In this project, students become Earth Keepers. They raise environmental awareness about a current issue. To start, they use the Internet to research facts and organize the information under headings in a Microsoft Word document. Next, they learn how to use the tools in Microsoft Publisher to create a postcard and a poster as a call to action. To inform people further about the importance of this issue, students use Microsoft Publisher to produce a pamphlet that describes the harmful effects and offers solutions. Optional activities in the have students prepare for an Environmental Conference by creating a calendar, banners, and invitation to the event.
- Environmental Lesson Plans for Grade 6-9
This cross-curricular curriculum unit integrates into any geography, science, or social studies topic related to conservation, endangered species, or natural resources. By creating a series of publications, students explore the connection been human activity and the natural world. They summarize information about the cause, harmful effects, and solutions to a problem. This investigation fosters an understanding of the importance of stewardship and sustainability. Lessons raise environmental awareness for students and their viewers.
- Environmental Education Fact Cards
TechnoEnvironment includes 15 fact cards to help students with research. Topics include acid rain, clear cutting, endangered reefs, fuel emissions, garbage, global warming, invasive species, kudzu invasion, mining, nuclear energy, oil sands, overfishing, plastic pollution, poaching, and water consumption. These easy-to-understand resources support learners.
- Project Based Learning with Environmental Education for Students
No risk of plagiarism! Students transform their knowledge into a unique call to action. Step-by-step instructions explain how to use Publisher to create postcards, posters, and pamphlets to inform others about an environmental issue.
- Become an Earth Keeper
TechnoEnvironment includes a PDF curriculum guide with teaching strategies and helpful tips, PDF student workbook to promote independence, and resource files to reinforce learning. Minimize classroom preparation using the provided reproducible worksheets, clear example files, templates, environmental fact sheets, quizzes, checklists, and marking sheets.
Session 1 Research the Topic
Students research an environmental issue. To start, they learn about the importance of stewardship. Next, they select a topic and then design an outline in Microsoft Word with headings to organize facts. The Internet is used to locate information about the issue, including effects on the environment and solutions to the problem. Students record the source and gather pictures related to the topic. This research will provide the content for the publications they create in the following sessions.
Session 2 Postcards from the Edge
Students send a postcard to a friend asking them to become involved in protecting Earth. To prepare for this task, they are introduced to Microsoft Publisher. Once familiar with the parts of the window, a template is opened in the program. Students learn how to draw and format a shape to create a background for the front of the postcard. Next, they include a catchy title using a text box. To attract attention to the issue, a picture illustrating damage to the environment is inserted with a caption. A message is then written on the back of the postcard.
Session 3 Help Wanted!
Students create a help wanted poster to explain what people can do to protect Earth using facts collected during their research. To start, students insert a saved picture that illustrates the harmful effects of an environmental issue and apply their formatting skills. Next, they add an image from an online source and arrange it by adjusting the object order, alignment, grouping, and orientation. Afterwards, they use a Page Part to describe the problem and a solution that is achievable by students. A border is then inserted, and an advertisement building block used to request help. To complete the poster, a WordArt title is used to attract attention to the publication.
Session 4 Educate the Public
Students begin to create a pamphlet to educate the public about an environmental issue. Using a template, students apply design elements including frames to accent each panel, a Page Part to create an attractive front cover, and text boxes to hold information. Once the layout of the pamphlet has been established, students apply their knowledge to produce the first panel in the publication.
Session 5 Solve the Problem
Students continue working on the pamphlet by proposing solutions to the environmental issue. The three panels of the second page of the pamphlet are completed using bulleted text, pictures, captions, and predesigned attention getters. On the third panel, students learn to add and format a table to compare the advantages and disadvantages of a solution to the environmental problem.
Session 6 Take an Environmental Quiz
Students complete the pamphlet. To inspire active involvement, the back of the pamphlet has a quiz. As viewers read the questions and answer them, they will remember information about the environmental issue and possibly even read the facts over again. The pamphlet will have achieved its aim of informing others and gathering support to face a very important challenge for Earth.
Optional Environmental Education Lesson Plans
- Environmental Map
- Save the Earth Calendar
- Create a Banner
- Invite Guests to a "TED" Talk
- Plan an Environmental Conference or "TED" Talk
Environmental Lesson Plans - Raise Awareness About a Current Issue
TechnoEnvironment promotes environmental education activities. Middle school students create several publications including a postcard, poster, and pamphlet. The first two tasks introduce Microsoft Publisher features including commands and formatting techniques. Once students have gained expertise, they design the final publication. At the end of the unit, you may wish to host an Environmental Conference using a "TED" talk format to share ideas. Consider using the Session 3-5 Extension Activities to promote the event (calendar banner, card). Environmental education lesson plans are ideal for students aged 11-14, or grades 6 and up.
- Connect human activity to the natural environment
- Research a topic to investigate an environmental issue
- Paraphrase facts to make them easy to understand
- Design publications to promote interest in a current issue
- Use design elements to effectively communicate a message
- Categorize information using a research planner
- Organize facts using headings, custom bullets, and tables
- Creatively arrange content using Building Blocks
- Format text and images to attract attention
- Adjust object order, group objects, flip or rotate objects