Overview How old is the Earth? When kids hear that it is 4 billion years old, they understand why we must care for it. Based on the concept of Learning Festivals where older students host learning stations for youngsters and neighboring senior citizens, Earth Day Birthday challenges tutors to teach principles of ecology and recycling. Staged in the school's high-in-the-sky outdoor play area, inner city children get the message: Nature is everywhere. From seed planting to creating a peaceful tree, the event provides ways for older students to perfect emerging English skills and for younger ones to learn earth friendly concepts.
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Classroom
Activities
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Community
Activities
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Career
Activities
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Learning Standards English Science |
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| • | Collaborate on a project that applies learning to educate others. |
| • | Understand, analyze, evaluate & respond to oral presentations. |
| • | Make effective presentations. |
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School to Career Competencies |
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| • | Practice Communication & Literacy Skills. |
| • | Use Technology. |
| • | Complete Entire Activities. |
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Act Professionally.
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Interact
with Others.
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Assessment Students wrote essays reflecting on their Earth Day experiences.
Software or Materials Used Microsoft Office for Graphics, Flyers, Activities Schedule, Floor Plan; specific materials for sample activities are listed in Lesson Plans.
Web Sites For
Earth
Day & School; for Earth Day Links: US
World Wildlife Fund; download the US
EPA Happy Earth Day Activity Book; send an Earth
Day ecard.
Keywords Earth Day, ecology, environment, Learning Festival, recycling.
Final Words Thanks to: my co-chair LaiLai Sheung, our teacher team, the CityYear Corps and our School Volunteers, and our student teachers, Earth Day Birthday was a success. Planning together and sharing responsibility with teachers and students is a must.
Teacher Tip Boston IMPACT II @ School to Career provides substitute coverage for teachers to visit West Roxbury High and participate in their model ServiceLearning Festival. This makes all the difference. We were able to adapt to our needs but still maintain the original learn to teach ~ teach to learn, experience.
E-mail contact Wai Chin Ng wng@boston.k12.ma.us
Teacher Bio Wai Chin Ng teaches a fifth grade Chinese Bilingual class at Josiah Quincy Elementary School. Born in China, he immigrated to USA with his parents when he was eleven. First hand experience with cultural transition convinced him to become a teacher of students with limited language proficiency. As Lead Teacher, Wai Chin serves on school-based committees such as ILT (Instructional Leadership Team), Technology Support Team, and Yearbook Committee. He also enjoys professional challenges like the IMPACT II Outdoor Classroom Project and TERC Math Program.
Subject Areas Science, Environmental Studies, English Language Arts, Social Studies
Grade Levels Grades 5 & 4 tutor grades 1 & 2
Students All
