Register with GEF for FREE to enjoy these great benefits! 

    • member only contests and raffles

    • sustainability program news and updates

    • significant discounts at GEF Institute

Note: If you have problems registering, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

JOIN GEF NOW!

Taking a GEF Institute Course? Login by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

 

Join Us

Sign Up for National Green Week!
Please note: Your privacy is very important to GEF. We do not share or sell any of your data.  It is with the sole purpose of providing you with relevant information that GEF will contact you.
Login/SignUp

Welcome to the Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

Here, you can find free sustainability lessons to use in your class and upload your own lessons to share. Be sure to rate the lessons you use and leave comments for your colleagues!

All of GEF's lessons and programs are offered at no cost.  Become a member to support GEF and enjoy member only benefits! 
Join button_03

Professional Development

GEFinstitute LOGO_WEB GEF Institute offers affordable, online sustainability courses eligible for professional development or academic credit.
Give your resume a boost!

Sponsor a Teacher

Support educators in your community by helping them earn a Certificate in Sustainability or take an online course. Find out more about sponsorship!
Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

Johnny Appleseed, a Tree Steward

Lesson Description:
• Listen to gain knowledge, share information, and perform a task (relating to planting and caring for trees).
• Make inferences and draw conclusions using picture clues, story text and prior knowledge.
• Explain the interdependence relationships between humans and trees.
• Identify states mentioned in story.
Lesson Type:
  • Discussion
  • Project

Sustainability Topic:
  • Ecosystems

GEF Program Category:
  • Waste Reduction Challenge

Time Needed:
60 Minutes plus tree planting and planning time
Standards Addressed:
Language Arts Standard 6: Use reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of
literary texts.

• Benchmark # 1: Use reading skills and strategies to understand a variety of familiar literary
passages and texts (e.g., picture books, predictable books).

Benchmark # 5: Relate stories to personal experiences.

Science Standard 14: Understands how human actions modify the physical environment.

• Benchmark #1: Knows how people affect the environment in negative (e.g., cutting trees, burning forests) and positive (e.g., becoming stewards of environment, planting trees) ways.

Language Arts Standard 8: Use listening and speaking strategies for different purposes.

• Benchmark # 1: Make contributions in class and group discussions.

• Benchmark # 2: Ask and respond to questions.

• Benchmark # 5: Use grade level appropriate vocabulary in speech (e.g., terms related to parts of tress).

Geography Standard 17: Understands how geography is used to interpret the past.
• Benchmark #1: Knows how areas of a community have changed over time (in terms of, e.g., size and style of homes; how people earn their living; changes in the plant and animal population).
Materials Needed:
• Apple
• Knife to cut apple
• A copy of “The Story of Johnny Appleseed” by Aliki
• United States map
• Tree to plant (Note:If planting a tree is not an option, students can “adopt” a nearby tree and observe changes in the tree during different seasons. Students can keep a journal to monitor the changes.)
• Tools to plant tree
School or Group:
GEF
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
Notes:
This lesson is best suited for Grade 1.
Lesson Documents:
application/pdf Johnny Appleseed.pdf
Lesson Documents:
application/pdf Johnny Appleseed.Lesson.pdf

The Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse is brought to you in partnership with

Center for Green Schools