Respect for the Environment

Why Roosevelt protected nature, and how we can too.

Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.

What children learn in Level 29

Around 1900, people were cutting down forests very fast, and hunting some animals until they were almost gone.
Millions of bison once lived on the plains. By 1900, almost all of them were gone.
Hunters also killed many birds for their pretty feathers, to decorate fancy hats.
Roosevelt saw the problem and found a solution. In 1903, he made Pelican Island, in Florida, the first national refuge for birds: a safe place where no one could hunt them.
He also protected huge forests and many other wild places, so trees and animals would still be there for kids like you.
That is respect for the environment: taking care of land, water, plants, and animals.
You can respect the environment too! Pick up litter, turn off the water, recycle, and stay on the trail in a park.
Your turn! Sort them. Does each one help nature, or hurt nature?
Try it with a grown-up! Wear gloves and take a litter walk around your street or a park. How much trash can you clean up?

Georgia Standards of Excellence in Social Studies:

SS1CG1 — Describe how the historical figures in SS1H1a display positive character traits such as: fairness, respect for others, respect for the environment, courage, equality, tolerance, perseverance, and commitment.
IPS.3 — Information Processing Skill 3: identify issues and/or problems and alternative solutions