The Lorax, Dr. Suess and Earth day????

Question

I'm takeing a child development class and work as an intern at a preschool. We have recently been assigned to create lesson plans and activities for preschool age children. I'm working on Holiday based lesson plans and was thinking about using the the Dr. Suess book "the Lorax" for earth day. I plan to read the book, but what activity, art or otherwise, should I plan after words. Its for 3-5 years olds.

Answer 1

help them plant a tree/ or individual flowers in little pots ? the lorax cuts down all the trees and doesnt replace them , having the kids "replace " the lorax's trees is the best i can come up with. then maybe you can ask how replacing the trees will /would change the story. good luck

Answer 2

Discuss the importance of trees for people and animals.

With the children...list all the ways the forest is helpful.

.....The trees hold the water in the soil with their roots.

.....The forest keeps the surrounding area cool with its shade.

.....The forest provides homes for many animals.

.....Forests clean and enrich the air we breathe.  Their leaves and needles take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen through the tree's bark.

...MAKE A MURAL with trees, etc.

...PLANT a small tree.

...Make ENVIRONMENT COLLAGES

Have children cut out magazine pictures of trees, flowers, birds, sun, clouds, etc. They then glue them on sheets of construction paper to make a collage about their environment. Post collages on wall... talk about the world they live in... And how we can help take care of the trees and birds.

.....DO TREE RUBBINGS

Give  children a piece of  paper and a large crayon with the paper off. Show them how to use the crayon sideways to make a rubbing.

.....MAKE A TREE: Give each child a cardboard toilet tissue tube for a tree trunk. Help each child make several hand shapes out of green construction paper for palm fronds (leaves) have children tape the leaves to the inside of the top of their tree trunks. Before they glue the leaves on--they can color or paint the tubes.

.....MAKE PLAY DOUGH and make it different colors! The children can make trees, worms,  and flower shapes. (there are more than 36 recipes at: http://www.after-school-care.com/Replies...

.....NATURE/FOREST SCAVENGET HUNT  With Pictures

...Need small bag and pre-made papers.

...Make a scavenger hunt list with pictures you have drawn on a sheet of paper. Some ideas: a feather, small stone, acorn, various leaves in your area, small twig or stick, dead bug (draw him with legs up,  pine cone, flower (only if they can pick one), worm, pieces of grass, clover leaf …and any other ideas you can come up with. Make sure that you go over the list with the children just in case your not the world’s best artist.

.....PARACHUTE WITH LEAVES FALLING

Place pre-cut leaves (lots of them on the parachute. Put on some music and gently let the leaves fall.

HELP THE BIRDS!!

Lend a helping hand to the birds ...by supplying them with simple nesting materials. All you need to do-- is fill a mesh bag ( like the kind onions are packaged in ) or a berry basket; use dried grass, short lengths of yarn and string, stuffing from old furniture or a feather pillow--- also hair from  brushes.

Hang the bag in a location that the birds can safely access; watch the birds collect--hunt to see if you can find one of "your" nests!

If the weather is nice on Earth Day---READ OUTSIDE under a tree! Have a picnic or a snack there!

ALSO:

.....Get a "Sounds of the Rain forest" or woodsy and animal-sounds CD to play .... It will be soothing for the kids (and you) as well as enriching.

.....Do a COMMUNITY SERVICE project. Litter spoils the woods and can hurt the animals and visitors. As a special project, have the students pick up litter in your area (with plastic gloves on)--and then dispose of it properly. Make a list of the things that were found. Contact the media to do a story on the children's concern for their environment.

.....SNACK: TASTE THE RAINFOREST

Buy different food found in the rainforest: bananas, star fruit, coconut, chocolate, papaya, bananas, mangoes, etc. Let the children try all the different flavors.

Add dimension by adding a graphing of who liked what best.

More ideas--but this will get you started! :-) Also, there are a "Seuss Activity" and "Earth Day" threads going in the Forum.

Have fun!

Barb Shelby

Answer 3

They could create a recycling box for their classroom in which they place paper that is used, but not used up so it could be reused therefore saving trees.