Our Earth: Making Less Trash (Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers: Conservation)
Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers Series
on Goodreads (8)
What’s inside...
Learn how current methods of trash disposal lead to pollution, and suggests how reducing, reusing, and recycling materials can lead to less waste becoming trash. Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers: Conservation series gives the youngest reader (Ages 6-7) an introduction to topics like saving water and clean energy. Each book includes chapters that help readers identify key details while the photographs, and other text features encourage students to make connections on their own.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-7
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What are some ways we can reduce trash in our daily lives?
Can you think of items that we could reuse instead of throwing away?
Why is it important to make less trash for our planet?
How do you feel when you see litter in natural places like parks or beaches?
What are some things you could teach others about conservation?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their ideas and feelings about conservation without judgment. Validate their concerns and praise their suggestions. Connect the discussion to personal experiences, like a family trip to a park or their routine at home, to make the concepts more relatable. Lastly, inspire action by planning a family project that aligns with the themes of the book, such as starting a recycling program at home or a cleanup day in your community.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of Recycling
Explanation: The book educates children on the process of recycling and its impact on reducing trash.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by practicing recycling at home and school, separating paper, plastics, and metals into appropriate bins.
Example Lesson: Reducing Waste
Explanation: The narrative highlights simple ways kids can minimize waste, like using reusable bags and containers.
Real-World Application: Kids can bring reusable lunch containers to school and avoid single-use plastics to lessen their trash footprint.
Example Lesson: Conservation of Resources
Explanation: The book explains how conservation efforts can preserve natural resources for future generations.
Real-World Application: Children learn to turn off lights when not in use and to conserve water by turning off the tap while brushing their teeth.
Example Lesson: Responsibility Towards Environment
Explanation: It instills a sense of environmental responsibility by showing how individual actions contribute to a larger impact.
Real-World Application: Children can take initiative in local clean-up drives and be proactive in learning and spreading awareness about environmental issues.