Objective

By the end of this lesson, Emil will understand the importance of picking up trash, learn how it helps the environment, and express his creativity through art while creating a fun project related to the topic.

Materials and Prep

• Paper and colored pencils or crayons
• A safe outdoor space to pick up trash (like a yard or park)
• A trash bag for collecting litter
• Hand sanitizer or wipes for cleaning hands after picking up trash

Before starting the lesson, ensure the outdoor space is safe and free from any hazardous materials. Discuss with Emil the importance of safety while picking up trash.

Activities

• Trash Collection Adventure

  Go outside with a trash bag and pick up litter together. Make it a fun adventure by counting how many pieces of trash you collect. Talk about what types of trash you find and where it might have come from.

• Art from Trash

  After collecting trash, use some of the clean items (like bottle caps or wrappers) to create a piece of art. Emil can glue them onto paper to make a colorful collage or sculpture.

• Nature Journal

  Create a nature journal entry. Emil can draw pictures of the trash he found and write a few sentences about why it’s important to keep our environment clean.

Talking Points

• "Why do you think it's important to pick up trash?"
• "What happens to animals when they eat trash?"
• "How does trash make our parks and streets look?"
• "Can you think of ways we can help keep our Earth clean?"
• "What did you enjoy most about our trash collection adventure?"
• "How can we remind others to pick up trash too?"
• "What will you tell your friends about what we did today?"