Environmental Issues Lesson Plan for Grade 4

Grade: 4

Lesson Plan Theme/Topic: Environmental Issues

(Some of) the Standards Addressed:

Science: SC.4.E.6.3 (renewable vs. nonrenewable energy sources), SC.4.N.1.4 (attempt reasonable answers to scientific questions), SC.4.N.1.7 (explain scientists base findings on evidence), SC.4.P.10.4 (in Alternative Energy), SC.35.CS-PC.1.4 (define plagiarism), SC.35.CS-PC.3.1 and 2 (use devices to answer research questions and organize the info), SC.4.L.17.4 (explain how humans, animals, plants impact environment), SC.35.CS-CC.1.2 (key ideas/details using devices to research), SC.35.CS-CS.1.2 (models/sims can solve real-world problems), SC.35.CS-CS.1.3 (answer questions using a simulator), SC.35.CS-CS.2.1 (Venn diagram), SC.35.CS-CP.1.3 (collect data on a topic using technology)

Math: MAFS.4.NBT.2.4, MAFS.4.MD.1.2 (angles), MAFS.4.NF.1.2 and MAFS.4.NF.3.6 and 7 (comparing fractions and decimals), MAFS.4.MD.1.3 (Perimeter and Area)

Social Studies: SS.4.A.1.2 (research Florida history online and in print), SS.4.A.4.1 (effects of technology on Florida), SS.4. A.6.3 (significant individuals in Florida's history), SS.4.A.8.4 (effects of tourism on the economy in Florida)

Goals: (What do you expect the students to be able to know and do?)

Students will be able to recognize several global, national, and state/local environmental issues and the role humans play in these issues. They will also be able to identify known solutions and come up with their own solutions to some or all of these problems.

Social Justice or Multicultural Issue on which your unit is focused (example:

Racism): Environmental Issues

Potential Learner Background

Cultural/linguistic/gender/religious background of the students? Likely mixed races, cultures, and religions, boys and girls, and mostly English speakers (some students may be bilingual or new to English).

What knowledge do you presume students already know about the topic? Students probably know the politics side of climate change from their parents (some will think it's a hoax and others will be slightly informed). They may know their food comes from a farm or from the ocean (seafood) but not entirely sure about the processes it goes through before it comes to them and how they effect the environment (factory farms contributing to global warming, overfishing in the oceans, etc.). They will likely not know about most of the environmental issues we will discuss before the lesson.

Length of Lesson (how many days or weeks):

4 week lesson plan

Formative Assessments: (How will your students demonstrate that they have met the goals? How will they assess themselves?)

Students will have a large test at the end of the unit on the math they learned. They will have several small group projects throughout the unit for science and social studies that will be graded. They will also fill out worksheets for some assignments, be asked on their confidence levels in certain subject areas during the learning process (so the teacher can better assist those who are struggling), and write a few reflections on what they are learning on random assignments throughout the unit.

Key Content: (What key elements will be learned or practiced?)

Vocabulary: Climate change, overfishing, Endangered Species Act (ESA), endangered species, threatened species, extinction, trawling, bycatch, greenhouse gasses, invasive species, factory farming, renewable/nonrenewable resources, coral bleaching, deforestation, small businesses/large businesses, etc.

Skills: Reading/writing skills; solving basic inequalities, geometry, and angle-related problems; research skills online and in print materials; group/social skills; critical thinking/coming up with their own ideas; keyboard/computer use.

Resources, Instructional Materials, Technology

See each lesson plan for specific information

Links (teacher use only):

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings-historic-state-park

Overfishing info: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-fisheries-hunger/worlds-fish-consumption-unsustainable-u-n-warns-idUSKBN1JZ0YA

Overfishing video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNdR808jMSA