"Green" Lessons

In reading the suggestion about printing articles off the internet for every student in class due to the lack of computers I then decided to explore "Green" Activities http://www.teachervision.fen.com/environmental-education/teaching-methods/63270.html?imode=1:1623...

The activity that I found to be the most applicable to my reading classroom and fun at the same time was titled "The Case of the Broken Loop" http://www.teachervision.fen.com/environmental-education/printable/63722.html?detoured=1. It used various word games (word search, word scramble, crossword puzzle, etc.) to have students solve clues to ultimately solve the mystery. It seem appealing to students due to the fact that it made them really play the part of the detective. The lesson began by explaining how the Garbage Gremlin threw valuable resources in the trash instead of reducing, reusing, and recycling. The students must complete the puzzles in order to decode the files that Garbage Gremlin left behind and report their findings to the Cheif of R.C. (Resource Control) Headquarters. Students would be engaged in the reading aspects of the activity as well as learning the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling. I could see using this in small groups and having students report their findings one clue or file at a time. It could be used over a series of days, which would cause students to look forward to coming to class to work on the next piece of the puzzle to solve the mystery. I might pair this with reading a nonfiction article activity about the environment and ways to be "green". I always like to have students reading things that are applicable to their lives and fun.