skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Happy Earth Day!
As I've mentioned previously, we don't have to limit our efforts to help the planet on just one day each year! It's easy to find things we can do to make a difference everyday. The important thing to remember is that you shouldn't feel like you have to fix everything. Nobody could do that. :) Start small - pick a few things and work on those. Once you have those as part of your routine, you can start adding new things.Don't forget to encourage your parents and friends to help you out!
Simple things you can do everyday:
*Recycle - recycling is one of the simplest things you can do. Many things can be recycled but be sure to check that facilities exist in your area (your parents can help with this). Common things that should go in the recycle bin instead of the trash can include newspapers, aluminum cans, tin cans (soup, tuna, bean, etc. cans), and glass bottles. Plastics can be tricky so you may need to do some research to check the plastics you have are actually recyclable.
*Turn off lights, the TV, the stereo, and your computer when you are not using them. My husband really needs to work on this! Do you have any tips on how I can teach him? :)
*Ask your parents to use cold water when they run the washing machine. Also, when you're filling the dishwasher, make sure you have a full load before turning it on.
*Clean out your closet. Rather than throwing your old clothes away, donate the ones that are in decent condition to a local thrift shop or charity.
*Help save water - take shorter showers, turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth or lather your hands/face, and flush the toilet less often.
*Help pull weeds rather than spraying pesticides. This is also a great way to get some exercise (just be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen!)
*Walk or ride your bike instead of driving or asking your parents for a ride. Here's another good source of exercise!
*Ask your family or friends to help you clean up trash in a local park.
*Plant shrubs or trees in your backyard. Remember, trees help absorb greenhouse gases and other pollutants!
*Encourage your parents to use cloth bags at the grocery store. If they absolutely have to use plastic bags, ask them to re-use them (they can line small trash cans, you can use them to carry lunch to school, etc.)
*Use both sides of your paper.
*If you drink soda, snip the plastic 6-pack holders since these can harm animals.
Links:
Activity:Please use the Comments section to write some of your own ideas for simple things you can do to help make a difference.
Tomorrow, April 22, is Earth Day.
Earth Day began 38 years ago in 1970. It was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin who, in 1969, decided there needed to be a special day set aside to teach people about the state of the planet and some changes that needed to be made to preserve the Earth (Time for Kids, 2007).
The first Earth Day in 1970 led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Protection Acts (Earth Day Network, n.d.)
Here are some interesting websites so you can learn more about this celebration of the Earth.
But remember, we can (and should) celebrate the Earth every day! Find out how you can make a difference by reading the Let's Make Every Day Earth Day! post.
Some books you may enjoy: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss and The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry.
References
Earth Day Network (n.d.). Education. Retrieved April 21, 2008 from http://ww2.earthday.net/~earthday/node/12
Time for Kids (2007). Earth day. Retrieved April 21, 2008 from http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/articles/0,6709,611516,00.html
Unfortunately, humans have really taken our planet home for granted and our actions have really taken a toll. Students, ask your parents about leaded gasoline and aerosol hairspray cans that contained CFCs. Those are two things I remember from my childhood that were phased out due to the negative impact on the environment.
I'm sure you have all heard about the Industrial Revolution which began in England in the 18th-century. All those factories were great for manufacturing things quickly but where do you think all that smoke ended up? Fossil fuel burning as well as changes in the way we use land have been a large factor in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Remember, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which contributes to the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide levels in the earth's atmosphere have been increasing since the Industrial Revolution. I did some research and found out that 80% of the increase in carbon dioxide has occurred since 1900 (American Institute of Physics, 2008). The same article from the American Institute of Physics (2008) stated that all these carbon dioxide molecules that are floating around heating up the earth (remember, that can be good and bad), could be up there for hundreds to thousands of years. That's a really long time!
How many of you like trees? Trees are great, right? Sure, they sometimes drop those prickly seed pods on your head and, if you live in certain areas, create a mess of leaves that you have to rake but for the most part people like trees. They create shade, are pretty to look at (especially the flowering ones), and sometimes give fruit. Did you know trees can also help the environment? It's true! Trees actually help remove carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the atmosphere. See this article from Kathleen Alexander (n.d.) on the benefits of trees. Ms. Alexander shows how trees are constantly working to help clean up the air we breathe and help prevent the negative impacts of the greenhouse effect. Even though Ms. Alexander's article is about trees in urban parts of Colorado, those benefits of trees really do apply to the whole world.
Sadly, some people just don't share our respect and love for trees. Oftentimes, trees have
to be removed to make way for new homes or places to raise cattle. This removal of trees is referred to as deforestation. Reasons for deforestation include the demand for fuel, wood and paper products, the need for land to use for cattle ranching and other farming projects, mining, and road construction (British Broadcasting Corporation, 2005). The BBC (2005) website went into more detail about these reasons. Here are some interesting, but alarming, facts:
- Half of the world's trees are cut down as fuel since no alternatives are available in developing countries. Unfortunately, these trees are not re-planted.
- Huge areas of rainforest must be cleared to make room for cattle ranches that support only a few hundred cows. This space is cleared by cutting down the trees and then burning them (which also releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere). Grass is grown on the cleared area and cattle graze until they are slaughtered for meat. The soil that remains is poor so the area can only be used for a short time before another section of forest must be cleared.
- As the world's population increases, so does the need for land. Forests are cleared to support increased needs for farming and homes.
Deforestation means fewer trees. I mentioned above that trees help absorb carbon dioxide. So, fewer trees means more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This leads to increased greenhouse gas concentrations which then lead to global warming. Do you see how it all fits together?Check out the BBC website for more information on deforestation.References
Alexander, K. (n.d.). Benefits of trees in urban areas. Retrieved April 21, 2008 from http://www.coloradotrees.org/benefits.htm#carbonAmerican Institute of Physics (2008). Statement on human impacts on climate change. Retrieved April 21, 2008 from http://www.aip.org/gov/policy12.htmlBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2005). Deforestation and the greenhouse effect. Retrieved April 21, 2008 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3556848Tree photos from Classroom Clip Art.
You may have heard of something that is referred to as "the greenhouse effect." The greenhouse effect is a natural process that helps the Earth warm its surface and atmosphere. According to Pidwirny (2008), the greenhouse effect occurs when greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons [CFC's], and ozone) as well as water vapor absorb longwave, or infrared, radiation which is emitted from the Earth's surface.
The greenhouse effect is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, without it, life on Earth would probably not exist. Without the greenhouse effect, the temperature on Earth would average -18 degrees Celsius which is approximately -0.4 degrees Fahrenheit! Brrrr! The average temperature of the Earth currently is 15 degrees Celsius or 59 degrees Fahrenheit (Pidwirny, 2008).
So, if the greenhouse effect is actually beneficial, how did it get such a bad reputation? Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have increased since the Industrial Revolution. Scientists predict that this increase will cause the greenhouse effect to be enhanced which will lead to the temperature on Earth to become warmer (Pidwirny, 2008). Pidwirny (2008) also pointed out that a doubling of the concentration of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide could cause an increase in temperature of 1-3 degrees Celsius (33.8-37.4 degrees Fahrenheit). This may not seem like much but even a small amount of warming could be devastating to the Earth.
The increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is due primarily to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation (Spaulding & Namowitz, 2005). Read more about this in the post "Human Impact & Climate Change."
Watch this video from the Environmental Protection Agency (2006) which shows how the greenhouse effect probably contributes to global warming. **This video is from the EPA Kids' website so it is suitable for all ages.**
References:
Environmental Protection Agency (2006). The global warming movie. Retrieved April 20, 2008 from http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/global_warming_version2.html
Pidwirny, M. PhD. (2008). Fundamentals of physical geography (2nd edition eBook). Retrieved April 20, 2008 from
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/contents.html
Spaulding, N.E. & Namowitz, S.N. (2005). Earth science. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell.
*The Merriam-Webster dictionary (1969) defined global warming as a noun meaning "an increase in the earth's atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution."
*The Time for Change website (n.d.) defined global warming as: "the observed and projected increases in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans."
Check out these graphs from the Time for Change (n.d.) website. They are great visuals of just how much the earth has warmed up in recent years!
Recently, there has been a switch from referring to this phenomena as "global warming" to referring to it as "global climate change."
References
Merriam-Webster (1969). Global warming definition. Retrieved April 20, 2008 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/global+warmingTime for Change (n.d.). Definition for global warming: What is global warming? Retrieved April 20, 2008 from http://timeforchange.org/definition-for-global-warming-what-is-global-warming
I started this blog to fulfill a requirement for my EDT 660 (multimedia and interactive technologies) course that I'm taking for my Master's degree.
The assignment I chose was to create a multimedia project (using video, audio, text, still visuals, etc.) that provides instructions to complete an at-home science experiment that could supplement a unit on global warming and weather patterns. The lab project was to be aimed at middle- or high school students with diverse learning styles.
I chose this project from the list because it is perfect for me! Science has always been one of my favorite subjects; I work with students who are home-schooled (an at-home lab is perfect for them); and I've been conscious of the issues with the environment since I was in elementary school so a project on global warming is right up my alley. :)
Rather than simply make a video or a PowerPoint presentation about this experiment, I decided to create a blog. While the other formats would have worked wonderfully, I wanted an easy way to share this experience with my students as well as students from around the world who stumble upon this blog. This method of delivery will also allow me to provide background information on topics such as global warming and climate change, the human impact on the earth, and simple things anyone can do to help reduce that impact. The blog format also allows me to link to other sites and to receive comments from those who stop by. I love feedback so please feel free to let me know what you think!
Enjoy and happy learning! :)
Simple things you can do everyday:
