Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Environment: Features

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial for establishing the foundations of what will be explored during the session. By clearly defining the objectives, students will be able to better focus their attention and efforts on the proposed activities, ensuring a deeper understanding of the environmental and social themes discussed. This segmentation also helps the teacher keep the lesson aligned with the expected learning outcomes.

Main Objectives:

1. Understand and identify social and environmental issues related to the protection of biological elements and ecosystems in the environment.

2. Develop critical analysis skills regarding the importance of environmental conservation for the sustainability of the planet.

Side Objectives:

1. Stimulate students' critical thinking and curiosity about how their daily actions can impact the environment.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students, using problem situations they might encounter in their real lives to activate prior knowledge and curiosity. Furthermore, by contextualizing the theme with real and impactful examples, the goal is to create an emotional and intellectual connection with the importance of studying the environment, preparing students for the practical activities and discussions that will follow.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine a new industry is planning to set up next to a river near your town. What could happen to the water quality and aquatic life in that river?

2. If all the inhabitants of the planet continued to use disposable plastics in their products and packaging, how would that affect the oceans and marine species?

Contextualization

The environment is not just a distant concern; it is present in our daily lives. A simple choice of using a plastic bottle instead of a reusable one can have a significant impact on marine ecosystems. For example, it is estimated that more than 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die each year due to plastic ingestion. These real and close data help contextualize the importance of studying and acting for the environment.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to apply and expand the knowledge acquired about environmental and social issues related to the environment, especially regarding the protection of biological elements and ecosystems. Through practical and playful activities, students will explore in greater depth how their daily actions and choices impact the environment. This approach not only consolidates theoretical learning but also develops investigation, planning, and collaboration skills, essential for effective environmental education.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Eco-Detectives: The Mission of the Recyclers

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop environmental awareness and investigative practices around waste disposal.

- Description: In this activity, students will be transformed into 'eco-detectives' and will have the mission to investigate an area of the school that is believed to be suffering from improper waste disposal issues. They must collect evidence such as trash samples, photographs, and interviews to identify the types of waste, their quantity, and possible environmental impacts.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Explain that each group will receive a 'mission letter' describing the area to be investigated and the types of waste to be searched for.

• Provide each group with an investigation kit containing gloves, trash bags, identification labels, and a camera (or mobile devices, if available).

• Guide students to collect trash samples, classify them, and record their findings in a field notebook.

• Upon returning to the classroom, each group will present its findings in a report format, including recommendations for improving waste disposal in the investigated area.

Activity 2 - Creating a Sustainable Garden

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Foster understanding and practice of sustainability in the school environment.

- Description: Students will be challenged to plan and create a small sustainable garden within the school, using recycled or reused materials. They should think about how to maximize biodiversity and minimize the use of water and chemical resources.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of 5.

• Present the principles of a sustainable garden, including the use of composting, native plants, and recycling materials.

• Allow each group to draw their garden plan on paper, considering space, selected plants, and materials to be used.

• Assist students in collecting recyclable materials in the school or that they may bring from home.

• Supervise the garden implementation, ensuring that students follow the discussed sustainability guidelines.

Activity 3 - Environmental Theater: The Ecosystem in Danger

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Raise students' awareness about the interconnection between human activities and impacts on ecosystems.

- Description: Using theater techniques, students will enact a hypothetical situation where an ecosystem crucial for a species is threatened by human activities. They must research the ecosystem, the species involved, and the real impacts of its destruction, and then create a play that highlights these points.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 participants.

• Each group chooses an ecosystem and a species that directly depend on it for survival.

• Groups quickly research their ecosystem and species, focusing on the negative impacts of human activities.

• Each group creates a small theater piece that illustrates the problems and possible solutions for the protection of the ecosystem and the species.

• Groups present their pieces to the class, followed by a discussion on what can be done to protect these ecosystems.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate practical and theoretical learning about the discussed environmental issues, allowing students to verbalize and reflect on what they have learned. The group discussion helps reinforce the importance of individual and collective actions in protecting the environment, in addition to promoting communication and collaboration skills. This stage also serves to evaluate students' understanding of the topic and identify any concepts that may need review or reinforcement.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, gather all students for a group discussion. Start the discussion with a brief introduction, reminding them of the importance of reflecting on what they have learned and the connection to the real world. Ask each group to share their findings and results from their activities, emphasizing the most critical points and proposed solutions. Encourage students to discuss how individual and collective actions can make a difference in protecting the environment.

Key Questions

1. What were the most surprising discoveries during today's activities?

2. How can your daily actions contribute to the protection of the ecosystems we studied?

3. What practical measures would you suggest to improve the environmental situation in the area you investigated?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion is to solidify learning, ensuring that students have understood and retained the key concepts of the lesson. Additionally, it serves to reinforce the practical and everyday relevance of the content, encouraging students to apply what they have learned in their lives and reflect on their impact on the environment. This stage also provides a moment for self-evaluation for the teacher, allowing the identification of areas that may need review or reinforcement in future lessons.

Summary

In this final stage, the teacher should summarize and recapitulate the main points discussed during the class, emphasizing the characteristics of ecosystems and the importance of protecting biological elements. This summary helps consolidate the knowledge acquired by students and revisit the discoveries from the practical activities.

Theory Connection

The connection between theory and practice was evidenced by the activities 'Eco-Detectives: The Mission of the Recyclers', 'Creating a Sustainable Garden', and 'Environmental Theater: The Ecosystem in Danger'. These activities allowed students to apply the theoretical concepts studied in a practical and interactive way, reinforcing learning and showing how theory is essential for understanding and solving real problems related to the environment.

Closing

Finally, the teacher should emphasize the relevance of studying the environment for students' daily lives, highlighting how small individual actions can positively impact the global environment. This awareness is crucial for students to become responsible and engaged citizens in the preservation of the planet.