Humans, the Environment, and the Great Plains

Outdoors Is Everywhere But Inside!

Background:

Environmental education should be stressed in all grade levels. Often children perceive 'outdoor education' to mean the national forests or any land that is outside the urban area. This lesson will help make children understand that outdoor education encompasses all land.

Objective:

Students will develop an understanding and appreciation of the environment they come in contact with in everyday life through the publishing of a guidebook.

Plan:

1. Students will list all they know about any plants found on the school grounds.
2. Working in pairs or small groups, students identify certain plants. The groups or pairs then research a plant and discover any benefits or harm to man by that plant, diseases that plant is susceptible to, history, whether it is native to the area, etc. (This list should be student generated with some guidance from you.)
3. Each group then writes a narrative and draws or finds pictures about their plant.
4. Students publish their guidebook and make several copies.
5. Students will then give guided tours of the school grounds to other classes, teachers, parents, and any interested community groups, explaining all they know about the plants growing there.

Testing, Grading, and Evaluation:

The culmination of this lesson plan would be students giving guided tours using their guidebook. Additional activities might included similar guidebooks for insects and animal life found in the school grounds. Students can also plant a new tree or bush of a species not found on the playground.

Primary Course: Social Studies

Applicable Grades: 4 - 6

Materials Needed: Plant books, drawing paper, pencils, computer, printer

Related Courses: Science, Language

Time Required: Three 45-minute sessions

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