This document outlines a unit plan for a 5th grade classroom focusing on environmental problems and sustainability. Over the course of a week, students will discuss energy consumption, learn about the history of conservation efforts in the US, complete a carbon footprint calculator, work in groups on "mission impossible" environmental issues, create and perform a skit about being green, and research current conservation news to present to the class. Technology like blogs, videos, and online research will be incorporated. The goal is for students to understand environmental challenges and ways they can help the Earth.

1. Mission Save Mother
Earth
(The Not- So Impossible Mission)

2. Analyze the Learner
 5th grade classroom
 Generalizations
 Usually not very educated on climate issues, not motivated (required to be there),
ages between 9-11, from WV
 Would need to find out…
 How much experience the students have with technology, if the students have a
computer at home with internet usage, gender/ race, prior knowledge to
environmental issues

3. Main Objective
The fifth grade students will be actively participating in a Unit Plan focusing
around the environmental problems the world is facing through in- class
discussions, a carbon footprint calculator, listening to the teacher lecture,
uploading a blog, participating in group activities and a skit, and researching for
an article. After instruction, the students will be able to give a brief history on
energy conservation over the years, be familiar with environmental issues today,
and know ways they can help the Earth themselves. Students will be assessed by
the amount of participation they contribute to the lesson. The student must
participate in all activities and equally contribute to his or her group. The
student must successfully upload one blog post and comment on two other blogs
in the class. The article found through research must pertain to the environment,
and the student has to present it to the class.

4. Day by Day Breakdown
 Monday: Introduce the topic, have students discuss their general energy
consumption at home, assess how much information the students know about
energy conservation during discussion, use the carbon footprint calculator
 Tuesday: History of energy conservation in the US over the years, what has
changed in the US over the years, create a blog for the students to use at
home or during class free time
 Wednesday: Divide the students in groups, give each student a “mission
impossible” about the Earth, have each group create a solution to the mission
 Thursday: Have students create a skit about being green to be recorded on
video to show their peers and family
 Friday: The lasting impact day. Show students ways they can get involved on
their own, have students find one article in the news about energy
conservation efforts and present it to the class

5. Use of Technology
 Zero Footprint Kids Calculator
 Video camera for skit
 Blog
 Research for energy conservation efforts (use of school computer lab)

6. Works Cited
 http://www.zerofootprintkids.com/kids_home.aspx%20target=
 http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/its-easy-being-green/?_r=0
 A NYTimes lesson plan on being green- the plan has many interactive and creative
websites that I would use in my own lesson plan