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Caring for Our World - The DLM Early Childhood Program - Texas Teacher's Planning Guide - Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Teaching Young Children About the Environment
Caring for Our World The DLM Early Childhood Program Texas Teacher's Planning Guide Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Teaching Young Children About the Environment Author:Pam Schiller, Alma Flor Ada, Carol Otis Hurst Includes 20 primary activities created to help children develop a full range of skills and concepts. In this "Caring for Our World" unit, the wonder and magic of our world comes alive as children discover the ways in which the environment supports life. Children explore their own environments and the environment of a number of creatures. Through... more » this, they learn that they too can play an important role in caring for our world. In this unit, children engage in activities in which they explore nature in a number of ways-from examining items on a nature walk and exploring animal habitats to experimenting with feathers, oil, and water to discover how an oil slick could affect wildlife. Children gain an understanding of what an environment is, whether it's a frog's environment or the classroom environment. They learn about conservation and recycling as they build their own "Junk Creatures" and think about ways that something useful might be made from an item such as an old shoe. And as they learn about extinct and endangered species, they develop a deeper appreciation of the world and its inhabitants. As children gain an understanding of why it is so important to care for our world, they participate in activities that develop language skills and build an appreciation of literature, music, and art. Children also engage in activities that ask them to think creatively and to use their senses to explore the world. Through this unit, children gain a stronger sense of community and come to recognize the important role they may play in preserving our environment.« less