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        Kindergarten Text Set on Sustainability    

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        Kindergarten Text Set on Sustainability    

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This text set is designed to build knowledge about environmental conservation using predictable, narrative and informational texts.

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Everyone can make choices to save the earth.

Some materials are harmful to plants, animals & people.

We separate materials so they can be recycled.

Recycling old objects saves energy.

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Recycle: When used things are turned into new things.

Landfill: Place where garbage is dumped from garbage trucks.

Waste: All the things we throw away.

Pollution: When something harmful gets into the environment and hurts animals, plants and people.

Energy: Another word for power. Energy makes things move and machines work.

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The Earth book by Todd Parr (2010)

This story was selected because of its playful approach to environmental conservation. I think students will be able to relate to the childlike reasons one can love the earth-use less bath water because (you love the fish and want the oceans to remain blue). This text will ease children into the complex concepts of recycling and energy conservation.

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This text provides an opportunity to discuss the words energy and recycle, which are at the center of sustainability. These words will also be essential for grasping more complex texts that will follow. After defining the words, I will model a sorting game and utilize content vocabulary to reinforce the idea of recycling. I will also show them pictures of objects that use energy.

Vocabulary:

Pg. 19 Energy

Pg. 23 Recycle

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This story can be used promote discussions regarding individual choices regarding living sustainably. Some questions to prompt discussion could be(Connecting to phenomena using open-ended questions):

1. What can you and your family do protect the earth?
2. What changes will you make in your home?

After reading this text, students will brainstorm ideas and I will support their thoughts through scaffolding. I will also record their ideas on an anchor chart.

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Captain Green and the Plastic Scene ~ Earth Day Read Aloud ~ Recycling read aloud ~ Science STEM

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Captain Green and the Plastic Scene by Evelyn Bookless(2018)

I selected this text because many of the story elements help build the readers understanding of environmental conservation.  The main character is a superhero known as Captain Green.  He is called to the rescue because many sea animals are having issues with plastic.  Captain Green shares his plan of-reduce, reuse, recycle to protect the sea animal’s habitat. This storyline is simple and easy for children to recall, which will help them build knowledge for interactions with more complex texts.

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Captain Green and the Plastic Scene ~ Earth Day Read Aloud ~ Recycling read aloud ~ Science STEM

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Building background knowledge

Prior to reading the story, I will show a video that focuses on the idea of reduce, reuse, recycle. I will encourage them to discuss their thoughts with a partner. I will also define the word pollution and review the word recycle. I will show pictures of the various types of pollution.(air, water, land) I chose to introduce the word pollution because it is a key word in the discipline. The text provides pictures and a clear example of ocean pollution to help support the concept.

Discourse

This text gives great opportunities to engage in rich discussion. I would ask open-ended questions like:

1. What did you notice was happening to the animals in the story?

2. If you had superhero powers, how would you save the ocean and sea animals?

First students will turn to a partner to discuss their thoughts. Students who would like to share their ideas with the class are welcome. I will ask follow-up questions to measure their understanding and encourage them to use more precise language(clarification).

Vocabulary:
Pg. 3 Pollution
Pg. 15 Recycle

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Recycle: a handbook for kids by Gail Gibbons (1992)

I selected this text because it provides information about recycling and natural resources. The text contains descriptive pictures and captions that support the text in explaining the recycling process. This text emphasizes the fact that recycling is simple, and it requires way more energy to create new objects. The text also highlights the differences between paper, glass, cans, and plastic.

Vocabulary:

This text introduces a new word - landfill and reviews previous words energy, recycle, and pollution.  I chose the word landfill because it is useful to know what happens to garbage that is not recycled. Before reading the text, I will take a picture walk and define the word landfill. I will show them pictures and ask them questions like: Do you think landfills smell? Would you want to live near one? To make the concept stick.

Vocabulary:

Pg. 2 Landfill

Pg. 9 Energy

Pg. 17 Pollution

Cover Pg. Recycle

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Discourse:

1.  How do we make sure less garbage goes to landfills?

2. Why is it better to recycle a glass bottle rather than throw it away?

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What a waste by Jess French(2019)

I selected this text because it contains in depth information and academic language that relate to topics previously explored. This text uses pictures and labels to support the reader. The text contains statistics and facts that relate to environmental conservation. This text provides detailed information regarding the different types of pollution we encountered earlier, as well more information pertaining to where trash goes- landfills, recycling plant and incinerating plants. The book also tells us about new technologies that have been developed such as the “ocean-cleaning machine”. I think this book is a great way to end the unit because it reinforces old concepts while expanding on them.

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Vocabulary:

This text introduces the word waste.  I decided to teach the word waste because it is used in two different contexts. The title of the books is: What a waste, which refers to how society is not always mindful of the amount of items we dispose of. The book also describes waste, in terms of garbage. The text explains that we create enough waste every year to fill a line of dump trucks around the world 24 times…. I would give examples of the word waste in different contexts to show the word has more than one meaning. This text includes all vocabulary discussed throughout the set, so it is an excellent chance for review and seeing the words from another perspective.

Vocabulary:
Cover /Pg. 6. Waste
Pg. 24. Recycle
Pg. 8  Pollution
Pg. 21  Energy
Pg. 26. landfill

Discourse:

1.     What can happen to waste? Students can think back to the previous story Recycle to answer this question. (Coherence)

2.     How can you make sure you don’t waste things?

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K-ESS3-3 Earth and Human Activity - Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.

The main goal of this text set is to present four environmental conservation books to a kindergarten students. The text set provides information that will enhance their conceptual knowledge of environmental science. The content found throughout the text is also critical in that it will give children the tools to become responsible citizens who make environmentally friendly choices.

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Bookless, E., & Deeptown, D. (2018). Captain Green and the Plastic Scene. Marshall Cavendish International.

Captain Green and the plastic scene. (2021, April 4). [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrdmWyuTQgo&t=11s

The Earth book by Todd Parr. (2018, April 18). [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpEc5nHqO2c&t=66s

French, J. (2019). What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet (Illustrated ed.). DK Children.

Gibbons, G. (1996). Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids (Reprint ed.). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Ms. Alex reads what a waste. (2020, April 4). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y18sB-oBsbU&t=33s

Parr, T. (2010). The EARTH Book (Rei/Pstr ed.). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Recycle by Gail Gibbons. (2020, June 5). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hECRRsQh38&t=59s

Hadley, E.B., Newman, K.M., & Mock, J. (2020).  Setting the stage for TALK: Strategies for encouraging language-building conversations.  The Reading Teacher, 74(1), 39-48. doi: 10.1002/trtr1900.

Neuman, S.B., & Wright, T.S. (2013).  Supporting content-rich vocabulary through book reading.  All About Words.  Teachers College Press, NY, NY.  pp. 62-82

Welsh, K.M., Brock, C.H., Robertson, L.T.  (2020). Disciplinary literacy in a second-grade classroom: A science inquiry unit.  The Reading Teacher, 73(6), 723-734.

West, J.M., Wright, T.S., & Gotwals, A. (2021).  Supporting scientific discussions: Moving kindergartners’ conversations forward.  The Reading Teacher, 74(6), 703-712. Doi: 10.1002/trtr.1977.

K-ESS3-3 Earth and Human Activity | Next Generation Science Standards. (n.d.). Nextgenerationscience.Org. Retrieved October 1, 2021, from https://www.nextgenscience.org/pe/k-ess3-3-earth-and-human-activity