Lets Celebrate Our Land!

Grades: 
K, 1, 2

This culminating activity gives youth an opportunity to teach about our land to others. They spread the word that "commons" are needed, and that when people work together they can make something better.

Duration 
PrintOne 45-Minute Session
Objectives 
  • describe the importance of "commons."
  • show ways that volunteers are important in a community.
Bibliography 
  • Guthrie, Woody and Arlo Guthrie. This Land Is Your Land. Rounder Kids C8050. Rounder Records Corp., 1997.
  • Guthrie, Woody and Kathy Jakobsen. This Land Is Your Land. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1998.

Instructions

Print
  1. Anticipatory Set:

    Sing together the song "This Land Is Your Land." Substitute names of commons places around their own community. Ask whether those commons places are cared for so everyone can use them safely.

     

  2. Ask youth to turn to a neighbor and talk about why it is important to have commons in a community. Name some places we share and take care of for all to enjoy and benefit from.

  3. Brainstorm how they could use a performance of the song, substituting with local places and teaching others to take care of the places they share.

    Make a plan and get permission to sing the song where they can share their message. 

  4. Posters advocate for stewardship in the care of the commons areas in the school. Creative displays, such as a performance, can persuade others to be stewards of shared spaces, promoting community over self. 

Cross Curriculum 

The children will share their information in a program for parents and/or other classes in the school.

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
    1. Standard PCS 05. Philanthropy and Government
      1. Benchmark E.9 Describe how philanthropic activities can bring about social change.