Save Energy with the Lorax

Teacher: Ayanna Upshur, Tony Tobin Elementary School, Temecula Valley Unified School District

Overview

This is a lesson that will teach kids the importance of saving energy and ways that they can help our environment by saving energy at home and at school.

• Objectives:  Students will create a list of ways that they can save energy at home and at school.
• Subjects:  Language Arts and Science
• Suggested Grade Level:  3rd
• California Standards Addressed:
  • 2.0 Reading Comprehension
  • 2.6 Extract appropriate and significant information from the text, including problems and solutions.
• Time:  45 min to 1 hour

Materials

• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
• Paper
• Pencils
• Crayons
• Old magazines

Procedure

1. Read aloud The Lorax by Dr. Seuss then discuss all the bad things that happened to the truffula trees and discuss what the Onceler did to the Lorax.  Discuss what happens when people get greedy and destroy the environment with their machines.
2. Brainstorm about the machines (cars, trucks, computers, washing machines, TV’s, etc.) that can also ruin our environment by using up a LOT of energy if we use them too much.
3. Have kids cut out pictures of energy use and energy using machines and make a collage.
4. Have kids create a “Save energy” list to post with the collages and display them around the school to bring awareness of energy saving tips.

For Discussion

Discuss the importance of saving energy with our machines so that we can protect our environment.

Extensions

Invite speakers to come to the class and discuss ways to save energy and the effects of NOT saving energy on the environment to help bring an awareness of our actions.