With threats to our planet constantly in the news, itâs no wonder that kids today are worried about their world. As teachers, we can help students appreciate our incredible planet while empowering them to take action to care for it. Sound like a big project? It is. But these free 15-minute mini-lessons can help. With Earth Explorers Timely Topic lessons from Blue Apple, you get four free activities that teach kids about our Earth in an open-ended, exploratory way. Do one or do them all ⊠the choice is up to you!
Lesson 1: Learn About Earth Using an Interactive World Map
- What itâs all about:Â Using an interactive world map, students click on different areas and animals to learn about Earthâs different biomes.
- Why kids will love it: Everyone loves a virtual adventure! And this resource contains multiple virtual topic explorations for each of the planetâs biomes.
- Donât miss:Â The Scavenger Hunt! Itâs fun to click around, but this gives your students more of a structure. Plus, it has fun questions like âWhich animal forms groups called âwaddlesâ?â and âWhich animal has a stomach thatâs often half full of sand?â
Lesson 2: Create Found Art
- What itâs all about: Upcycling! Students collect trash items from home or around the classroom or school to create a piece of art.
- Why kids will love it: Who doesnât enjoy turning trash into treasure?
- Donât miss:Â The Found Art inspiration resource for kids who are stuck.
Lesson 3: Explore Hazards to the Planetâs Health
- What itâs all about: Students explore the perils our planet faces with an interactive adventure.
- Why kids will love it:Â Your students are looking for answers about whatâs happening to the environment. Theyâll find many of them here.
- Donât miss: Tons of student-friendly, curated resources to allow students to follow their curiosity about any of these hazards to our home!
Lesson 4: Take Action by Creating a PSA or Writing a Letter
- What itâs all about: Students select from three open-ended options for taking action for our planet.
- Why kids will love it:Â Itâs reassuring for young people to know that theyâre not powerless. Here they get concrete ideas of what they can do to help.
- Donât miss: The public service announcement is a great, outside-of-the-box option for sharing what students learned.