Big Idea
The materials from objects we use everyday all come from nature originally.
Summary
All the “stuff” that we use everyday starts somewhere. Even though many of our objects are made by people, discover how the materials sourced for our everyday objects all come from nature originally.
Engage
Introduce the first guiding question of the day : “What objects (stuff) do we use everyday? “
Let students think for a minute and then share out as a class.
The Slide Deck has a series of questions to get them to think about the “stuff” they use everyday. Students are encouraged to engage in a “Turn and Talk” and then compile their responses.
Teacher tips: If you have time, introduce this “novel idea” activity as a way to elicit background knowledge or new ideas from a group regarding a topic or theme.
Break the students into small groups to review their lists and compile them into one for display in the classroom.
Explore and Explain
If possible, have a pre-assembled “grab bag” with various everyday objects — some made from nature and some made by people, start this activity by pulling an object from the grab bag and asking them to suggest which category the object belongs to.
Follow up with the images in the Slide Deck.
Make a T-chart on the white board and categorize the objects from the class list of objects and the grab bag objects into the two categories. Review the list one final time with students. Encourage students to consider that all the things we use, even in just one day, make an impact on ourselves, our families, our city and the world. For more categorizing, look for other objects around the classroom and assign them to one list or another on your now growing T Chart. (Some examples of objects that come directly from nature could be fruits, vegetables, soil, rocks, flowers or plants or leaves, water. Some made by people might be (plastic water bottles, car, candy wrapper, can, jar, cell phone, eyeglasses, plastic straw).
Discuss how they made their decisions about which category an object belonged in. What are the criteria for each group?
By the end of the activity, students will be able to classify everyday objects into the categories of nature made and person made.
Elaborate
This first Learning Experience does not have an ELABORATE.
Teacher Support
Essential Question:
What can students do to contribute to a healthy and just Philadelphia for all Philadelphians?
Guiding Questions:
Where do all these materials/objects made by people come from?
Where do they all go after we no longer need or want these materials?
Students will be able to:
Classify everyday objects into the categories of nature-made and person-made.
Grab bag of everyday objects.
Links: Novel Ideas Only Tips
Contribute (verb): give in order to achieve something
Just (adjective): based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair
Nature (noun): the phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations
Explore a variety of materials — some of which come directly from nature (fruits, vegetables, soil, rocks, flowers or plants or leaves, water), and some of which are made by people (plastic water bottles, car, candy wrapper, can, jar, cell phone, eyeglasses, straw).
PA STEELS Standards
Environmental Literacy and Sustainability
N/A
Related Standards
NGSS 4-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment