Let's create continuous conversations about climate change education: Spreading the Sediment of Science!

Environmental Education Group Games & Activities

Provided by: The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) |Published on: May 20, 2021

Activity - Classroom Grades k-2, 3-5

Synopsis

This wonderful resource contains instructions for seven games that teach students about the environment, ecosystems, and sustainability through play.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Science, Social Studies

Authors: The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

Many of the games are suitable for students in any grade level.
Many of the games can be played with very large groups.

Prerequisites

Teachers may want to establish norms for discourse and play before beginning the games.
Teachers should check the materials needed beforehand.
Teachers should play one round while explaining the directions and then another round once everyone knows the game's rules. Repeated rounds of the game will help English language learners and students who benefit from repeated directions.

Differentiation & Implementation

Bat and Moth, Migration Hopscotch, and Owls, Mice, Shrubs would be great games to use for review after an elementary science lesson on biology topics. Teachers could deliver the lesson, have the students play the game, and then ask the students to discuss how the game relates to the lesson.
Social studies classes or advisory groups could use the games Common Good, Social Hierarchy, and Generations to start conversations about climate justice, the environment, or structural inequalities.
Other resources on this topic include this video on energy transfer in ecosystems, this video on interdependent relationships in ecosystems, and this video on biodiversity and humans.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

National Environmental Education Foundation

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is the nation's leading organization in lifelong environmental learning, creating opportunities for people to experience and learn about the environment in ways that improve their lives and the health of the planet. NEEF is a non-partisan, non-advocacy organization working to make the environment more accessible, relatable, relevant, and connected to people's daily lives.