CARING FOR PLANET EARTH
This term Stage 1 students are going on a journey of discovery to find out what it means to Care for our Planet Earth. We will discover what natural resources this wonderful planet provides us and why it is important that we look after them. We will focus in on Water because Water=Life.
We will find out what it really means to be environmentally friendly at at home, at school and in our community and investigate what we are already doing that's great for our planet. The students will then try and come up with lots of great ideas to make their homes, our school and our community even more environmentally friendly. Watch this space.
We will find out what it really means to be environmentally friendly at at home, at school and in our community and investigate what we are already doing that's great for our planet. The students will then try and come up with lots of great ideas to make their homes, our school and our community even more environmentally friendly. Watch this space.
THE PROBLEM WITH WASTE
Almost everything we do in our daily lives creates waste. We can describe waste as something we no longer want or need. The food and drinks we consume, the clothes and cosmetics we wear, the transport we take, the stuff we buy, the energy we use in our homes and workplaces – all these things have waste as a part of their production.
Most of the products we use in our everyday life also come in packaging that becomes waste. Think of the cereal you ate this morning, the chips you might have for a snack, the shampoo you wash your hair with .... all of these and a huge range of other products come in packaging that is made from paper, plastic, glass or metal.
I the rest of this unit we will consider the scale of the waste problem on Earth, but more importantly the role we can all play in dealing with this problem.
Most of the products we use in our everyday life also come in packaging that becomes waste. Think of the cereal you ate this morning, the chips you might have for a snack, the shampoo you wash your hair with .... all of these and a huge range of other products come in packaging that is made from paper, plastic, glass or metal.
I the rest of this unit we will consider the scale of the waste problem on Earth, but more importantly the role we can all play in dealing with this problem.
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Investigating Plastic Pollution: One of the biggest environmental problems that our world faces apart from climate change is the issue of plastic pollution in our oceans. Watch the video on the left to get an idea of how big the problem is, and yet - how much difference every single one of us can make.
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What Happens to Plastic Packaging?
Click on the image to the right to watch a video that describes the effect that plastic in our oceans can have on sea turtles. (Click on Chapter 1) Warning: it contains some upsetting images. |
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Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Here is another video that teaches students about the waste issues in our world. This one uses more pictures and few words but provides a powerful message. It teaches that we can be Part of the Solution, not the Pollution! This issue of plastic waste in our oceans has been highlighted in our own media in recent weeks. Click on this link to learn about the microplastics in Manly Cove. |
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Click on the image to the right to use an interactive game to learn all about our choices with waste
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Earth - The Blue Planet but How much Freshwater is there on Earth?
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The Water Cycle Rap
Watch this video on the water cycle from the Bill Nye The Science Guy show. Be warned you may never be able to watch rain falling without humming this song to yourself! *It pays homage to a very popular rap song from 1992 by the rap duo Kriss Kross. |
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HOW DOES WATER GET TO OUR HOMES?
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Click on the image on the right to do a jigsaw that teaches you about how water gets from rivers to our taps and is treated before being put back into the sea after we have used it.
Don't forget to click on the ear icon to hear the explanation for each piece of the jigsaw. When you have explored the situation in the city, head over to and see how different the situation might be in the country. |
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WATER CONSERVATION
Tips for Saving Water in the Home
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The Plastic Problem
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Decomposition - what does it look like? Watch this video and see the changes taking place as the watermelon decomposes. When this decomposition happens in our landfill it produces dangerous gases and liquid called "leachate". When decomposition takes place in compost bins or worm farms we end up with beautiful soil. Where do you think this decomposition should take place?
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HAVE YOU BEEN INSPIRED TO START A WORM FARM OR COMPOST BIN AT YOUR HOUSE??!!!
Click on the picture of the worm farm to watch Costa from Costa's Garden Odessey on SBS show you step by step how to set up and maintain a worm farm and/or compost bin at your house (we have both in CCPS).
You can also watch the CCPS Earth Kids Guide to composting here
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink!!!
This is a UK website however most of the ideas apply here also. It gives some great examples of how to reduce the amount of waste we create and what we can do with the waste that we have in ways that are best for the environment.