Caring for the Earth

To show the ways that children can care for the earth

The children will be able to give examples of ways to show responsibility in caring for God's creation.

One paper bag filled with the following items:

• reusable water bottle
• used school supply, such as an eraser or old notebook binder
• cloth napkin
• light bulb
• pop can
• T-shirt
• gym shoe
• toy car

• Remind the children that God created the earth, and it is our responsibility to take care of it. Tell them that they are going to do an activity in which they discuss ways to care for the earth.
• Invite the children, one at a time, to draw an item from the paper bag that you are holding.
• After each child has drawn an item from the bag, have him or her identify a way of taking care of God's creation that is suggested by that item. Then invite the group to suggest other ideas.
• Invite the children to draw out items until there are no more items in the bag.
• Remind the children that there are many ways to take care of God's creation and tell them that they have identified many of these today.

Art/Space Smart, Word Smart

• The items might suggest the following ideas to the children:

Reusable water bottle: cut down on trash by using a reusable water bottle, rather than buying a new plastic water bottle.

Used school supplies, such as erasers or old notebook binders: use products until they are finished so we don't waste them.

Cloth napkin: using cloth napkins allows us to save trees, which are cut down to make paper napkins.

Light bulb: conserve energy by turning out the lights.

Pop can: recycle.

T-shirt: wear more than once before washing to save water.

Gym shoe: walk, don't drive, which cuts down on pollution.

Toy car: carpool, which means fewer cars on the road and therefore less air pollution from cars.

Be sure that there are enough items in the bag for each child to have at least one.