Community Clean-Up (6-8)
Students learn about the goals of Earth Day and identify areas in town that need clean-up or planting. They plan a day of service.
Teach this one-period lesson plan and follow it with a simple and powerful service project before or on Earth Day. The reflection brings learning and service impact together.
Photo Credit: Clean Up Day by U.S. Embassy Romania is licensed by CC by 4.0
The students will be able to
- describe the history and goals of Earth Day.
- express their role as stewards of the environment and participants in civil society.
- determine a specific need for clean-up in the community.
- plan and carry out a clean-up service project.
gloves and other tools for community clean-up, determined by project focus
Follow the project with a brief reflection.
1. Discuss the impact of their project as partners, small groups, or whole class.
2. Students write a paragraph reflection connecting their project to the quotes in Part Two above.
3. They compile pictures, data, and narrative from their project into a form to share. Give them a place to share their reflection.
Follow-up:
- How would life be different today if Earth Day hadn't started?
- Discuss what they’d like to do next to continue taking care of the community environment.
- TED-Ed Video. "Earth Day Medley." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2eu037gj48&index=2&list=PLyFWTTcpHADGiJBAcotpSPhkzdZO7VM3S
- Facts Scribbler. "What Is Earth Day? Important Facts and History." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYA_Vibx3bU&list=PLyFWTTcpHADGiJBAcotpSPhkzdZO7VM3S
- Earth Day Quizlet. https://quizlet.com/134501928/earth-day-flash-cards/
- Earth Day Kahoot. https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/1711c8b6-c5dd-4588-b995-3f46cdf57c58
- Science World. "Earth Day Articles." http://scienceworld.scholastic.com/
- Education World. "Science lesson" http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/03/lp308-04.shtml
Instructions
Anticipatory Set: (5 min)
Before playing this 60-second “Earth Day Medley” from TED-Ed, tell students to watch for the visual messages about the gifts of the earth and our interactions with it.
Questions for discussion:
- What are some attributes of the earth shown symbolically?
- What do you think is the social action message of this video?
- Why do you think we have (or need) a day dedicated to stewardship of the earth? – Earth Day on April 22
Introduce history and goals of Earth Day and introduce community clean-up project. Tell the students that they are going to celebrate Earth Day by taking action locally.
Show a 90-second video about the history and goals of Earth Day
Review the issues Earth Day seeks to address (oil spills, pollution, loss of wilderness, etc.), and ask the students which of these issues they care about most.
Building from the video’s list of things people can do (plant trees, recycle, ride bikes), brainstorm and discuss what individuals can do in the local community to take care of the earth.
Understanding our role in civil society: Give students time in small groups to read aloud and discuss the meaning of the following quotes as they relate to participating in a local clean-up project and its impact:
- “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” Edward Everett Hale
- "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
- "A small act is worth a million thoughts." - Ai Weiwei
- “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” -- Mahatma Gandhi
Ideas:
- Students clean up trash in designated areas and put up signs or provide trash cans to maintain the appearance. The clean-up may involve planting native species or removing invasive species.
- If the area is a hiking trail, students may provide laminated trail maps with interpretations of the natural history and features along the trail.
- Involve families and other community members in the clean-up or in awareness of how to maintain the beauty of the cleaned area.
Have a representative from the town council come and be part of the discussion about the community clean-up project. Discuss how they can be of help to the class and what the students can do to help the community efforts.
Extensions:
- Have students create their own “Animoto” video about Earth Day, using facts, images, and suggestions for things people can do locally for stewardship of the earth.
- Quizlets: https://quizlet.com/_282uco
- Online Competitive Games about Earth Day: https://quizlet.com/_282uco https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/1711c8b6-c5dd-4588-b995-3f46cdf57c58