling.  Students not only learn about the environment and creation, but also perform acts that preserve the environment.

Focus Questions:

What is the connection between creation and taking care of the environment?
Why is it important to take care of the environment?
What is my role in caring for the environment?

Lesson One: Students will plant seeds using some recycled materials.
Lesson Two: Students provide labeled recycling boxes (for paper, plastic, and metal) in appropriate places around school.  They communicate expectations, manage the project, and bring the recycled goods to a local recycling station.
Lesson Three: Students plan and carry out a project to improve the school environment, such as separate recycling around school, rake leaves, pick up garbage, or educate others through informational posters.

“Copy-and-Paste” Class/School Newsletter Information Insert:
What does traditional Jewish text tell us about stewardship, or taking care of the environment?  This is the focus of our current unit of study: This Land Is Our Land.  We start with creation and retell the story in which G-d created the world and lead to our responsibility to protect it.  Through three different lessons the students receive a solid foundation and understanding that there are simple things we can do each day to preserve the environment and not to waste the good things that we do have. The students (at this young age) will feel empowered to participate in activities that improve the of outdoors, school, and home environments.  We will stress the idea that “many hands make light work” in regards to the environment.  It is everyone’s responsibility to make small contributions to take care of the needs of the earth and its environment.  We hope the students will share their enthusiasm with their families.  We encourage you to get involved in some environmental activities as a family. 

Interactive Parent/Student Homework:
Students will be asked to collect items from home that are usually thrown away, but will be used to make craft projects (example: baby food jars, tin cans, paper towel cardboard tubes).
Students and parents can design together some responsibilities around the house children can perform in order to improve the status of the environment inside and outside of the home.