Fourth Grade Introduction to Conservation

Our fourth grade material meets Standards 4.L.1 and 4.L.1.3.

4.L.1--Understand the effects of environmental changes, adaptations and behaviors that enable animals (including humans) to survive in changing habitats.

4.L.1.3--Explain how humans can adapt their behavior to live in changing habitats (e.g., recycling wastes, establishing rain gardens, planting trees and shrubs to prevent flooding and erosion).

Classroom lessons provide a great introduction to conservation. Lessons can include learning what conservation means, activities on water use, Enviroscape® modeling demonstrations, soil conservation information, and an opportunity for students to brainstorm how they can adapt their behavior to create a positive impact.

Some options include:

Why Conservation means using resources in a wise way.

World Water Use Experiment:  Students come up with ways we use water each day and we think though how we can use water in a wise way while watching the water levels rise and fall.

Enviroscape® Model: The popular 3D EnviroScape® Watershed/NPS education model provides a hands-on, interactive demonstration of the sources and effects of water pollution – and allows you to demonstrate ways to prevent it. Easily demonstrate how storm water runoff carries pollutants through the watershed to a pond, lake, river, bay, or ocean – and the best management practices to prevent this type of pollution from occurring.

Conservation Red Light/Green Light:  Gets students moving while deciding if specific actions are positive or negative for Conservation. 

Unnatural Trail:  Students take a walk while using their observation skills to identify the difference between natural resources and "unnatural" products in the environment.

Composting and Vermiculture:  Does you school compost or want to start?  We have a whole selections of activities and resources, just let us know your level of interest!

Adaptations:  Learn more about adaptation and use your imagination to create a perfectly adapted creature for your school!

Conservation Scavenger Hunt:  While taking a walk outside, students search for various conservation related items.

Educational Poster Contest:  Fourth grade students are able to participate in our poster contest on a various theme each year, complete with prizes!   This is a great add-on for classwork or homework!