Conservation Classroom Activities
Conservation helps preserve the natural resources we need instead of destroying them. Natural resources include water, soil and plants. The objective of conservation is to keep the water clean, the soil healthy and plants productive. Conservation activities in the classroom will teach children how to reduce their carbon footprint--the amount of greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere--and provide lessons for them to take home and share, and to use when they move on to other grades.
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Games
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To acquaint students with conservation terminology, a variety of games can be used in the classroom. This can include a word jumble of conservation terms, a word search and a crossword puzzle. Additionally, drawing and coloring activities about conservation can be included.
Conservation Advocates
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A letter-writing campaign to the appropriate person is an integrative conservation classroom activity, using language arts skills as well. Students, acting as conservation advocates, should identify a specific problem and then start by finding out as much as possible about the particular issue. Next, determine who should be contacted for support and start writing. To be effective the letter should address one issue and state its purpose in the first paragraph. Provide necessary background information, and the students should be clear as to whether or not they are for or against a particular ordinance or bill.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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Reduce, reuse and recycle are conservation activities that save trees, water, energy, landfill and space, and can be done in the classroom every day. Students are to be encouraged to bring in milk cartons, cereal boxes, paper bags, egg cartons, old newspapers and magazines to be used for art projects, taking notes and bookmarks. Writing paper should be used on both sides. Have students work in small groups so one handout will be sufficient instead of several. Have students create designated bins out of recycled materials in order to store the items to be reused.
Plants/Water Conservation
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Have students grow plants in the classroom. Plants will teach students the important role they play in our lives, and help clean the indoor air as well. Have the students use recyclable materials for planting such as a milk carton, shoe box or egg carton. Students can help conserve water by catching rainwater to water the plants instead of using tap water. Rainwater containers can be made by the students from milk cartons.
Energy Conservation
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Students can practice energy conservation by constructing a simple solar oven made from black construction paper, a recycled box, old newspaper and aluminum. Students can use the oven on sunny days to heat snacks instead of using a microwave or other type of oven.
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References
- Photo Credit growing lucky plant and cactus in soil image by joanna wnuk from Fotolia.com
