• Home
  • About
  • Meet the Authors
  • Featured Reviews
  • Request a Review
  • Advertising
  • Subscribe

The Curriculum Choice

Making homeschool decisions easy

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Meet the Authors
  • Blog
  • How To Homeschool
    • By Review Team
    • Encouragement
    • New to Homeschooling
    • Organization
  • Reviews by Grade
    • Elementary
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Preschool
  • Reviews by Subject
    • Bible
    • Economics
    • Fine Arts
      • Art
      • Music
    • Foreign Language
    • Highschool
    • History & Geography
      • Geography
      • History
    • Home Economics
    • Language Arts
      • Grammar
      • Handwriting
      • Literature
      • Phonics
      • Reading
      • Spelling
      • Vocabulary
      • Writing
    • Logic
    • Math
    • Science & Technology
      • Science
      • Technology
        • Apps

in Age· Elementary· Hands On· High School· Middle School· Nature Study· Preschool· Science & Technology· Unit study resources

Celebrate Earth Day with Dover Publications

Marking the 45th anniversary, Earth Day 2015 comes during a pivotal time to protect the planet and ensure that world leaders address key issues facing the next generation.  The theme this year is It’s Our Turn to Lead and there the time to begin educating our youth about global environmental issues is today.

Knowing that 2015 had also been declared the International Year of Soils, I began to research soil science and ecological sustainability activities to engage my kids in learning about healthy soils.

Utilizing a number of Dover Publications resources, my unit study has come together and I am delighted to share with you lesson plans and resources to celebrate Earth Day as well as incorporate soil science into your curriculum.

~ Don’t miss the giveaway at the end! ~

Celebrate Earth Day with Dover Publications Review by Eva@TheCurriculumChoiceEarth Science Lessons

As my kids have gotten older and more independent, I am careful to select books that communicate in-depth science concepts in a way that keeps them engaged but are not overwhelming. As our spines for this unit study, I selected Life in a Bucket of Soil and Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth.

The illustrations in both of these texts are simple and clear. I can foresee that we will also be using these as a guide in our own nature journaling assignments.

Life in a Bucket of Soil by Alvin and Virginia Silverstein is a delightful book introducing middle school kids to the many invertebrate critters that inhabit the world beneath our feet. Vivid descriptions of how ants, earthworms, and snails live, breed, and interact will capture their attention.

Detailed instructions on how to build a pitfall trap or the types of webs different spiders spin to capture their prey will inspire students to dig deeper. As they learn about their methods of locomotion, feeding, and defense, students will discover the effect these small critters have on the soil in which they live.

Rocks, Rivers, and the Changing Earth: A First Book About Geology by Herman and Nina Schneider is a wonderful geology text for middle level students. With this well-illustrated book, students will discover fascinating facts about geology. The water you drink, the clothes you wear, and the house you live in are all part of the Earth’s history.

Incorporated throughout the book are numerous hands-on activities. For example, using a small glass bottle with a screw-top lid and a package of dried beans, students are lead to discover the power plants have in breaking rock.

For additional soil science resources and lesson plans, visit my series Year of Soils: Soil Ecology Activities for Middle School.

Celebrate Earth Day with Dover Publications Review by Eva@TheCurriculumChoiceRecycling Crafts & Hands-on Projects

Families with younger students will love the Dover Publications activity books that provide detailed instructions for crafts that utilize stuff found around the house.

Planet Earth Projects by Okasan Kemarskaya provides a wealth of activity ideas encouraging kids to transform ordinary household items into fun-filled science projects . Some of our favorites are bark rubbings, recycled crayons, starting an herb garden, popcorn decorations, and pine cone bird feeders.

Looking for ways to recycle egg cartons, empty bottles, and other discarded items into glove puppets, model airplanes, a toy robot, and other imaginative projects?  Funky Junk: Recycle Rubbish into Art by Gary Kings and Richard Ginger is the perfect resource! It is jam-packed with ideas and includes detailed instructions and pattern templates geared for ages 8 – 11.

Another wonderful activity book is Crafts Around the House by Janet Skiles. It is geared toward children ages 3 to 8 and features easy-to-reproduce patterns and well-illustrated instructions.

Where can you find Dover Publications? Special Discount!

CurriculumChoice April web ad

Find each of the titles at the Dover Publications website. Plus for a limited time, you can get 25% off your order. Just use code WHAT through 4/30/15. There are just SO many resources for your homeschool. Be sure to visit Dover Publications and browse their teacher resources section.

Now for the giveaway!

Dover Publications is offering a set of science and Earth Day resources to one Curriculum Choice reader. The set includes:

  • Funky Junk
  • Rocks, Rivers and the Changing Earth: A First Book About Geology
  • Life in a Bucket of Soil
  • Planet Earth Projects
  • Crafts Around the House

Simply follow the instructions in the rafflecopter below…
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eva Varga (37 Posts)

Eva is passionate about education. She has extensive experience in both formal and informal settings. She presently homeschools her two young children (Academia Celestia), teaches professional development courses through the Heritage Institute, and writes a middle level science curriculum called Science Logic. In her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling, learning new languages, and above all spending time with her family. ♥

Author Info

Filed Under: Age, Elementary, Hands On, High School, Middle School, Nature Study, Preschool, Science & Technology, Unit study resources Tagged With: Earth Day, Earth Day 2015, Ecology, Handcrafts, Life Sciences, Recycling, Soil, soil ecology, written by Eva

Previous Post: « Simplified Dinners for New Cooks
Next Post: Spectrum Reading – Grade 3 – My Review »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Melissa says

    April 6, 2015 at 10:45 pm

    The We Were There books intrigue me for history.

    Reply
  2. Eva Varga says

    April 7, 2015 at 10:27 am

    I haven’t seen the “We Were There” books myself – thank you for bringing them to my attention, Melissa. They look great! 🙂

    Reply
  3. Deborah B says

    April 7, 2015 at 3:24 pm

    My 5 year old told me just yesterday that when she gets big she wants to be a scientist who mixes things. She also has a rock collection. She would love this set.

    Reply
  4. Julie Quinn says

    April 7, 2015 at 10:37 pm

    We love recycling projects. These books would be a great addition to our resources.

    Reply
  5. Shanon P says

    April 9, 2015 at 4:04 pm

    The history books look nice!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

We are a veteran group of home educators with a mission – to spread the word about our favorite curricula and help YOU make informed decisions for your homeschool. Meet the review authors and browse the homeschooling tips they share!

Subscribe For Free Choosing Homeschool Curriculum Guide

Success! Please check your email and confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Sponsors and Affiliates

Homeschoolinghomeschool

Our Sister Websites

 


Follow Curriculum Choice's board Homeschool Reviews by The Curriculum Choice on Pinterest.

Recent Comments

  • Duncan on How to Start Homeschooling
  • Shirley Ann on A.C.E Curriculum Review Revisited
  • Steve Hakes on A.C.E Curriculum Review Revisited
  • 10 March Nature Activities Perfect for Spring Celebrations - Homeschool Nature Study on Christian Liberty Nature Readers
  • Heidi Ciravola on Farm Food and Nature Anatomy: Books for Exploring our Natural World
  • Advertising
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Philosophies
  • Request a Review

Copyright © 2023 · The Curriculum Choice, a Southern Hodgepodge, L.L.C. site.