If the Earth Was a Cookie … Hands-on Environmental Education for Young Learners

Ecology themes can frame interdisciplinary lessons in the K-3 classroom that build students’ skills in numeracy, literacy, problem solving, scientific inquiry, and communication. In this hands-on session, discover ways to cultivate environmental stewardship while also building content knowledge in core subject areas. In this hands-on session, the presenter will begin with an overview of concepts and learning strategies in environmental education that are appropriate for the K-3 classroom. She will then engage participants in a variety of age-appropriate, classroom-tested, hands-on activities. The presenter will actively involve participants in activities that illustrate a) the need for living things to have space to grow and thrive; b) interdependency of living things in nature; c) basic geography of the planet including where food grows and d) ways people can have a positive impact on the environment. These activities also build skills in reading, number sense, science, social studies, cooperation and social interaction. Activities include a role-playing and indoor gardening activity that illustrates organisms’ need for space, a simulation game on sharing resources, the creation of 3D models to illustrate global geography and land use, and an interactive story on environmental stewardship of a local watershed. Participants will receive ready-to-use lesson plans and background materials.