🔬 ScienceLevel 1Lesson 15
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Caring for Our Planet

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Identify actions that are good for the Earth and actions that harm it
  • 2Explain the meaning of reduce and reuse, and recycle
  • 3Describe one thing I will do to help the planet
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Mini Lesson

Earth is the only home we have. Everything we need — clean air, clean water, food, and shelter — comes from our planet. When we damage the Earth, we damage the very things that keep us alive.

What harms our planet

  • Littering — trash pollutes land, waterways, and harms animals that eat it.
  • Wasting water — leaving taps running uses up the fresh water supply.
  • Cutting down too many trees — forests are habitats for animals and help clean the air.
  • Example: A plastic bag thrown on the ground can end up in the ocean and harm sea turtles.

What helps our planet

  • Recycling — turning used materials (paper, glass, plastic) into new things instead of sending them to landfill.
  • Planting trees — trees absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and create habitats.
  • Saving water — turning off the tap while brushing teeth, taking shorter showers.
  • Picking up litter — cleaning up trash protects animals and keeps habitats healthy.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

  • Reduce — use less. Buy only what you need. Use less plastic.
  • Reuse — use things again. Bring a reusable bag. Refill a water bottle.
  • Recycle — put the right things in the recycling bin so they can become new products.
Actions that help versus harm the EarthLeft panel shows good actions: recycling, planting trees, saving water. Right panel shows harmful actions: littering, wasting water, cutting trees.Good for Earth♻️Recycling🌳Planting trees🚿Saving water+ picking up litterBad for Earth🗑️Littering💧Wasting water🪓Cutting toomany trees
Actions that help and harm the Earth.
The three Rs — Reduce, Reuse, RecycleThree colored cards arranged in a triangle showing Reduce — use less, Reuse — use again, and Recycle — make new from old. A recycling symbol sits in the center.Reduce · Reuse · Recycle ♻️♻️REDUCEUse less — buy only what you needREUSEUse again — refill, repackRECYCLEMake new from old materials
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — three ways to protect the Earth every day.
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Ask yourself: "Is this action good for the Earth or bad for it? What is one thing I can change today?"

Vocabulary
Recycle
To turn used things like paper or plastic into new thingse.g. I recycle bottles instead of throwing them away.
Reduce
To use less of somethinge.g. I reduce waste by using less plastic.
Reuse
To use something again instead of throwing it awaye.g. I reuse my water bottle every day.
Litter
Trash thrown on the grounde.g. Litter can hurt animals.
Pollution
Dirty waste that harms air, water, or lande.g. Pollution makes the ocean unsafe.
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