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I Have a Dream

Published January 19, 2015 | By Carol Malnor

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Martin Luther King’s hopes and dreams extended to the environment. As U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder stated:
“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in addition to his many other achievements, helped ‘plant the seeds’ for what would become our nation’s now-thriving ‘environmental justice movement.'”

It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.
—   Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

LESSON PLAN: A-Z Outside
You can help your students feel a connection with all of life by getting them outside. It’s easy when you use the National Wildlife Federation’s 26 activities that will get kids outside. Most of these activities can be done at both school or home. There’s one idea for each letter of the alphabet; for example, “A” is for “Animal Homes.” Below is the activity that’s just perfect for our cold outside temperatures.

“F” is for “Frozen Frosty Ornaments.”
Some of the treasures inside will make tasty treats for the birds in your neighborhood. Use this activity as a follow up to Baby It’s Cold Outside about animal adaptation.

Suggested Grade Level: K-3

Materials:

  • small baking molds or muffin pans
  • Evergreen leaves, seedpods, acorns, berries, or any other objects from nature
  • Ribbon
  • Water
Procedure:
1. Go outside for a winter walk and gather nature items.
2. Arrange the collected objects inside the molds or muffin pan. You can also add fruit slices, sunflower seeds, nuts, and dried corn kernels to your ornaments. Pour water over them.
3. Add Ribbon for the hangers by placing the ends of a strip of ribbon in the water in each mold.
4. Take outside the molds outside to freeze. (If the temperature is above 32°F, put them in your freezer instead.)
5. After the water has frozen, remove the ornaments from the molds. (If they won’t come out easily, run some warm water over the bottom to loosen.)
6. Hang the ornaments outside on tree branches.

*This activity originally appeared in the December/January 2012 issue of Ranger Rick magazine.

Next Generation Science Standards (DCI K-3)

LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: (A) Structures and Processes; (B) Growth and Development of Organisms
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity: Natural Resources

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Posted in Nature Books Blog, Uncategorized
subscribe     Blog by Carol Malnor I love making connections: kids and nature, science and reading, fun and learning. I discovered the joy of connecting Dawn Publications' books with kids when I was a classroom teacher. Dawn's books were easy to incorporate into my lessons and the kids loved them. I used picture books with students of all ages, from primary school all the way up through 9th grade. Over the years, my relationship with Dawn changed and developed, and I authored Dawn’s Teacher’s Guides as well as writing books for children 4-14 years old. ARTICLE How to Use Creative Nonfiction Picture Books in Support of Common Core and Science ACTIVITIES Dawn Publications STANDARDS Common Core State Standards Next Generation Science Standards National Science Teachers Association Picture Perfect Science   OTHER FAVORITES Dawn Publications Children and Nature Network
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