Module 1: We Love Our Planet
We Love
Our Planet
CONNECT
Student Learning Standards and Additional Lessons, Materials & Activities by State
New Jersey
Objective: to comprehend the effects of temperature changes on the 3 elements on Earth-land, water, and air
Vocabulary: atmosphere
Reading: Here We Are
Science Activity: Mr. John & the Polar Bear
Earth Friends Lesson
Module 1: Lesson 4
Begin Lesson
move: 5 minutes
Our Solar System
This is a repeated activity with ASL signs that describe a feature of each planet. If you repeat Our Solar System during each lesson of Module 1, the repetition will help the children learn that Earth is a planet in our solar system, and it is special because it supports life. We live on Earth!
We are going to learn about the different planets in our solar system. Every planet is special in its own way, and we are going to pretend to be the planets moving around the sun.
SUN: Our Sun gives us light during the day and all the energy we need to live. Make a C-motion away from forehead with right hand.
MERCURY: Mercury is the smallest planet. Squeeze 2 fingers together to indicate tiny.
VENUS: Venus is the brightest planet. Use 2 hands to fan out from center.
EARTH: Earth is our home and the only planet that supports life. Cross arms in front of chest for hug.
MARS: Mars has the biggest volcano. Form a triangle with index fingers and then make an explosion sign with right hand.
JUPITER: Jupiter is the biggest planet. Move hands apart from center.
SATURN: Saturn is the planet with rings. Draw a ring around right hand with left.
URANUS: Uranus is the coldest planet. Shiver.
NEPTUNE: Neptune is the farthest away. Point far away with right index finger.
Use the photo book to
familiarize the children with
photos of the planets.
Curious Question
What happens when ice gets hot? What does a blanket do?
Allow the children to discuss how blankets work and what happens to ice, and remember their answers do not have to make sense.
Main Lesson
Earth's atmosphere is special because it keeps Earth's temperature just right for life. It's like the perfect blanket, and it's made out of gases. But right now, some humans are making choices that make too many gasses and make the blanket too thick. Earth is getting too hot and the atmosphere is getting too thick. We don't want the land or the water or the air to get too hot here on Earth.
Let’s see what happens when Earth’s temperature gets too hot.
sit & discover: 7 minutes
Mr. John & the Polar Bear
For this activity, set up a scenario where on one side a human figure (Mr. John) is on land with a home and on the other side a polar bear figure (Polar Bear) is on ice. Make sure you can see water in between the ice and the land. Let the children observe.
Materials Needed:
large shallow bowl or deep baking tray
large chunks of ice (freeze ice in a small, shallow bowl)
figurines (human, dog, polar bear, arctic animal, ocean animal)
small house or building figurine
flat rocks or a similar object
hair dryer
cold water
Preparation: In the bowl or tray, position the flat rocks on one side and place the human (Mr. John) and his "house" and "dog" on the rocks. On the other side of the bowl or tray, position the ice and place the polar bear on top. Fill the bowl or tray with cold water until the water is level with Mr. John's land (but not flowing over). Note: small ice chunks will float, which is why they need to be big. This is not to scale! Place ocean life figurine anywhere in between.
The polar bear lives in the Polar Climate Zone, and Mr. John lives in the Temperate Climate Zone. Let's see what happens when Earth's temperature gets too hot. I have some hot water here.
Use a hairdryer to heat the air around the ice. Set the dryer on low and hot. You can also use a diffuser so the air movement is reduced. If you want to create the same affect with less sound, you can pour hot water into the bowl to melt the ice. (Try this at home a few times so you are comfortable with the experiment.)
What do you see happening? How is Mr. John? The Polar Bear? Let the children watch ice melt under a polar bear and see the water level rise to the level of Mr. John's home. Now 2 Earth Friends don't have a safe home.
Closing Sentiment
When the temperature of Earth's atmosphere gets too hot from too many gasses, it can affect everyone's homes. Ice can melt, and seawater can rise. Near an ocean, we can see the level of the ocean get higher. We don't want Earth's blanket to get too thick.
move & observe: 8 minutes
End Lesson
Teachers in the Classroom
Teacher Activity
Melting Ice Cube Race
Materials Needed: 2 plates (not paper); 2 ice cubes; 1 glass jar; a sunny spot
Preparation: Place 1 ice cube on each plate. Place a jar over 1 ice cube. Set both plates in a sunny spot.
Show the children the ice cubes and talk about how one is covered with a jar.
What do you think will happen? Which one will melt first?
Do an activity for about 7-10 minutes and return to the plates with the children to see which ice cube is melting faster.
Which ice cube is melting faster? I wonder why.
Talk about how the sun heats the ice cube in the jar faster, because the jar, like Earth's atmosphere, traps the heat.
Throughout the Week
Discuss: what happens when the temperature on Earth gets too hot.
Hands-on: Take the Classroom Earth down and help the children take turns placing the Climate Zone markers on it. Remind them with each one what that climate is like.
Create: Continue to glue fabric to the Classroom Earth to finish the mosaic.
Reading: Here We Are
Vocabulary: Earth, natural element, climate zone, atmosphere
Good Choices
I can learn about what kind of weather we have each season.
I can ask an adult what happens when it gets too hot in my climate zone.
Vocabulary:
Earth: Earth is the only planet where we humans, animals, and plants can live. This makes Earth very special. Earth is not too hot and not too cold. It's just right for life.
natural element: Earth has 3 natural elements that make it a good home for humans like you and me. Land, Water, and Air. Animals and plants need land, water, and air too.
climate zone: Earth has 3 climate zones. The Polar Zone is cold, and the Tropical Zone is hot. In the Temperate Zone, the weather changes every season. In spring, it's cool and the rain helps the plants grow. In summer, it's sunny and hot and we can play in the water. In fall, it's cool and the trees lose their leaves. In winter, it's cold and sometimes snowy. Our zone is unique because our seasons are so different.
atmosphere: Earth's atmosphere is special because it keeps Earth's temperature just right. It's like the perfect blanket, and it's made out of what we call gases. But right now, some humans are making choices that create too many gasses and make that blanket too thick, and Earth is getting too hot. We don't want the land or the water or the air to get too hot here on Earth.
Families at Home
Discuss: We learned that Earth's atmosphere is like the perfect blanket. But there are some things humans are doing that are making the blanket too thick, and Earth is getting too hot. Here at home, you can experiment with what happens when the blanket is too hot. You'll need a few blankets and some time. This is a good activity to do while reading a book or watching a movie together.
First, get the perfect blanket and cuddle up. Talk about how you're not too cold and you're not too hot. Now, get a thicker blanket or layer more than one blanket together. Really wrap up and get toasty warm. See how long it feels good with a blanket that's too thick. What do you feel like when you can't take it off? Whew. It's hot. *No one needs to get sweaty. This is just a chance to understand when the layers are too thick, the temperature goes up. Alternatively, you can do this activity with a sweatshirt or sweater.
Visit: a greenhouse. You might know someone with a greenhouse, or you can go to a local home and garden store, which has a greenhouse section. Notice how the temperature feels inside and outside of the greenhouse.
Explore: Go outside on a rainy day. Take a walk in the rain. Get an umbrella and rain boots and see what nature is like when it's wet!
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