Grade by Grade
Strands C and D: Self-Regulation and Well-Being; Belonging and Contributing · Me, My Feelings and My Community

Caring for Our Earth

D23.1 D23.2 D23.3About 20 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can tell how two places outside are the same and different.
  • I can tell what might happen if something in nature changed.
  • I can name ways to care for the Earth.
  • I can help take care of the Earth at home and at school.

Words to know

environment
Everything around us: air, water, land, plants and animals.
nature
Things not made by people, like trees, rivers, rocks and animals.
litter
Garbage left on the ground where it doesn't belong.
reuse
Use something again instead of throwing it away.
recycle
Put things like cans and paper in the recycling bin so they can be made into new things.
compost
Food scraps that break down into rich soil for plants.

Let's go outside!

Grown-up, read this part out loud.

Close your eyes. Imagine you are in a forest. 🌲 What do you hear? Birds singing? Wind in the leaves?

Now imagine you are at a pond. 🦆 What do you see? Ducks? Frogs? Cattails?

The Earth is our home. Plants and animals live here too. Let's learn how to take care of it!

Places outside are the same and different

Let's compare a park and a pond.

  • Same: Both are outside. Both have plants. Both have animals.
  • Different: A pond has lots of water, with fish, frogs and ducks. A park has grass and trees, with squirrels and robins.
A park pond with ducks swimming, cattails at the edge, and trees and a path around it.
A pond is a home for ducks, frogs and fish. We can care for it by keeping litter out of the water. AI-generated image
PlaceSome things you might see
🌲 Foresttall trees, squirrels, birds, mushrooms
🦆 Pondwater, ducks, frogs, cattails
🏡 Backyardgrass, flowers, worms, a bird feeder
🏙️ City streeta few trees, pigeons, sidewalks, buildings
Different places outside have different plants and animals.

What if something changed?

Everything in nature is connected.

  • If people cut down all the trees in a park, birds and squirrels would lose their homes. There would be no shade on hot days.
  • If litter goes into a pond, ducks and fish can get sick or hurt.
  • If a pond dries up, frogs would have nowhere to lay their eggs.

Ways to care for the Earth

Reduceuse lessReuseuse againRecyclemake it new
The 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
  • Reduce: Use less. Turn off the lights when you leave a room. 💡 Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. 🚰
  • Reuse: Use things again. Pack lunch in containers you can wash. Make art from boxes. 📦
  • Recycle: Put paper, cans and plastic bottles in the blue bin. ♻️
  • Compost: Put food scraps like banana peels in the green bin or the compost. 🍌
  • Walk or bike instead of taking the car when you can. 🚶
  • Feed the birds in winter when food is hard to find. 🐦
  • Pick up litter (with gloves and a grown-up's help).
  • Be gentle with nature. Look at bugs carefully, then put them back where you found them. 🐞

Respect for the land and water

Many First Nations, Métis and Inuit people teach that we should respect the land and water, take only what we need, and give thanks for what the Earth gives us. These are good ideas for all of us.

Worked example

Let's sort the garbage

After lunch we have: a banana peel 🍌, an empty juice can 🥫, a paper bag 🛍️, and a sandwich wrapper. Where does each go?

  1. Banana peel 🍌: It's food. → compost / green bin
  2. Juice can 🥫: Cans can be made into new things. → recycling / blue bin
  3. Paper bag 🛍️: Can it be used again? Yes! → reuse it. When it's worn out, recycle it.
  4. Sandwich wrapper: In many towns it can't be recycled. → garbage. Next time, use a container you can wash! (That's reduce.)

Peel → compost. Can → recycling. Paper bag → reuse, then recycle. Wrapper → garbage, and use a reusable container next time. (Rules can be a little different in each town. Check your town's list!)

banana peelcompost: green binjuice canrecycling: blue binpaper bagreuse it!wrappergarbage
Where the lunch leftovers go: the banana peel goes in the green bin (compost), the can goes in the blue bin (recycling), the paper bag gets reused, and the wrapper goes in the garbage. Bin colours can be different in some towns.
Just for fun

What did the tree say when spring finally came?

“What a re-leaf!” 🌳

Hands-on activity

Pine cone bird feeder

You need: a pine cone, string, a butter knife, vegetable shortening or lard (or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version), birdseed, and a plate.

  1. Tie the string to the top of the pine cone. (Grown-up can help.)
  2. Spread shortening into the gaps of the pine cone.
  3. Roll it in birdseed on the plate.
  4. Hang it on a tree branch or balcony where you can see it from a window.
  5. Watch! Which birds come to visit? Chickadees, blue jays and cardinals are common in Ontario winters.

Talk about it: "Why do birds need extra help finding food in winter?" (Snow covers seeds and many plants are not growing.)

Your turn

1

Name one thing that is the same about a forest and a pond, and one thing that is different.

2

💡 You are leaving your bedroom. What should you do with the light?

3

🍌 Where does a banana peel go?

4

🥫 Where does an empty can go?

5

You see a chip bag on the ground at the park. What can you do?

6

You find a worm on the sidewalk. Show me how you would be gentle with it.

More practice: warm-up

1

What colour is the recycling bin in many Ontario towns?

2

🐦 Is a bird part of nature?

3

Show me how you turn off the tap.

4

Name an animal that lives in a pond.

5

Is it okay to throw garbage on the ground?

More practice: on your own

1

What could happen if all the trees in a park were cut down?

2

Name two ways to reuse something instead of throwing it away.

3

Why might you feed birds in the winter?

4

🚗 or 🚶 Your school is close by and the weather is nice. Which is better for the Earth?

5

Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth. Why does that help?

Challenge

1

What could happen to ducks if lots of litter got into their pond?

2

Make a plan: name 3 things your family could do this week to care for the Earth.

3

Your backyard and a city street are both outside. Tell how they are different.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Which helps the Earth?

2.

Where does a banana peel go?

3.

What happens if all the trees are cut down?

4.

Which one is reusing?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Children compare local environments, predict what happens when something changes, and take part in caring for the environment (D23.1 to D23.3). Small daily habits matter most at this age.

How to help at home:

  • Give your child an Earth job: light checker, recycling sorter, compost carrier.
  • Go on nature walks in all seasons. Compare places: "How is the beach different from the forest?"
  • Ask "What if...?" questions: "What if it didn't rain all summer? What would happen to our garden?"
  • If you pick up litter together, always use gloves or a litter grabber and handle sharp or dirty things yourself.

Note: Recycling and green bin rules differ across Ontario towns. Check your municipality's list together; it's a great sorting game.

Common difficulties:

  • Mixing up recycling and compost. Use a simple rule: "Food goes in compost. Cans, bottles and paper go in recycling."
  • Wanting to keep bugs or pick every flower. Teach "look, then leave it" so plants and animals stay safe in their homes.
  • Worrying about big problems. Keep it positive and concrete: "Here's something we can do today."