SCIENCE: Life Processes –
Resources, Pollution
CHARACTER: Respect, Caring,
Trustworthiness, Responsibility,
and Stewardship
GRADE LEVEL
1st Grade
VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF
LEARNING
Mathematics: 1.12, 1.18
Science: 1.1, 1.8
English: 1.2, 1.12
LENGTH/DURATION
6 weeks or 1-2 hours per day
during Earth Week
MATERIALS
paper, pencils, washed and
clean white t-shirts, fabric paint,
various sponges or stencils,
cardboard pieces, single subject
notebook or several blank pages
bound together, bulletin board
display area, natural and man-
made trash, writing paper
VOCABULARY
reduce, reuse, recycle,
refuse (see Background), litter,
pollution, natural resource,
stewardship
Activity: Save Our Earth
Good Character, Good Stewards: Caring for the World Around Us
To Pollute or Not To Pollute?
That is the Question!
Overview
Waste, litter, and pollution negatively affect life on Earth.
Responsible actions leading to pollution reduction could save
money, protect resources, improve health, and lead to an
overall higher quality of life. Strong values and good charac-
ter traits are needed – now – for EVERYONE’S sake!
Students can learn to help their environment by understand-
ing the problems and solutions of pollution and exhibiting the
character traits of respect, caring, trustworthiness, responsibil-
ity, and stewardship.
Objectives
Students will be able to
1. describe what pollution is, what causes it, and its effects
upon the Earth;
2. name 3 ways that litter can harm wildlife, plants, and
humans;
3. sort trash into man-made or natural materials;
4. propose ways to help eliminate and/or clean up
pollution, litter, and waste;
5 develop and express an appreciation of and responsibility
for stewardship of the Earth.
Background
A pollutant is a harmful chemical or waste material dis-
charged into the land, water, or atmosphere leading to a state
of dirtiness, impurity, or unhealthiness. Pollution affects
everyone! It can be very dangerous for plants, animals, and
humans. Much of the waste that is thrown away can be
reduced, reus