Dr. Seuss’s book "The Lorax" is the perfect book to read for Earth Day as it explores corporate waste, pollution and lack of environmentally friendly practices. Here are environmental science activities from The Lorax. Use these literature-based Lorax lesson plans for Earth Day lesson plans and crafts. Start with free printable Lorax activities and Dr. Seuss lesson plans.
Text
to Life Dr Seuss lesson plans. The Lorax is a
parable or allegory. Characters represent ideas or people. As you read the Lorax
ask students to decide who these characters represent: The Once-ler
(corporations, society, people), The Boy (children, the future generation), The
Lorax (God, Mother Nature, a Supreme Being).
Lorax
story maps. After reading The Lorax, students should design environmental
science diagrams to show food web and pollution impacts charts. Show in
sequence how each species relies on the Trufulla trees. These could be drawn in
cartoon format or as flowcharts. Now show backwards, how the Once-ler's factory
takes out not only too the Trufulla trees away, but pollutes the air and water
and harms the animals and plants. Here are endangered species printables to show what that looks like in real life.
Explore
environmental science vocabulary from the Lorax--sustainable, ecology,
symbiotic relationship, biodegradable, environment, pollution, interdependence,
interconnected, food web, food chain, carbon footprint, carbon cycle, Make 3D
graphic organizers by folding paper into 6 parts. for sequenced cartoon strip.
Make a sequence book by accordion folding a wide strip of paper. On each page
or frame, students write a word or sentence explaining what damage the factory
created and how it affects each animal group. Or make a circle chart to show how
nature is interconnected, by folding paper circles in six parts. Here are free printable habitat
dioramas.
Environmental
science experiments. Plant seeds. Here's an excellent text to life connection.
Do as the Lorax and Once-ler advised and plant trees. Sprout seeds in simple
terrariums by placing dried beans and wet paper towel in Ziploc bags. Or put
carrot tops in water. Show how seeds need clean air and sun to grow. Place one
seedling in a dark, dusty room such as a broom closet and others in the sun.
Water some but not others. Compare results.
Writer's
Workshop Dr. Seuss lesson plans. April is National Poetry Month. Write poems for
Earth Day, telling what will happen "unless" people stop polluting
and start caring for the earth. Or write an Earth Day song about why it is
important to keep our world green. Draw shape poems, writing each line or
sentence in the shape of the sun, trees, fish, birds, etc. The Lorax says he
"speaks for the trees for the trees have no voice." Have children
make posters, poems and songs to advocate for the trees.
Environmental
science field trips and experiments. Go on a litter hunt. Take before and after
pictures of the playground, woods or roadside. Give each student a recycled
plastic bag and latex or plastic gloves. Count, weigh and measure how much
trash was collected in 15 minutes. Chart and graph different kinds of litter
and show what kinds of trash is most commonly thrown out. Start a recycling
club. Take a field trip to visit a wildlife refuge, native tribal council, DNR
station, nature center, fish hatchery or nature preserve. Wherever you live in
this wide wonderful world, there are places to explore the wildlife in your
area and folks committed to sharing their love of nature with students.
Environmental
science skits. Students should write skits on reducing pollution and litter. Or
retell The Lorax story. Explore the internet for new ways to reuse trash. For
example, communities in Michigan create green eco-friendly park benches to made
entirely from recycled plastic milk jugs.
Design
a bird feeder, watering station and bird house. Use recycled materials like
milk jugs. Compost food scraps. Or make bird seed cakes. Explore local
songbirds in your area. Here are George Washington Carver printables with recycling ideas from the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle
King himself!
