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There Is So Much to Share

Grades: 
K, 1, 2
Subjects: 
Language Arts
Social Studies
Keywords & Concepts: 
Enlightened Self-Interest
Environment
Stewardship

The learners define stewardship and environmental stewardship. They will compare and contrast "common" and "private" resources.

Duration 
PrintOne 45-Minute Session
Objectives 

The learner will:

  • define environmental stewardship and common good.
  • compare and contrast common and private resources through their illustration.
Materials 
Vocabulary 
  • common good: working together with other member for the greater benefit of all
  • environmental stewardship: the responsible maintenance and care of the earth and its environment
Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Anticipatory Set

    Play the song “It’s a Small World.” (see Materials list for Internet links). Ask the students to listen carefully to the words and follow along with the text.

  2. Play the song again and encourage them to sing along. Repeat the song until youth are comfortable singing the chorus of the song.

  3. Remind the students about making their shrink earth necklaces and the discussion of when and how the earth might be "small." Discuss the lyrics of the song by askingstudents to point out lyrics that seem important or interesting. Discuss what the lyrics mean to them.

  4. Tell the students about the history of Earth Day. (Earth day is observed in the United States on April 22nd. It was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson to encourage people all over the world to take care of our earth by using its resources wisely and by making sure we don't destroy earth's beauty and resources through overuse or pollution. Read about the origins of Earth Day at https://www.earthday.org/)

  5. Explain that taking care of something is called "stewardship" and taking care of the earth or the environment is called environmental stewardship.

  6. Ask: What does the song mean by “there’s so much that we share”? Ask students to share what they drew from the previous lesson to illustrate shared or "common" resources and "private" resources.

  7. Explain that taking care of the earth's common resources, being environmental stewards, helps everyone on earth including ourselves because it is for the common good, for the benefit of all.

Assessment 

Assess the ability of the students to explain their illustrations of common and private resources.

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
    1. Standard DP 01. Define Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.3 Recognize that citizens have a responsibility for the common good as defined by democratic principles.
  2. Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
    1. Standard PCS 03. Philanthropy and Economics
      1. Benchmark E.5 Recognize the wise use of resources as <i>stewardship</i>.
  3. Strand PHIL.III Philanthropy and the Individual
    1. Standard PI 01. Reasons for Individual Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.2 Identify why people practice philanthropy related to their own self-interest.
      2. Benchmark E.3 Define stewardship and give examples.