Unit Plan

Name: Alexa Blasdel Intended Grade: Third Grade

Social Studies Topic: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Unit Title: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Social Studies Strand: Government and Civics

(Integrated with Practical Living Strand: Consumer Decisions)

Social Studies Standards:

Program of Studies: Understandings

Program of Studies: Skills and Concepts

Related Core Content for Assessment

SS-P-GC-U-2

Students will understand that citizens of local communities have certain rights and responsibilities in a democratic society.

SS-P-GC-S-2

Students will explore personal rights and responsibilities:

a) explain, demonstrate, give examples of ways to show good citizenship at school and in the community (e.g., recycling, picking up trash)

b) describe the importance of civic participation and locate examples (e.g., donating canned food to a class food drive) in current events/news

SS-EP-1.3.1

Students will define basic democratic ideas (e.g., liberty, justice, equality, rights, responsibility) and explain why they are important today.

SS-EP-1.3.2

Students will identify and give examples of good citizenship at home, at school and in the community (e.g., helping with chores, obeying rules, participating in community service projects such as recycling, conserving natural resources, donating food/supplies) and explain why civic engagement in the community is important.

DOK 2

VS-P-CD-U-3

Students will understand that consumer actions (e.g., reusing, reducing, recycling) influence the use of resources and impact the environment.

VS-P-CD-S-4

Students will describe how consumer actions

(e.g., reusing, reducing, recycling) influence

the use of resources and impact the environment by:

a) describing some community activities that promote healthy environments

PL- EP-3.1.4

Students will identify consumer actions (reusing, reducing, recycling) that impact the environment.

DOK 1

Essential Question:

What does it mean to reduce, reuse, and recycle and why is it your responsibility as a citizen of the world?

Objectives:

Students will understand that the amount of waste they produce impacts the environment.
Students will understand how reusing, reducing, and recycling can save resources and will be able to give relevant examples of each.
Students will connect environmental concepts to their everyday experiences.
Students will investigate and begin to strategize about what they can do in their school, homes, and community to save resources and help the earth.

Differentiation (and Accommodations):

If necessary, students will be given more time to complete activities. They will also have the opportunity to dictate assignments and assessments to the teacher or classroom aide.

Describe the students’ prior knowledge (before beginning this unit):

Prior to beginning this unit, students have learned about helping the environment through annual Earth Day celebrations and school community service projects. They have been introduced to the concept of recycling in school, at home, and in the media.

As members of their class and school, students have also explored the idea that they are part of a larger community. They have discussed their rights and responsibilities as a citizen in that community. They will now be asked to take that idea one step further and understand that they also have responsibilities to the global community.

Procedures (Resources, Media and Technology):

Monday: Unit Introduction, BrainPop video, garbage and waste activity, and class discussion.

Resources, Media and Technology:

· Computer with Internet access and speakers

· Shel Silverstein’s Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout (mp3 online)

· BrainPop Video “Where does Your Garbage Go?”

· Individually wrapped snacks (Potato Chips, Juice Boxes, Twinkies)

· Worksheet “What Did You Have for Dinner Last Night?”

· Worksheet “What Did You Have for Dinner Last Night” Example

Tuesday: Introduction to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, PBS Kids video, small-group brainstorming activity, and class discussion.

Resources, Media and Technology

· Computer with Internet access and speakers