Integration Idea of the Month -- April, 2001

Earth Day is a day that is committed to raising awareness of the serious environmental problems we are facing today. Although Earth Day has been around for 31 years, environmental issues have surfaced throughout history under labels such as public health, conservation, preservation of nature, air pollution and water pollution. The word "environmental" is a recent term used to describe many of these long-standing concerns. This month's lesson is one that can be done to document important environmental issues that have happened throughout time.

Curriculum Area: Science/Social Studies

Standards Addressed:

The National Council for the Social Studies (http://www.ncss.org)

• Strand 2, Time, Continuity and Change: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ways human beings view themselves in and over time.
• Strand 3, People, Places and Environment: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of people, places, and environments.

The National Science Education Standards (http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/html/)

• Content Standard F: As a result of activities in grades 5-8, all students should develop understanding of:

  Personal health
  Populations, resources, and environment
  Natural hazards
  Risks and benefits
  Science and technology in society

• Content Standard F: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of:

  Personal and community health
  Population growth
  Natural resources
  Environmental quality
  Natural and human-induced hazards
  Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

Technology Skill Level: Low

Student Grouping: Nine Groups of Students

Time: One Week - Two Weeks depending on the number computers available

Materials:

The Internet
TimeLiner - Tom Synder Productions (http://www.tomsnyder.com/)
History Resources

Procedure:

1. Break students into groups of four.

2. Assign a time period to each group. For example:

3. Have students research environmental issues that happened during their time period. They should find seven to ten events. Students can use the Internet, history and environmental books. Ask your school librarian for help.

4. Students should record the information on paper first.

5. Each group should go to the computer and create their individual timeline.

6. TimeLiner can be downloaded for a free trial or you can use TimeLiner online. If TimeLiner is not available a paint program like AppleWorks or Microsoft Word will also work. This lesson can also be done using paper.

7. When each group has finished their timeline, print out each time period and connect them together.

8. Post the timeline around the room and you have a record of environmental issues from 2000BC to today.

Extension:

Add pictures downloaded from the web to add interest to your time. Students individual drawings can also be added to the timeline.

Information on this site that has been produced by Sun Associates is Copyright 1997 - 2013 Sun Associates and is available for individual, one-time, use by educators. Duplication is prohibited without permission. All other material is the property of its authors and Sun Associates makes no warranty for its use or accuracy.