Enviromental Education- an everyday topic

Enviromental Education

Enviromental Education is the target content for the last unit of the sixth grade EFL syllabus in Costa Rica. Many primary school teachers comment that because of time constraints, it is almost impossible to cover this unit with the students . However, I truly believe that this is a topic that should not be ommitted for it is of great interest and importance in our world today.

Should teachers wait until the end of the school period to work on this topic? No.

I believe that in every unit we teach there is  a chance to talk about this.

We have to help students become aware of what is happening in the world and how this affects the enviroment. There is a   need to look for solutions, ways to make our students concious that only if we modify our attitude and start doing small changes in our habits and thoughts, the world will be a better place.

How can we integrate this topic in the different units?
*When presenting a conversation, try to include information about actions we can take to protect the environment. E.g.
A:  Hi! What are you doing?
B: I'm classifying this trash.
A: What do you mean?
B: Well, I'm looking for articles to recycle or reuse...

* Through the whole year, encourage enviromentallly- friendly practices in your classroom: recycle paper, save energy by turning off the ligths when they are needed, make sure your students do not throw garbage on the floor.

* When talking about health, do not forget to encourage students to eat healthy food. Ask students to avoid canned food, sodas, and others. Remind them of the amount of garbage this type of food brings to the enviroment.


*Use videos to illustrate the topic. The following is an example of the kind of material available on the web.

There are many interactive webpages that could be really helpful when working on this topic with the kids.
Below the are some interactives exercises that your students would be happy to do. Please, invite them to follow the links and enjoy.

Exercise 1. Saving the earth

 Instructions:

1.  Please, click on this link.Randall's Cyberlab
2.  Look for Listening Quizzes for Academic Purposes.
3.  Click on Saving the Earth Exercise.
4.  Listen to the conversation twice (2 times)
5.  Answer the questions provided in the exercise.

 How was it? Did you get all the answers correct?

 I GUESS YOU DID IT.                                    GOOD JOB!!!

     

Exercise 3. Saving the environment cartoon.

Instructions:

 Step 1.

1.  Click on the link http://www.eslflow.com/environmentlessonplans.html
2. Choose the excercise: Brainstorming the environment: what you can do.
3. Take a look at the picture. Read some of the ideas to protect the environment.
4. Choose three of those ideas. Write them on a piece of paper.
5. Create a poster and present it orally to your classmates. Invite them to create their own posters and present them to the group.
6. Close the webpage window.

Step 2.

1. Now, click on the following link http://www.readwritethink.org/search/index.html?page=1&resource_type=16 
2.  Go to Result 10: Comic Creator
3. Click on Get Started
4. Create a cartoon in which you include the three ideas selected. 
5. Print your cartoon and share it with your classmates and teacher. 
6. Stick it in your classroom bulletin board for everybody to see it.

I guess you had a great time creating your cartoon. Well done!!!

Exercise 4. What can we do to protect the environment?

 Instructions:

1. Click on the following link http://cyberlab.ucr.ac.cr/
2. Click on Cyberlab Kids Primaria.
3. Choose "from fourth to sixth grade". 
4. Click on 6th Grade.
5. Click on Unit 7.
6. Wait. Listen to the introduction.
7. Click on write.
8. Complete the survey anf then use that information to write a paragraph on What can we do to protect our environment?
9. Ask your teacher to help you check your paragraph and share it with your classmates.

Now you have more ideas on how to protect the environment. Don't wait. Start implementing them  as soon as possible.