Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the importance of Earth's natural resources and how to take care of them while playing outside.

Materials and Prep

Materials: Sunscreen, hat, water bottle, and a small bag for collecting interesting rocks, leaves, or sticks.

Prep: Make sure to apply sunscreen and wear a hat before going outside. Also, bring a water bottle to stay hydrated during the activities.

Activities

1. Nature Scavenger Hunt: Go outside and search for items like rocks, leaves, and sticks. Discuss the different types of rocks and leaves you find.

2. Sun and Shade Experiment: Find a sunny spot and a shady spot. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature in each spot. Discuss why one spot might be warmer than the other.

3. Water Conservation Game: Play a game where you pretend to be plants and animals, and discuss how they use water. Then, talk about ways to conserve water in daily life.

Third Grade Talking Points

• "Our planet Earth is full of amazing things like rocks, plants, and animals. It's important to take care of them so they can stay healthy and happy."
• "When we play outside, we need to protect ourselves from the sun by wearing sunscreen and a hat, and drinking water to stay hydrated."
• "We can learn a lot by exploring nature, like how different rocks and leaves look and feel. It's like a treasure hunt!"
• "The sun gives us warmth and light, but it can also make things hot. We can find cooler spots in the shade."
• "Plants and animals need water to survive, just like we do. We can help them by using water wisely and not wasting it."