First Grade Curriculum Resources
Standard of Learning
1.7 The student will explain that his/her personal decisions help contribute to a healthy environment. Key concepts/skills include:
- the proper disposal of trash;
- the benefits of recycling;
- the prevention of water pollution;
- the effects of pollution on drinking water and marine life;
- water conservation.
Understanding the Standard
The student will identify items that can be recycled, how to recycle, reduce, and reuse items at school and at home, how to save water, and how litter harms the land and water.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
The student will:
- define environment. (everything around you)
- explain recycle, reuse, and reduce. (The three "R's" - you can recycle paper, glass, and cans - you can reuse something by using it again - and you can reduce how much of something you use)
- define pollution. (anything that harms the air, water, or land)
- explain how to conserve. (to use less of)
- define litter. (trash on the ground or in the water)
- describe how to keep your environment clean. (proper disposal of trash)
- identify how to stop pollution.
- list ways to conserve water:
- turn off the water when you brush your teeth;
- take showers instead of baths;
- put a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap;
- limit the running of sprinklers;
- limit the amount of water while washing a car; and
- do not run the dishwasher half full.
Sample Lessons
Pollution & Recycling
Grades 2-3
This lesson focuses on three types of pollution and how students can work together to recycle.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – environmental health)
Free
Additional Instructional Resources
- "Environmental and Community Health" - http://www.healthteacher.com
- National Center for Environmental Health - http://www.cdc.gov/nceh
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences - http://www.niehs.nih.gov
- Social Skills – http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/ (health & fitness k-2)
Assessment Ideas
The student will:
- create a picnic lunch and discuss how to dispose of the trash.
- make drawings and bumper stickers about one of the three "R's".
- sort the drawing and bumper stickers into each of the three "R's" and explain why they placed them in each "R."
- collect pictures of people disposing of trash properly, recycling, or conserving water.
- write a sentence to tell how each person is helping to stop pollution.
