Plant a Seed

"SO...Catch!" calls the Once-ler.

He lets something fall.

"It's a Truffala Seed.

It's the last one of all!

You're in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.

And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.

Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.

Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.

Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.

Then the Lorax

and all of his friends

may come back."

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, this week's literacy activity is intended to increase awareness of our planet's environment and its natural resources. The inspiration for this activity is Dr. Suess' children's book The Lorax.

Materials:

• The Lorax
• plant seeds
• potting soil
• empty coffee can (3 small holes punched in the bottom)
• (circle-shaped) garage sale stickers

Directions:

1. Read The Lorax by Dr. Suess with your child. The story depicts a polluted environment which becomes inhabitable for the Lorax and ends with a challenge to readers to plant a (Truffula) seed.
2. Discuss pollution with your child. What is it? What does it do to our environment? How does planting a seed help our environment?
3. Decorate the can with the stickers.
4. Add potting soil to the can.
5. Plant the seed.
6. Water the seed and place it on a sunny window sill.
7. Continue to water your seed everyday and watch it grow.
8. Remember: 

"UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."Dr. Suess

 Helpful websites:

http://www.arborday.org/

http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science/HowPlantsGrow/HowPlantsGrow.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/3715/Environ.html

http://www.historictrees.org/ht_m/treenv_co.htm

http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/pollution-effects.html

http://tiki.oneworld.net/pollution/pollution_home.html