Lesson Series Summary
Unit Overview
Through readings, activities and discussions, students trace the journey of bananas from farm to home and beyond, consider its environmental impact, and envision a greener journey.
Grades
- Kindergarten
- Grade 1
- Grade 2
Lesson Type
In-class or online lesson
Environmental Topics
Pollution, Resource Conservation, Sustainable Human Development, Waste Management
Environmental Literacy Core Principles
For a summary of the environmental literacy principles and concepts embedded in this lesson series, please visit Green Guardians Environmental Literacy Core Principles.
Standards
ELA: RI.K.1, RI.K.2, RI.K.3, RI.K.4, RI.K.6, RI.K.10, RI.1.1, RI.1.2, RI.1.3, RI.1.4, RI.1.6, RI.1.10, RI.2.1, RI.2.2, RI.2.3, RI.2.4, RI.2.7, SL.K.1, SL.K.2, SL.K.3, SL.K.5, SL.K.6, SL.1.1, SL.1.2, SL.1.3, SL.2.1, SL.2.2, SL.2.3
Science: K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, K-2-ETS1-1
Guides
This project may easily be extended into optional family discussions and activities around environmental literacy. To facilitate this engagement, a family guide (in English and Spanish) has been created. We encourage teachers to send the family guide to parents and guardians together with the storybooks and activities.
Lessons
Three lessons of 30-40 minutes each.
Lesson 1: The Banana’s Journey
Through a story and related activities, students explore the journey of bananas from farm to home and to the garbage dump and discuss how they get from point to point.
Lesson 2: The Pollution Problem
Through a story and related activities, students learn about the environmental impacts of the journey of bananas. These include the vehicles that transport them, the places they visit, the packages in which they are contained, and how the resulting waste is disposed of.
Lesson Materials
Lesson 3: Bananas and My Blue and Green Earth
Through a story and related activities, students discuss ways to make the bananas’ journey cleaner and greener. Concepts like clean energy, composting, and âshop localâ are introduced.
Lesson Materials