Lesson Title: Earth Day Scavenger Hunt for Environmental Awareness
Earth Day (celebrated annually on April 22nd) is a powerful reminder of our responsibility to protect our planet. Let’s take that seriously, and let’s start them young!
This engaging, hands-on lesson will help students connect with environmental issues in a meaningful way. Through discussions, collaborative activities, and an interactive Goosechase Scavenger Hunt, students will not only learn about the importance of sustainability but also take real-world action to make a difference.
Get ready to inspire the next generation of Earth advocates!
Grade: 3 - 9
Subject: Science
Learning Objectives:
- By the end of this lesson, students will
- understand the importance of Earth Day
- learn about environmental protection
- demonstrate ways to keep the Earth clean through a Goosechase interactive experience
Materials:
- Mobile devices (tablets, phones, or laptops) with the Goosechase app installed
- Pre-designed Goosechase Missions
- Printed or digital resources on Earth Day
- Projector or whiteboard for discussion
- Recyclable materials for hands-on activities (optional)
Preparation:
- Create an Experience on the Goosechase app with a series of Missions focussed on Earth Day
- Develop Missions that require students to demonstrate their understanding of the environment. Example Missions:
- Photo Mission: Take a picture of your school’s garbage, recycling, and composing bins
- Video Mission: Record a short clip explaining one way to reduce waste at home.
- Text Mission: List three small actions you will take to help the environment.
- Creative Mission: Design a slogan for an Earth Day campaign and submit a drawing or poster.
- Text Mission: Explain one major cause of pollution and suggest a solution to help fix it.
- Find example Missions in the Goosechase Templates below.
- Adapt the difficulty of the Missions based on the proficiency levels of your students to keep the activity inclusive and engaging for everyone.
- Prepare hints or resources that might help students solve the Missions if needed.
- Divide students into teams and assign each team a mobile device with the app, or have students complete the scavenger hunt individually.
- Run your Experience during one class period or longer.
- App Set-Up
- Dedicate time to ensuring all students have the Goosechase app downloaded and joined to the Experience to avoid any tech issues.
Lesson Plan Outline:
- Introduction to Earth Day
- Begin by asking students: Why do we celebrate Earth Day?
- Discuss the history of Earth Day (April 22) and its purpose in promoting environmental awareness.
- Show images or a short video on pollution, deforestation, and climate change.
- Brainstorm ways we can protect the Earth (e.g., recycling, reducing waste, conserving energy, planting trees).
- Classroom Discussion: Protecting Our Planet
- Split students into small groups and assign each group a topic:
- Reducing plastic waste
- Recycling and composting
- Saving energy and water
- Protecting wildlife and habitats
- Reducing pollution
- Each group will discuss their topic and present three key takeaways to the class.
- Split students into small groups and assign each group a topic:
- Goosechase Scavenger Hunt
- Read through Missions with students, emphasizing the importance of evidence and analysis in their responses.
- Monitor progress and provide assistance as necessary.
- If working in teams, encourage them to strategize and collaborate to solve the Missions.
- Sit back and enjoy watching your students collaborate and demonstrate their learning.
- Debrief and Reflection
- Discuss the students’ favorite missions and what they learned.
- Encourage students to reflect on how they can care for our environment in their own lives.
- Optionally, award prizes to the team(s) with the highest score.
Optional Post-Experience Activities:
- Letter Writing
- Have students write letters to local leaders advocating for environmental policies.
- Earth Day Pledge
- Have students commit to at least one action to help the planet and write an Earth Day Pledge.
- Recycling Initiative
- Have your class start a recycling initiative in their school
- Tree Planting
- Organize a day when students plant trees or clean up the space around their school yard.
Assessment
- Observe students' participation and collaboration during the Goosechase activities and whole-class discussions.
- Reflection on key learnings and Earth Day pledge.
- Assess students’ letter writing skills
Ready Made Experience To Try
Earth Day!
Complete these missions to earn points as a team while having fun in nature!
Earth Day Scavenger Hunt!
This easy-to-play Goosechase will get kids responsibly out in nature and thinking practically about the environment and reducing, reusing, and recycling. Subject: Science
Earth Scavenger Hunt
We love our Earth! We must be kind to our Earth, so it stays healthy! Complete these Missions to show you care!
Want a copy of this lesson plan to use with your class?
What is Goosechase EDU?
Goosechase is an online platform that helps educators create and run interactive learning experiences in their classrooms and beyond. Sign up and try creating an Experience, or contact us to learn more about our school and district-wide solutions!
