Social EMotional Learning Activity

What Would It Look Like If….

 

Overview

Students will be drawing their city or town as if there were never any people living there. They will notice how many changes people make to local ecosystems and how people impact the structure and function of ecosystems every day.

Materials

  • Printable worksheet or paper

  • Crayons/ colored pencils/ markers etc.

Activity Duration:

  • 30 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Give students the worksheet (attached here)

2. Ask the students the following question:

  • What would (your town/ city) look like if there were no people living here?

3. Instruct students to draw whatever they can imagine it would look like and label the different elements as well.

  • Have students do this for about 20 minutes, and allow 10 minutes for students to present their best ideas.

4. Guiding questions for discussion/ to spark inspiration:

  • Why do you think that would be there?

  • What is the best thing about this image?

  • How does this version of your town/ city make you feel?

This activity is a powerful SEL activity for 3rd-grade students. By prompting children to imagine a world without people, free from roads, pollution, and deforestation, it cultivates empathy, self-awareness, and responsible decision-making. Students become aware of the impact their actions have on the natural world around them.