Green Spaces Lesson: Health Benefits
Lesson Plan
45 minutesGrades3, 4, 5Geography, English Language Arts
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Written by Lindsey Pockl, Amber Medina
About this lesson
In this lesson, students learn the story of Ken Sparks, an urban farmer in LA, and the important ecosystem services his farm provides to his community. Students then conduct their own research on the benefits of green spaces for our mental and physical health, as well as the health of the planet.
Inquire: Students learn about a community activist named Ken Sparks, who turned his patio into a green space and inspired others to do the same.
Investigate: Students conduct research to further explore the relationship between green spaces and mental health, physical health, ecosystem health, and climate change.
Inspire: Students watch a video of Bee and Me to gain inspiration to add to their drawings of ideal green spaces, and consider what health benefits their green space will offer the community.
Preview the lesson plan
Better on a bigger screen? Open it in its own tab.View Lesson Plan
Everything you need to teach it
How to edit these materials (video)Teaching tips
Suggestions
- Students have agency over their learning when conducting their own research.
- This can be integrated into an ELA class, as students will read informational texts when conducting their own research.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 4 of 6 in our 3rd-5th grade Green Spaces Unit.
- Students should have some prior experience conducting research. This lesson uses Kiddle, a kid-friendly search engine.
- Students should be aware that carbon in the air causes climate change. If students need background on the causes of climate change, this resource can be used.
- Learning about climate change can bring up strong emotions for students. This resource can be used to help educators have these conversations with students.
- Students will need headphones to watch videos during independent research time.
Differentiation
- Students can send an email to Farmer Ken at [email protected].
- You may need to preselect resources for some students who need scaffolding when conducting research.
- Some students may prefer to draw, type, or use text-to-speech while taking notes.
- This unit on air quality can be used to extend this topic for students.
- For extension, students could grow a pollinator garden.
- To learn more about the importance of bees, check out these lessons for extension:
From the scientist review
The lesson accentuates the benefits of having green spaces vis-a-vis not having them in their community. We recommend this lesson for students to explore the benefits green spaces have on ecosystem health, mental health, and physical health. Students can also explore the maps to gain skills in urban planning. All the materials have been properly cited, and this lesson has passed our credibility process.
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
About the teacher writers
Lindsey Pockl
Lindsey worked with SubjectToClimate to develop accompanying materials for lesson plans for grades 3-12.
Amber Medina
Elementary School Teacher
Amber is a third grade elementary school teacher who has taught ELA, Environmental Education, and SEL. With a degree in Environmental Policy and Planning, her passion for environmental justice and action integrated curriculum led her to her commitment to climate education.
