SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY

Loretto, PA 15940

Student Teacher: Jeanie McMullen Grade: Kindergarten Subject: Thematic Unit (Science)
Time Needed for Lesson: 50 minutes Lesson Concept: Earth Day (Unit Plan Day 1) Clutter Bug

PA STANDARD:
4.5.K.D – Identify waste and practice ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
4.3.K.A – Identify some renewable resources used in the classroom.

BIG IDEAS/ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

OBJECTIVE: The students will use recycled and reused objects from home/school to create a clutter bug with at
least 5 pieces of clutter on it.

MATERIALS:
o 2 pre-made sheets of clutter bug body parts
o Scissors
o Crayons
o Glue
o Items of clutter brought in by students
o Example of the clutter bug
o I Can Save the Earth by Alison Inches
o *Letter to send home to parents about clutter*
ACTIVITIES:
*A week before this lesson, send home a letter to parents about the clutter bug activity. Include in the letter that
the students are requested to bring in a small bag of clutter that was found at their house. Also add the date that
the class will be making the clutter bugs.*

OPENING:
o Read a story to the students about Earth Day (I Can Save the Earth by Alison Inches) and discuss
its importance to our planet and emphasis the importance of reusing objects.

BODY: (model each step to completing the clutter bug in the front of the classroom)
o Pass out the 2 pre-made sheets of paper with the clutter bug body parts to the students
o Have the students color the body parts
o Have the students cut out the pieces to the clutter bug
o Glue the eyes, nose, antennas, and legs on the body
o Remind students to use a small amount of glue “Not a lot, just a drop”
o Have students turn bug over and write their name on the back
o Pass out the bags of clutter to students who brought clutter in
o Students who did not bring in clutter can share with friends at their tables and use clutter
brought in by Miss McMullen
o Then the students will glue the clutter brought in onto the body
o Place the bugs on the back carpet to dry.
o Send home left over recycled items with the students.
o *In writing, students will write a sentence about how they can help the Earth. This sentence will
be glue to a big piece of paper along with the clutter bug and displayed in the hallway.*

CLOSURE:
o Review what it means to reuse objects and have the students share examples with a buddy and then
with the whole class.
ASSESSMENT: The students will have successfully met this objective if they used recycled and reused objects
from home/school to create a clutter bug with at least 5 pieces of clutter on it.

SELF-ASSESSMENT/REFLECTION:
This week during our theme time we focused on the Earth. On Monday, I taught my first lesson of the

Earth Day Unit Plan. This lesson focused on how we can reuse many different objects instead of just throwing

them away. I decided to have the students create clutter bugs. In order to prepare for this lesson, I first had to

send a letter home to families requesting them to send in some clutter in a baggie with their children. I sent this

letter home a week in advance giving the families plenty of time to collect and send in some clutter if they

wished to. I also included in the letter what a clutter bug was and the purpose for making them in our classroom.

I posted this letter to our ClassDojo page as well.

When the day came to make the clutter bugs I brought in some extra clutter for students to use who were

not able to bring in their own clutter. I started the lesson out by reading a story to the students called I Can Save

the Earth by Alison Inches. After reading this story we talked about the importance to taking care of the Earth.

We then talked about the different things that we can reuse both at school and at home.

Next we used our materials to create our own clutter bugs. I had premade a clutter bug to show the students

as an example. While the students were using the clutter to decorate their bugs I had them talking to friends at

their tables about the objects that they were reusing instead of just throwing in the garbage. After the bugs were

done, we moved them to the back rug to dry. I wrapped up the lesson by reviewing what it means to reuse an

object and by having the students share examples with a buddy and then with the whole class.

I incorporated writing into this lesson by having the students write one sentence about how they can help

the earth. Before the students wrote these sentences, we brainstormed different ways to help the earth and put our

ideas up on the Promethean Board. The students then each got a piece of paper to write their sentence on. Then
we glued our idea of how to help the earth and our clutter bug onto a large piece of paper. I displayed these crafts

in the hallway for everyone to see.

I think this lesson went really well! Initially I was just going to have the students create the clutter bugs

and take them home that day. Then I found the idea of having them write a sentence about helping the earth and

thought it would be nice for the students to attach that to their bug. These projects looked so nice in the hallway

and the students loved walking past their own work! If I were to do this activity again in the future, I would keep

the leftover clutter in one bag or box instead of sending it back home with the students. The leftover clutter found

its way into pockets that caused some students to be distracted during the next lesson of the day.
 SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY
Loretto, PA 15940

Student Teacher: Jeanie McMullen Grade: Kindergarten Subject: Thematic Unit (Science)
Time Needed for Lesson: 50 minutes Lesson Concept: Earth Day (Unit Plan Day 2) Owl

PA STANDARD:
4.5.K.C – Identify different types of pollution (land, water, or air) and their sources.

BIG IDEAS/ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

OBJECTIVE:
o The students will be able to identify 3 different types of pollution after reading a story and watching a
video about pollution.

MATERIALS:
o Pencils
o Scissors
o Glue
o Crayons
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqHp03RRTDs – Learn about Pollution (Video)
o Power Up to Fight Pollution by Lisa Bullard
o Promethean board
o “Give a hoot… don’t pollute!” badge (20)
o Premade owl for an example
 o Dark brown oval 9x12 (20) – body
o Light brown circle 9x10 (20) – arms
o Light brown half circle 5x5 (20) – face
o Orange triangle 2x2 (40) – feet
o Orange square 2x2 (20) – mouth
o White circle 2x2 (40) – eyes

ACTIVITIES:
OPENING:
o Watch the video, * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqHp03RRTDs – Learn about Pollution *,
o Ask the students to share a type of pollution from the video with a buddy
o Ask the students what we can do to stop polluting the Earth

BODY:
o Have the students transition back to their desks
o Show the students the example of the owl that we will be making together
o *As the students are putting their owl together, make a demo up on the easel as a model as
well*
o Pass out a dark brown oval to each students
o Have the students write their name on the back of this piece
o Next pass out the light brown circle to each student
o Have them cut the circle into a curved shape to make the head of the owl
o Glue the head to the top of the oval body
o Next pass out the two light brown half circles
o Have the students glue one half circle to the middle of the oval body on the left side with the
straight edge facing the top and the curved edge facing the bottom
o Have the students glue one half circle to the middle of the oval body on the right side with the
straight edge facing the top and the curved edge facing the bottom
o Then pass out the two orange triangles
o Have the students glue one triangle to the bottom right of the oval and one triangle to the
 bottom left of the oval
o Next pass out the two white circles to each student
o Have them make one black circle in each white circle to create the eyes
o Have the students glue one circle to the left of the head and one to the right to create the eyes
o Finally, pass out one orange square to each student
o Have the students fold the square in half to create the nose for the owl
o Have them glue the nose between the two eyes
o Next pass out the “Give a hoot… don’t pollute!” badge papers
o Have the students color the circle with the saying “Give a hoot… don’t pollute!”
o Have the students draw a picture of how they can help save the Earth on the second circle
o Have the students cut out the circles
o Glue the circle with the drawing of how they can help the Earth down on the center of the owl
first
o Next have the students glue the final circle on top of the first circle BUT ONLY HAVE THEM
PUT GLUE ON THE TOP LINE, this will insure that they will be able to open the flap to
reveal their message
o When finished have students place the owls on the back carpet to dry
o *Keep owls to hang on the bulletin board*

CLOSURE:
o Have the students come to the front carpet
o Read the story, Power Up to Fight Pollution by Lisa Bullard
o Ask the students to share with a buddy a type of pollution from the story
o Ask the students to share with a buddy a way of how to help reduce pollution
o Pick some students to share their ideas with the class

ASSESSMENT:
o The students will have successfully completed this objective if they are able to identify 3 different types
of pollution after reading a story and watching a video about pollution.
SELF-ASSESSMENT/REFLECTION:
If I were to use this lesson plan again in the future, I would have all of the owl parts in premade envelopes for
each student instead of passing out each piece individually. Passing out each part individually ended up taking a
lot of time. This would also allow the students to work at their own pace. The students did not know much about
what pollution was, so I am glad that I played the informational video for them at the beginning of the lesson. It
really helped them make connections and understand what pollution is. The owls turned out very well and made
a cute bulletin board as well!
 SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY
Loretto, PA 15940

Student Teacher: Jeanie McMullen Grade: Kindergarten Subject: Thematic Unit (Science)
Time Needed for Lesson: 50 minutes Lesson Concept: Earth Day (Unit Plan Day 3) Nature Walk

PA STANDARD:
4.5.K.D – Identify waste and practice ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
4.5.K.C – Identify different types of pollution (land, water, or air) and their sources.

BIG IDEAS/ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

OBJECTIVE:
o The students will be able to list 1 way to take care of the Earth in order to keep animals and plants safe
after reading a story and going on a nature walk.

MATERIALS:
o The Earth and I by Frank Asch
o Clipboards
o Nature walk I-Spy checklist
o Pencils
o Crayons
o Promethean board
ACTIVITIES:
OPENING:
o Read the story The Earth and I by Frank Asch
o Ask the students for some examples of living things that we can find outside
o Ask the students for some of examples of ways that we can take care of the Earth that will then
keep these living things safe
o Tell the students that today we will be going on a nature walk to look for some living animals and
plants
o Pull the Nature walk I-Spy checklist up on the promethean board
o Point out the specific pictures of things that we will be looking for outside
o Tell the students that they will be putting a check in the box next to the animal/plant/object if they
see it outside

BODY:
o Call each student to grab a clipboard from the bin and line up (remind them to take a pencil, and
only a pencil, with them)
o Call students by tables (white table, green table, etc.)
o Once students are all lined up with a clipboard, pass out a nature walk I-spy checklist to each
student and tell them to clip it on to their clipboard
o Remind students: to only put a check next to the objects that they actually see outside. It is okay if
not all of the objects have a check next to them. It is not a contest to see who can check off the
most objects.
o Give the students 10-15 minutes to explore with their checklist outside
o Have all of the students create one big circle on the pavement outside and sit down
o Ask the students to share with a buddy some of the thing they found off of the checklist
o Go around the circle and have each student share one thing that they found outside
o Remind the students that we need to take care of the Earth in order to protect these different
things
o Bring the students back into the classroom
CLOSURE:
 o Give the students 4-5 minutes to color in the pictures that they have a check next to on their I-spy
checklist
o Have the students turn their paper over to the blank side
o Ask the students to draw and color a picture of how they can take care of the Earth in order to keep
the outside a safe place for plants and animals
o Have students share their picture with friends at their tables
o Pick some students to come to the front of the room to share their picture with the class

ASSESSMENT:
o The students will have successfully completed this objective if they are able to list 1 way to take
care of the Earth in order to keep animals and plants safe after reading a story and going on a nature
walk.

SELF-ASSESSMENT/REFLECTION:
This is the second nature walk that I did with my kiddos. The first one was centered on Spring and we looked for
sings of Spring. Some new ideas that I had after that lesson that I used in this lesson were: to have the students
take and use clipboards outside, to turn the paper into a checklist instead of just a page full of pictures, and to stay
outside and discuss what the students found before coming back into the classroom. I also gave the students the
rule of not being allowed to go on any of the playground equipment while on the nature walk. We started the walk
by going through the butterfly garden together as a group before going off in our own directions to look for the
things on our checklist. I love doing this type of activity with my students!
 SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY
Loretto, PA 15940

Student Teacher: Jeanie McMullen Grade: Kindergarten Subject: Thematic Unit (Science)
Time Needed for Lesson: 50 minutes Lesson Concept: Earth Day (Unit Plan Day 4) Recycling Book

PA STANDARD:
4.5.K.D – Identify waste and practice ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
4.3.K.A – Identify some renewable resources used in the classroom.

BIG IDEAS/ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

OBJECTIVE:
o The students will be able to identify 6 out of 7 images of ways to help the Earth on an activity sheet after
creating a book about recycling.

MATERIALS:
o Helping the Earth activity sheet
o Crayons
o Scissors
o Pencils
o The Earth Book by Todd Parr
o I Can Help Our Earth reader
o Promethean board
o Video – https://youtu.be/BaFpv03hq-4 - “How to help the Earth”
ACTIVITIES:
OPENING:
o Read the story, The Earth Book by Todd Parr, to the students
o Discuss the meaning and the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling

BODY:
o Pass out the I Can Help Our Earth Book to the students. (Pull the book up on the Promethean Board)
o Instruct the students to cut out each page of the book
o Demonstrate how to put the pages in order from front to back
o *Teacher will staple the pages together to form a reader*
o Chorally read the emergent reader together.
o Students can color the pictures.
o Students will pair up with his/her reading partner and take turns reading the booklet to each other.
o After reading the story have the students brainstorm how they can help the Earth
o Write these ideas on the Promethean board
o Show the students the video (https://youtu.be/BaFpv03hq-4 - “How to help the Earth”)

CLOSURE:
o Pass out the helping the Earth activity sheet
o Have students color the pictures that show a way to help the Earth
o Ask the students for specific examples of how they can help the Earth

ASSESSMENT:
o The students will have successfully completed this objective if they are able to identify 6 out of 7 images
of ways to help the Earth on an activity sheet after creating a book about recycling.

SELF-ASSESSMENT/REFLECTION:
I think that this lesson went very well! I started off by pulling out the student’s background knowledge about
helping the Earth by reading a story. Then we had a discussion about the story and how to reuse, reduce, and
recycle. During the discussion, I realized that the students knew more about this topic than I thought they did. I
decided to have the students cut out and put together the reader so that I could get some fine motor practice in. it
was also fun for them to help build the book that they were going to be reading. They acted as a helper to the
illustrator by coloring in the pictures. My class works very well when partner reading, so I wanted to include that
as well. Many kiddos in my current class are visual learners, that is why I included the video. I wanted to wrap
up this lesson with the activity sheet so that I was able to go around and see the ways that my students believe
you can help the Earth! If I do this lesson again in the future, I would switch the story with the video. Starting off
with the video and reading the story in the middle of the lesson.
 SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY
Loretto, PA 15940

Student Teacher: Jeanie McMullen Grade: Kindergarten Subject: Thematic Unit (Science)
Time Needed for Lesson: 50 minutes Lesson Concept: Earth Day (Unit Plan Day 5) Earth Day Poster

PA STANDARD:
4.5.K.D – Identify waste and practice ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

BIG IDEAS/ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

OBJECTIVE:
o The students will create an Earth Day poster that includes 1 drawing of something that they can do to
make the Earth a better place.

MATERIALS:
o Pencils
o Crayons
o Scissors
o Glue
o 12x18 blue and green construction paper (20 pieces)
o Earth Day…Every Day premade poster pieces (20 copies)
o Premade Earth Day poster as an example
o Promethean Board
o Recycling Day by Edward Miller
ACTIVITIES:
OPENING:
o Read, Recycling Day by Edward Miller, to the students
o Make a list of ways to reduce on the Promethean Board
o Make a list of ways to reuse on the Promethean Board
o Make a list of ways to recycle on the Promethean Board

BODY:
o Give each student the Earth Day…Every Day premade poster pieces
o Students will color the first piece of the poster (“Please Recycle”)
o Ask them what objects are shown that can be recycled
o Ask what objects are not shown that can still be recycled too
o Next they will cut that piece out and glue it in the top left corner of the 12x18 paper
o Next they will color the second piece of the poster (“Plant a Tree”)
o Ask them why trees are important to our Earth
o They will cut that piece out and glue it in the top right corner of the 12x18 paper
o Then they will color the third piece of the poster (“Learn about the Earth”)
o Have the students draw a picture (in the blank box) of something they still want to learn about
the Earth
o They will cut that piece out and glue it in the bottom right corner of the 12x18 paper
o After that they will color the fourth piece of the poster (“Help your neighborhood”)
o In the blank box, have the students draw a picture of them doing something that makes the
neighborhood a better place
o They will cut that piece out and glue it in the bottom left corner of the 12x18 paper
o Next have the students color in the world, tree trunk, bottle, can, and Earth Day sign puzzle pieces.
o Have them cut the pieces out and then find the correct spot of each piece on the poster

CLOSURE:
o When finished, have the students share their posters with friends at their tables
o Have students point out something that they do to make the Earth a better place
 o Teacher will hang posters up in the back of the classroom

ASSESSMENT:
o The students will have successfully completed this objective if they have created an Earth Day poster that
includes 1 drawing of something that they can do to make the Earth a better place.

SELF-ASSESSMENT/REFLECTION:
This lesson started out with my class reading a story and listing ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle as a whole
group. Then we transitioned into our small group tables to create our Earth Day posters. The students also shared
their completed posters with their small groups. I liked using the small groups to share the posters because then
every student had a chance to talk about what they drew and how they can make the Earth a better place and it
did not take up a huge part of instructional time. When doing this lesson in the future I would have a video about
reducing, reusing, and recycling playing in the background as the students are coloring the poster pieces. This
would be beneficial because the students could then hear about reducing, reusing, and recycling while they are
putting together a poster about it.