6th grade activities for Earth day (april 22nd)?

Question

I am a Junior in high school and must "teach" a 6th grade science class on Earth Day. I am scared out of my mind. I know I would like to have a few fun worksheets....but I am sure I need some general information on Earth day (pollution, green house effect, etc.)...I guess a small lecture. I have been looking into finding a nice arts and crafts activity but have found absolutely nothing...

Any advice/tips would be useful (I have a huge fear of public speaking). But I would also like help finding the materials needed (the worksheets, arts and crafts, etc.)...

Thanks so much.

Answer 1

let them go outside and pickup garbage and for every piece of garbage give them a piece of candie.. Have a snack and let them try to shape as Earth. talk to them about what is happening around the earth.Make write 3 things they can do to save or help the world.

Answer 2

I can imagine how scared you are about teaching in front of an audience of 6th graders. I have a few suggestions which might help.

First of all, think beyond the focus of science. You may want to talk about cultures, or history, or community service, or politics. Earth Day may be about ecology, but ecology isn't just about science.

If you know the classroom in which you will be teaching, go talk to the teacher about what he/she would like their students to learn. The teacher can either prepare the students for your lesson or expand on your lesson the next day. At the very least, s/he can give you a copy of the textbook the students are using which may contain some useful information including experiments you can demonstrate (don't try to make this a student involved experiment for your first time) or craft projects you can teach.

Always break the lesson into 4-6 steps (or more, if needed) with an explanation about what you are doing and questions about what you just did to keep them paying attention (and try to avoid letting one student do all the answering; it may seem to be an easy solution, but you will lose the focus of the rest of the students).

For a craft project, have concrete examples of each step, as well as a final example, ready to show the class. I actually learned this lesson as a Junior in High School. Show the students what their end product will look like before you begin unless it has some value as a surprise.

Whichever direction you decide to go, try it out before attempting to do it in front of a class. It always seems to take too long and you lose their interest or run out of time. Or, it runs short and you are left standing there looking like a deer in the headlights. Once you have done it for yourself, try it on another victim (I mean, volunteer), such as a family member or your classmates. What you may understand completely, may need to be explained further for others. If you had trouble with one aspect of your project, you can be sure one of the students will.

The last thing to remember is this is not a race. Find out how long you have (should be between 30 - 45 minutes) and take your time. The experiment should leave you enough time to give a quiz (What? You thought this was just for fun?) and grade it. A craft project should be completed by the majority of the class, but if not, it shouldn't be so difficult that the students cannot complete it after you're gone.

Have fun with your lesson. Let us know how it goes.

Answer 3

The National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org) has great activities for National Wildlife Week, which encompasses Earth Day. A read aloud would also be a nice start. "Just A Dream" by Chris Van Allsburg is a fun book with a strong environmental message.

Answer 4

don't do a very long lecture that will bore them out of our mind. GO outside and talk to them tell them how they can hellp the earth and what will happen if they don't Then take them to a pond (small one)and have them pick up trash and see whayu they could do if they tried. be sure it dosen't take longer than the period.

Answer 5

i like to smoke something that comes from the earth? heavily although, years in the past i exploit to artwork at a gold plating place that gold plated automobile areas and Harley areas besides there became this guy call Tony there and that i presumed he reported day after right this moment became his birthday and that i advised anybody and day after right this moment we had a cake and provides just to return to be sure he reported it became "Earth Day" Ha Ha that became so humorous?

Answer 6

Take them outside and plant something - flowers, a small tree, a few tomato plants - something to add beauty to the school. (get premission first).

If going outside and doing something isn't an option, you can do some kind of compost activity.

Here's a couple of links regarding composting that might help you think of something to do with the class.

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/recycle/Compost/Home3.htm

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/compostfacility/les12.htm

http://atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Recycling/

http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/03/lp308-03.shtml