Celebrate Earth Day with Scholastic
In preparation for Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, 2009, Scholastic has put a wealth of Earth Day activities and teaching ideas online. On the Scholastic Book Flix web site, you can access the following pair of books: Joseph Has a Little Overcoat and Recycle That! This pair of titles introduces students to the concept of recycling, reusing, and taking care of our environment. Below are some ideas for activities that tie into these stories. You can also access a wealth of games, activities, and “Think Green” ideas on the Scholastic Act Green web site.
- Using the story Joseph Had a Little Overcoat as a model, and the information from the nonfiction title Recycle That!, have groups of children write a new story that features an item that is transformed many times like a plastic water or soda bottle.
- Promote reading and reusing together by letting each child make their own book holders by cutting the top and one corner off a cereal box. Let the children paint and decorate their cereal boxes for their own book, magazine or assignment holders.
- Remind older readers that the story has a moral, or a lesson, that needs to be learned. After reading Recycle That!, ask students or patrons what they think the moral of Joseph Has a Little Overcoat is and why it relates to recycling.
