My Green Space

Positives

• There are many points in the lesson for interactive class discussions on the topics from the story.
• Interactive media and read-aloud functions make this lesson something older students may be able to do independently, if needed for virtual learning. 

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should be introduced to the terms green space, blue space, environment, restless, pollen, woodpecker, observations, grim, and surroundings prior to reading the story.
• Students should be aware of the concept of mental health and that our environment can impact how we feel.

Differentiation

• Teachers can use this lesson to supplement a unit on mental health, social emotional well-being, or reducing pollution. They can also keep a "feelings and spaces" journal to document their surroundings and how they feel at different times and locations.
• After this lesson, have students learn about how trees, forests, and other natural environments reduce greenhouse gases and fight climate change.
  
• Students in writing classes can go for a nature walk and write poetry about how it feels to be in a green space.
• Following this lesson, students can make a classroom poster about protecting and interacting with nature and have students identify how protecting nature is a climate solution.
• Teachers can assign students to interact with or protect nature at home and then write a journal entry about it.
• ELLs may need to slow the pace of the video, as there are no subtitles.