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A lesson on the Causes of Pollution
K, 1, 2, 3
Subject: Science Title: Causes of Pollution by Tracey L. Churchman, Lake Charles, Louisiana Grade Level: K - 3
Overview: During the past hundred years, due to new technologies, the world has changed in many ways. Some changes have improved the quality of life and health for many people. Others have affected peoples health care adversely causing different kinds of pollution that have harmed the environment.
Purpose: As the future of our country, children need to be able to identify the types of pollution, the sources of the pollution, and how they can protect the environment from further pollutants.
Objectives: The student will be able to : 1. Identify and discuss different kinds of pollution. 2. Identify and discuss sources of pollution. 3. Discuss and explain why it is important to keep the environment free of pollution.
Resources/Materials Needed: lesson vocabulary cards, photographs of water, air, and land pollution, chart paper, “Let’s Stop Pollution” poster, posterboard, crayons, markers, variety of sizes of cardboard boxes, poster or tempera paint, Kleenex, soap, water, variety of pollution bumper stickers.
Activities and Procedures:
1. Begin the activities by displaying and reviewing the lesson vocabulary. (pollution, surroundings, litter, environment)
2. Discuss the displayed pictures of water, air, and land pollution. Have students identify what is wrong in each of the pictures displayed. Write the students responses underneath each of the pictures. Remind the students that pollution is anything that harms our surroundings and that people cannot survive without clean air, water, and land. Stress that pollution is a responsibility and concern of all people in every community.
3. Ask students to “Brainstorm” to complete a list of ways that they can help to stop pollution. Examples: not put garbage into the lakes and streams, walk or ride bikes whenever possible, pick up litter). List the students responses on a poster titled “Let’s Stop Pollution”. Stress that because so many important things in the surroundings are shared by people in other communities, everyone must work to stop pollution of the air, water, and land. Students will then have a variety of activities to teach them about the causes and effects of pollution.
1. Provide students with a half sheet of posterboard and crayons. Have them make a poster to inform others about pollution. Display the posters around the school.
2. Provide students with boxes and paint. Have them make “litter boxes” with labels and decorations that state why it is important not to litter. Place the boxes in areas around the school or home.
3. Have students wash the outside of a window that is easy to reach. A few days later, let them wipe the same window with a clean tissue. Discuss possible reasons the window became dirty.(air pollution)
4. Provide students with materials to make replicas of bumper stickers illustrating warnings and laws concerning pollution. Suggestions: NO LITTERING, NO TRUCKS, NO DUMPING, NO BURNING.
5. Fieldtrips to local companies or industries that deal with pollution prevention.
6. Guest Speakers on pollution prevention and/or environmental safety.
Tying it all Together: During the entire period of this unit, students will be encouraged to continue to add to the list of ways to stop pollution. As the lesson evolves and the students begin to understand the harms of pollution, the list will grow. As the culminating activity, the children will take one of the solutions to pollution and present it to the entire class.
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