It's Not Easy Being Green ...

Environmental concerns have become a societal norm. As a family, you are no doubt already completing environmental learning throughout your daily life and routines.
Since April 22nd is Earth Day, I thought that it would be appropriate to provide some environmental activity ideas at the beginning of this month. Each grade level (kindergarten to grade 3) contains some environmental learning outcomes:

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Kindergarten
Demonstrate the ability to observe their surroundings
Describe features of their immediate environment
Demonstrate responsible behaviour in caring for their immediate environment

Grade 1
Identify the characteristics of different environments
Demonstrate responsible behaviour in caring for their immediate and school environment

Grade 2
Describe their responsibility to the local environment
Describe how the physical environment influences human activity

Grade 3
Demonstrate a sense of responsibility for the local environment


The activity ideas below are only suggestions. If you feel that your child has not received much “environmental learning” so far during this school year, you may consider studying some of the suggested scripture, printing off some of the colouring pages, or checking out some of the activity websites. If you do complete some environmental learning, then please communicate this in a “Brag-a-Little” email or in your child’s portfolio.


SCRIPTURE
Discuss the responsibility that God has given to man in taking care of the earth. What can you do to help take care of God’s creation on a daily basis?

Psalm 8: 3-8 – Psalm 8:6-8: “You have made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.”


Discuss how God responded to His creation - “It was very good”. Discuss God’s creation today. Is man keeping it “very good”? What parts of God’s creation fascinate you most?

Genesis 1:11-13, 20-25 - creation of plants and animals. Genesis 1:31- “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.”



WEBSITES
EEK! – Environmental Education for Kids
Recycle City
Just for Kids
Earth Day Ideas and Activities
Eco Kids games and activities


READINGS
The Lorax ~ by Dr. Seuss
This book is a fun read as an introduction to the need of sustainability in the environment. Unfortunately, the dialogue in the story does include some ruder language: i.e. “You stupid guy!” and “Shut up, if you please”. When reading this aloud to my own children, I changed “stupid” to “silly” and “Shut up” to “Be quiet”.


PRINTABLES
Recycling Colouring Pages (kindergarten/ grade 1)
Nature’s Recycler’s Colouring book (grades 2/3)


COMMUNITY
Earth Day Event Schedule for communities in BC