At  Foreign Language House we’ve  prepared FREE word searches in French and Spanish for Earth Day, as well as a multilingual “Save the Earth” alphabet code worksheet.

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Click here to browse our Earth Day units, lessons, and activities.

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Sorting recycling in a foreign language is an excellent lesson for Earth Day on April 22.  You can count, sort, identify colors, and talk about materials (plastic, paper, etc.)  Try using the natural approach of a Gouin Series to present language in context.  A simple, novice-level ESL gouin might go something like this:

It’s recycling day!

I separate the paper, plastic, glass, and metal.

I put the newspaper in this bin.

I put the plastic bottes in this bin.

I put the aluminum cans in this bin.

I put the glass bottles in this bin.

I take the bins to the recyling center.

Each line of the Recycling Gouin Series, of course, is to be acted out with gestures and props.  Once learners can say and perform the whole series in the target language, they can see the written word and do a number of follow-up activities such as charades, sequencing, fill-in the blank, cartooning, and writing in a different person.

The following Recycling Gouin Series are available just in time for Earth Day!  They include directions, visuals, and printables.

Spanish Recycling GS

French Recycling GS

Happy Earth Day!

Image credit: clipart.com

R. It’s got to be the trickiest sound to pronounce in both French and Spanish.  In fact, my twee year old is finding it to be pwetty challenging in English, too.  Earth Day is the perfect time to inspire your language learners to practice, practice, practice.  Master these Three R’s and help save our planet Earth:

English: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

French: Réduire, Réutiliser, Recycler  

Spanish: Reducir, Reutilizar, Reciclar

Visit Foreign Language House for a selection of French and Spanish Earth Day downloads.

Have a rrrrrrrrrrrreally great Earth Day

Image source: pdclipart.org (public domain clip art)

Teach about the planet Earth on April 22, Earth Day.  Foreign Language House is happy to offer free coloring sheets for young learners.

Free French Earth Day Coloring Sheet

Free Spanish Earth Day Coloring Sheet

Here are some useful vocabulary words for teaching about the Earth in English-French-Spanish:

Earth – la Terre – la Tierra

globe – le globe – el globo

planet – la planète – el planeta

land – la terre – la tierra

water – l’eau – el agua

sky – le ciel – el cielo

blue – bleu – azul

green – vert – verde

brown – brun/marron - café

Earth Day – le Jour de la Terre - el Día de la Tierra

I cannot imagine teaching without my inflatable globe ball.  It’s perfect for rolling, tossing, identifying land, water, continents, countries, cities, and more.  If you know of some great globe games, I’d love to hear from you!

Catherine at Speakspanisheveryday.com has some great Spanish Earth Day posts here and here.  And for more Earth Day materials, check out these downloads:

FRENCH:

French Songs and Chants for Earth Day

French Earth Day Vocabulary Matching Worksheet (secondary level)

French Earth Day/Environment Signs

SPANISH:

Spanish Songs and Chants for Earth Day

Spanish Earth Day Vocabulary Matching (secondary level)

Spanish Environmental Earth Day Signs

Happy Earth Day!

Click here to take the Foreign Language Fun language choice survey

Image Credit: by Jan Kratena at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1155572

1. Regular warm-up. I’ll be sure to bring my calendar so that I can show my students the date of Earth Day.

2. Introduce the globe. I have a nice inflatable one that’s great for tossing around the room. I’ll teach the word for Earth, land, and water. We can toss around the globe and say things like, “I love the Earth” or “Happy Earth Day.”  Maybe I’ll have the kids catch the ball and say if their thumb lands on land or water.

3. After a good scrubbing, I’m going to bring in my recycling bin and various items that can be recycled. My main 4 vocab words will be: metal, paper, plastic, glass. We’ll do some developmentally appropriate sorting, and then toss everything into the recycling bin.

4. Ever play the game of Four Corners? Kids love it! I’m planning a recycling version that will go like this: I’ll post four signs around the room, one for each type of recyclable. One kid will be IT. IT closes his eyes and counts to ten as the other children go stand by one of the signs. Then I’ll ask, “What will you recycle? Metal, paper, plastic, or glass?” IT chooses an item, and all of the children by that sign go sit down. Now, all of the children who are out also count for the next round, and chant the question with me. We’ll play until there’s only one child left.  Maybe another round if there’s time.

5. As a closure, I’m teaching a Recycling Chant. Here’s how it goes:

Recyclez, recyclez (turn hands)

Métal, papier, plastique, verre (clap each syllable)

Sauvez, sauvez, sauvez la Terre (put fists up in the air 4 times as we Save, save, save the Earth)

I look forward to blending content and language in this recycling lesson. Here are some downloads that you might find useful as you, too, teach about Earth Day in French and Spanish:

FRENCH:

FREE French Earth Day Coloring Page (globe)

French Songs and Chants for Earth Day

French Earth Day Vocabulary Matching Worksheet (secondary level)

French Earth Day/Environment Signs

SPANISH:

FREE Spanish Earth Day Coloring (Globe)

Spanish Songs and Chants for Earth Day

Spanish Earth Day Vocabulary Matching (secondary level)

Spanish Environmental Earth Day Signs

Happy Earth Day!

Click here to take the Foreign Language Fun language choice survey

Image Credit:  by Sachin Ghodke at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1042526