School and Group Programs

Critial Thinking and Problem Solving, Earth Science, History, and Mathematics

        Students will understand the value of land and the importance of conserving it as a limited resource

1.    A globe

2.    One apple for each pair of students and one for the teacher, or just one apple for you to demonstrate for your students

3.    Plastic knives, or one knife if you are demonstrating for younger children

4.    Paper plates or recycled cardboard, one per pair of students, to catch apple juice

1.    Explain that the apple represents the earth.

2.    Cut the apple in half, then in half again to form quarters.

3.    Set three quarters aside. The last quarter represents the part of the earth that is not under water.

4.    Cut that quarter-apple in half.

5.    Set one piece aside, as it represents the 1/8 of the earth that is too mountainous, too dry, too wet, or too cold for people to live there.

6.    Cut the last 1/8 into four equal parts.

7.    Set aside three parts, so only 1/32 of the apple remains. This is what provides us with food and clothing.

1.    What resources do you use in a day, week, or year?

2.    How do they compare with what you need vs. what you want?

3.    Where do your resources come from?

4.    Which resources are renewable and which are non-renewable?

5.    How does human population size affect resource use?

6.    Are resources used equally by everyone in the world? Is that fair?

7.    What issues exist regarding land use globally and in your community?

8.    What are possible solutions to these problems?

1.    Investigate the geology, weather and history of your community. Was it once agricultural? What percent of the land was used in the past compared to today?

2.    Have your students plan an ideal community. Let them set the criteria for land use.

3.    Do you have space for a garden at your school? If you do, how would you distribute the harvest? Some public school cafeterias use produce from their school gardens for lunches. Is there a local food bank or organization that distributes food to people who need it in your community?

2nd grade
Language arts: Listening and speaking 1.4 
Math: Number sense 4.1, 4.2, 4.3

3rd grade
Language arts: Listening and speaking 1.1 
Math: Number sense 3.1, 3.2

4th grade
Language arts: Listening and speaking 1.1, 1.2

5th grade
Language arts: Listening and speaking 1.3

6th grade
Language arts: Listening and speaking 1.3 
Science: Resources 6b

7th grade
Language arts: Listening and speaking 1.1

This lesson is adapted from Rita Cantu, Discovery on the Continent's Edge: A Resource and Curriculum Guide to the Marin Headlands. YMCA Point Bonita Outdoor Center, California. 1981



become INVOLVED

OPI news