Grade Level: 3-6
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Subjects: Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Visual Arts
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Understand what stewardship means and why it matters.
- Identify examples of how people can care for nature in their community.
- Reflect on their personal connection to the environment.
- Create an action plan or artwork showing one way they can be a good steward.
Materials
- Chart paper or whiteboard
- Stewardship definition poster or slide
- Markers, crayons, and large paper for group work
- Nature walk supplies (clipboards, pencils)
- Optional: garbage bags and gloves for cleanup, or planting materials
Curriculum Connections
- Science: Interactions within ecosystems, human impact, sustainability.
- Social Studies: Citizenship, responsibility, community involvement.
- Language Arts: Vocabulary development, reflection writing.
- Visual Arts: Visual communication of ideas.
Terms
- Stewardship: Taking care of the earth and all living things.
- Sustainability: Using resources wisely so future generations can enjoy them too.
Instructions
Introduction – What Does Stewardship Mean?
Write the word Stewardship on the board. Ask students what it reminds them of.
Share a definition: Stewardship means caring for nature by helping the land, water, and living things stay healthy.
Discuss why it’s important:
- Why are people part of nature?
- How do people depend on nature?
- What happens when we don’t take care of our environment?
Show photos of local examples: a park cleanup, tree planting, recycling, or a pollinator garden. Have students brainstorm other ideas – encourage them to think outside of the box.
Discovering Our Role
Option 1: Outdoor Version
Take students outside to a nearby green space or schoolyard.
Ask them to look for examples of healthy nature (flowers, insects, clean spaces) and areas that need help (litter, damaged plants).
Have students record or draw what they notice.
Encourage quiet observation, listening, and respect for living things.
Encourage them to notice patterns – Does it fly?, Does it grow in the shade?, etc.
Option 2: Indoor Version
Show photos of local natural spaces, such as forests, rivers, or parks. As a class, observe what makes these areas healthy and vibrant, then brainstorm ways people can protect and care for them, from simple everyday actions to larger community projects.
Group Brainstorm – How Can We Help?
In the classroom, brainstorm ways to be good stewards:
- Reducing waste
- Planting native species
- Saving water
- Respecting wildlife
- Learning from Indigenous teachings about respect for the land
Write ideas on a chart as a class stewardship pledge.
Activity
Students choose one creative activity to show what stewardshipmeans to them:
Art: Create a poster showing one way to care for nature.
Language Arts: Write a short story, poem, or journal entry about how they can help the environment and why they think it’s important.
Action Option: Plan a simple stewardship project such as a litter cleanup, pollinator garden, or classroom recycling system.
5. Reflection
Have students share their posters or writings with the class.
Discuss:
- What is one thing you can do this week to be a good steward?
- How do small actions make a big difference?
Extensions
- Connect with a local Indigenous perspective: Discuss how many Indigenous cultures see people as part of nature, not separate from it.
- Start a class stewardship challenge to track nature positive actions (turning off lights, reusing paper, composting).
- Have students write letters to community leaders suggesting local stewardship ideas.
- Explore a few of these resources!
