Opinion Writing in Grades 1 3 Conservation Adapted

Opinion Writing in Grades 1 -3: Conservation Adapted by Jean Wolph from NWP i 3 College Ready Writers Program materials and a lesson sequence by Angel Peavler, KWP RSPDI Team

Starting Our Flip Book Should we conserve natural resources? Write this on the flap. i s i Th r r u o s r a ese e u q h c . n o i t s

Should we conserve natural resources? What do you think? i h T P nk r ai e r a h S

Page 1 of Our Flip Book Should we conserve natural resources? First I thought… Write this on the next flap.

Should we conserve natural resources? What did you and your partner think? • I’ve never thought about it before. • I think we should conserve our natural because ____________________. • I think we should conserve our natural resources, ____________________. • I think we should conserve our natural resources because ________________.

Should we conserve natural resources? What did you and your partner think? • I’ve never thought about it before. • I think we should conserve our natural resources because if we did not have any trees we would die. • I think we should conserve our natural resources, because it will help make the earth a better place. • I think we should conserve our natural resources because __________________.

Fill the first flap: First I thought… Use the space to explain your thinking.

Should we conserve natural resources? x e T 1 # t Now let’s start our research. We’ll look at several texts to gather information about our natural resources. Study the image. Turn and talk: What do you notice about this picture of a landfill?

Should we conserve natural resources? x e T 1 # t Let’s observe the information! What do the numbers tell you?

What Did We Say in Partner Talks? • After observing the picture of the landfill, I noticed that ____________. • I learned that ___________. This makes me think_____. • The picture says if more people would recycle we wouldn’t need so many landfills. I wonder if that is true. g n i k n i h t r u o g n i r u t p a C

What Did We Say in Partner Talks? • After observing the picture of the landfill, I noticed that lots of things we throw away could be reused. • I learned that 81% of landfill trash can be recycled. • The picture says if more people would recycle we wouldn’t need so many landfills. I wonder if that is true. g n i k n i h t r u o g n i r u t Cap

Page 2 of Our Flip Book Should we conserve natural resources? First I thought… Then I learned… Write this on the next flap.

Let’s continue writing: Then I learned… Use the space to explain facts about conserving natural resources. You may use ideas we recorded as a class or you may write your own sentences.

2 # t Tex More RESEARCH! Nature + You Now, we are going to listen to “Nature is Speaking”. People need nature to thrive. It’s true for everyone. Including you. Every meal you’ve ever eaten … every breath you’ve ever taken … every job you’ve ever had … everything you’ve ever owned … Nature made it all possible. http: //www. conservation. org/pages/nature. aspx http: //natureisspeaking. org/

2 # t Tex More RESEARCH! TURN-N-TALK: Now, we are going to listen to “Nature is Speaking”. Which of these videos helped you decide if we should conserve natural resources? What did you learn from these videos? http: //natureisspeaking. org/

What Did We Say in Partner Talks? • After watching Nature Is Speaking video, I realized ______________. • According to the video, Nature Is Speaking, I learned ______________. • The natural resource _____ said ________________ in Nature Is Speaking video. g n i k n i h t r u o g n i r u t p a C

What Did We Say in Partner Talks? • After watching Nature Is Speaking video, I realized ______________. • According to the video, Nature Is Speaking, I learned ______________. • The natural resource _____ said ________________ in Nature Is Speaking video. g n i k n i h t r u o g n i r u t p a C

Return to Our Flip Book Should we conserve natural resources? First I thought… this spot. Here you will continue recording Then I learned… Find new learning about conserving natural resources. Use the back of the sheet, if needed.

Use the back of the flap or add a new sheet, if needed: Then I Learned… Use the space to explain facts about conserving natural resources that you learned from the video.

3 # t Tex A Let’s READ and RESEARCH to find out more! Way to Help Planet Earth

3 # t Tex A Way to Help Planet Earth

Let’s capture things we learned about Conserving Natural Resources After reading “A Way to Help Planet Earth”, I learned _____________. After researching “A Way to Help Planet Earth”, I discovered ___________. Based on what I read in “A Way to Help Planet Earth”, _________________.

Let’s capture things we learned about Conserving Natural Resources After reading “A Way to Help Planet Earth”, I learned that everyone can recycle even kids. After researching “A Way to Help Planet Earth”, I discovered that a small bottle can be something bigger and better if you recycle. Based on what I read in “A Way to Help Planet Earth”, I think the we need to recycle to give the earth more space so it isn’t covered with trash.

Use the back of the flap: Then I Learned… Use the space to explain facts about conserving natural resources that we discovered after reading “A Way to Help Planet Earth”. You may use ideas we listed as a class or you may write your own sentences.

Finishing Our Flip Book Should we conserve natural resources? First I thought… Then I learned… Now I think… Write this on the last flap.

Fill the last flap: Now I think… First I thought… Use the space to explain your thinking. Now that you’ve done the research, what do you think about conserving natural resources?

Sharing • Read your flip book to your partner. • Talk about ways you plan to conserve natural resources!

Something to think about… “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed. ” ― Mahatma Gandhi

Next Steps • Students could develop other flip books on new topics, using the same process. • A revision study could be planned. Students would select ONE flip book to turn into a polished piece.