Bridget Curtis

Holiday Lesson Plan: Earth Day

Grade: 2
Student Learner Objectives:
Students will learn about human actions changing the earth
Students will read The Lorax, a book about hurting nature
Students will discuss aspects of the book; how the Once-ler changed nature
Students will Draw the before and after of the Once-lers changes
Students will decide what is helpful and harmful to the earth
Students will promise to help the earth in three ways
Students will plant a tree to help the earth
Students will Earth in in our Hands
Students will see that the are important in helping the earth
Materials:

o The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, New York: Random House, 1971

o Art supplies; paper, markers, crayons, craft supplies, colored pencils,
pencils, glue, construction paper, etc.
o Helpful/Harmful Chart
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4b/4b/59/4b4b5950897ad52ceedd25301f3aaea9.jpg

o 3 Ways I can Help Save the Earth

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/559713059915804797/

o Earth is in our Hands

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/167899892330635745/

o Tree seed and tools to plant it

Curricular Connections:
Reading, Art, Writing, Language/Speech, Science, Music
Procedure:
1. Read The Lorax (Reading)
2. Discuss how the Once-ler changed/hurt nature:
o Chopping trees (took shade and fruit away from Bar-ba-loots)
o Smog from factories (Swans couldnt sing)
o Goo into the river from machinery (Bad water for fish)
o Were these positive or negative? Why?
3. Discuss how the nature looked before and after the Once-ler came to
The Street of the Lifted Lorax. Encourage students to use detailed
descriptions.
4. Draw your own picture of how you see the land before the Once-ler
came and after he came and share with the class. (Art & Speaking)
5. Work together to complete the Helpful/Harmful Chart
o Challenge them to answer how can we change our
hurting to helping using worksheet 3 Ways I Can Help
Save the Earth. Students can promise to work on these
3 things at home. (Writing)

6. Emphasize the importance of trees in the story and how their absence
affects the animals. (Science)
o Discuss with students how trees are an important part of
nature. Have students create a list of all animals and plants
they know that need and use trees to live.
o Show children how to take care of plant to help it grow
healthily (nutrient soil, water, sunlight).
7. Plant a tree outside. (Science)
8. Take a picture with the planting. Put picture on a poster titled, We
helped the earth. Have the children decorate and sign the poster to
having it in the classroom. (Art)
9. Teach the song, Earth is in our Hands. (Music).
10. Emphasize that the earth is in our hands and our responsibility. We
will keep hurting the earth Unless people change their ways and try
to help the earth as the students have the power to. For example, the
boy in the book planting the last truffula tree seed he was the
Unless.
Song Procedure:
1. Listen to the song one time
2. The second time, add actions for the words: earth, hands, tree, trash,
water.
o Earth form a circle with hands
o Hands cup hands in front of you
o Tree stick arms out for branches and wiggle fingers for leaves
o Trash pretend to crumple a piece of paper and throw it in the
trash
o Water wiggle fingers from sky and down to show rain
3. The third time, sign and do actions together
Teaching Tips:
o Stress the importance of taking care of the earth and that the students
can make a difference
o Try and avoid focus on the fun characters of the book and be sure that
children can focus in the lesson in the story
Common Core State Standards: CCSS
Music
A.4.2 Sing expressively with appropriate dynamics, phrasing, and
interpretation
Environmental Education
B.4.4 List the components of an ecosystem,* including the qualities of a
healthy habitat

C.4.1 Identify environmental problems and issues

C.4.4 Identify some of the decisions and actions related to the issue
Art

C.4.5 Look at nature and works of art as visual resources

C.4.7 Develop basic skills to produce quality art