This group of Earth Day resources for students in grades three to five includes a word wall activity, art activities, writing prompts, and language arts activity worksheets.
Students will love all of the fun activities associated with nature, the Earth, and celebrating Earth Day!
Teaching Tips
Positives
The word search is a fun way to incorporate Earth Day into any lesson!
The writing prompts can help spur interest in science and nature or prompt students to take action.
Additional Prerequisites
You will need to make a copy of the materials prior to using them.
The worksheets will need to be printed for use in the classroom.
Pre-teach any vocabulary terms that students may be unfamiliar with before handing out the worksheets.
Differentiation
Younger students may benefit from a list of defined vocabulary terms to include with the activity worksheets.
Make sure all students are aware of the materials that can be recycled in your specific area, as it differs significantly across locations. This could be a research project for the class as well.
More advanced students can use the writing prompts as a guide for an Earth Day presentation that includes actions students can take and reasons they love the Earth.
Have students create a diorama of different types of waste that could be reused, recycled, or composted.
The class could set up a compost bin in the room to demonstrate how it works and what can be composted.
Scientist Notes
This resource from SubjectToClimate includes a series of Earth Day resources geared towards grades 3-5. The worksheets give students a chance to explore Earth Day through art, a series of language activities, a word wall, and writing prompts. This resource guides students through understanding why protecting the Earth is important and how everyone can take steps to heal the Earth. One resource tasks students with separating facts about the Earth from opinions, a useful distinction to make students better advocates for the environment. This resource is attractive and engaging and it is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Language (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning word and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Reading: Foundational Skills (K-5)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.4.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.4 Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
National Core Arts Standards
Visual Arts: Standard 1 - Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
