Before we can get students interested in solving environmental problems, they need to understand how everything on Earth is "interconnected". In fact, the Earth functions as one large system, and if one part or element breaks down, the whole system will eventually fail. "The Circle of Life" activity demonstrates the idea that the earth is an interconnected system. After forming a circle, students will attempt to sit on each others' laps without falling down. The task is easy enough at first, but as the teacher calls away different groups from the circle it becomes harder to sit down. In other words, the "system collapses".
Use an open classroom, gym or playground to perform this activity. Tell students to stand together in a circle (I had to use two cirlces because the boys and girls wouldn't stand close enough to each other). Go around the circle and give each student one of the following six terms: sun, water, land, air, plants & animals, and humans.
Explain the meaning of each term or bring in pictures. Tell students to turn to the RIGHT and take one step into the middle of the circle. Students should be standing behind each other, looking at the back of the student in front of them.
Ask students to listen carefully. Everyone should place his/her hands on the shoulders of the student in front. Make sure that the students toes are touching the heels of the students' in front of them. Count to three and tell students to slowly sit down on the knees of the student standing behind them (you may want to demonstrate first). Say to students that "the sun, water, land, gases, plants and animals all need to work together to have a healthy Earth. If the Earth is healthy, it will last for a very, very long time." Students stand up again. Ask the water group to walk away. Keeping the circle the same size, ask students to sit down again. If the "sit" is successful, tell another group to walk away. After the circle collapses and the students are finished laughing, ask the students to sit down at their desks or on the gym floor.
Go over the concept of a system with students again and define it in Japanese. If there is time, ask students to brainstorm a list of other systems (e.g. human body, government, transportation). Tell them that humans are the ones who are breaking down the Earth's system. However, there are many things we can do as individuals to help the system recover.
Combine this activity with one of the many environmental quizzes under the Earth Day Activities lesson.
Adapted from the "Life Support System" lesson in Our Changing Climate by the Toronto Environmental Alliance.