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JAMBOARD-Ask Questions Throughout the Lesson

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JAMBOARD-Ask Questions Throughout the Lesson

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Energy and Food Sustainability - Google Jamboard

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The version of the browser you are using is no longer supported. Please upgrade to a supported browser. Dismiss

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Fruit and Vegetable Decomposition, Time-lapse

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Fruit and Vegetable Decomposition, Time-lapse

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Fruit and Vegetable Decomposition, Time-lapse

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Growing Plants Without Soil! Squeaks Grows a Garden-SciShow Kids

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Growing Plants Without Soil! Squeaks Grows a Garden-SciShow Kids

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Growing Plants Without Soil! | Squeaks Grows a Garden! | SciShow Kids

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How to Grow Plants Without Soil? Hydroponic Farming At Home-The Dr. Binocs Show

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How to Grow Plants Without Soil? Hydroponic Farming At Home-The Dr. Binocs Show

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How To Grow Plants Without Soil? | Hydroponic Farming At Home | The Dr Binocs Show | Peekaboo Kidz

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What is Aquaponics and How Does It Work?

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What is Aquaponics and How Does It Work?

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What is Aquaponics and How Does it Work?

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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The decomposition of a pineapple over 2 months-The Kids Should See This

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The decomposition of a pineapple over 2 months-The Kids Should See This

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Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.

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New Report Says Burger King is Hurting Rainforests

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New Report Says Burger King is Hurting Rainforests

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Newsela | Burger King's animal feed grown on deforested land in Brazil, Bolivia

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A new report says hamburger chain Burger King buys animal feed from soy bean plantations in Brazil and Bolivia that used to be lush tropical forests and savanna

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What is Deforestation for Kids: Information and Facts

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What is Deforestation for Kids: Information and Facts

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What Is Deforestation For Kids: Information And Facts

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What is deforestation? Information & facts about deforestation for kids. Why are areas of rainforest being lost each year & what is being done to stop it?

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How to Fight Factory Farms with Your Fork

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How to Fight Factory Farms with Your Fork

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With more and more Americans learning how inhumanely many farm animals are treated, the interest in combating factory farming is higher than ever. Groups like The Humane Society of the United States are seeing an upsurge of public interest in the issue, especially as more whistleblowing exposés of slaughter plants continue pricking our national conscience.

Of course, evidence of the progress in farm animal protection is all around us. Ag-gag legislation that could restrict our ability to expose farm animal cruelty is going down in flames. Massive retailers like McDonald's are banning the cruelest standard farming practices - like confining pigs and egg-laying chickens in tiny cages that immobilize them.

This is all good news. After all, nearly all of the animals we abuse in our nation are farm animals, and they suffer in ways that many people would find hard to even watch.

But these types of gains for animals are representative of huge societal shifts. It makes many wonder: how can one person make a difference?

How You Can Stand up to Factory Farms

Before asking others to change, we need to look inward and wonder how we can do better ourselves. That means starting with our own plate. Fortunately, meat reduction programs like Meatless Monday and Vegan Before 6 are more popular than ever. For great animal-free recipes to get you started, check out The HSUS's free recipe library.

With this in mind, we have three (maybe more) opportunities a day to make a big difference. Our food choices allow us to have a positive impact on several important issues all at once: Fighting factory farming, creating a sustainable food supply, decreasing diet-related disease, and saving us money on food and healthcare costs. It's hard to think of any other daily decision that saves us money and simultaneously saves the planet, our health and animals.

It's exciting to find that you can have such a positive impact with simple food choices.

Getting started might mean embracing Meatless Monday where you give your body a holiday from meat once a week. Maybe you eliminate one animal product from your diet one day a week, or limit how often you eat meat to only on weekends. How about trying renowned food journalist Mark Bittman's "VB6" idea: eating vegan before 6 p.m. every day?

If you're simply starting with one meal a week, check this out: The Environmental Defense Fund said that if we in the U.S. all just replaced one meal of chicken a week with vegetables and grains, the carbon dioxide savings would be as if we removed half a million cars from U.S. roads!

After getting our own house in order, it's time to start changing the world.

Talking With Family and Friends

In considering the power of community and the role food plays in our social circles, you could be the make-or-break factor for others trying to eat healthier, more humane and sustainable meals. The simple gesture of including a meat-free option at your dinner parties or choosing a restaurant that has veg options (even Burger King has a veggie burger these days) can greatly help our friends along the way. Livening up our colleagues' work day with delicious plant-based food is a fun and generous way to help, too!

Spread the Word

Remember how you became familiar with the issues of factory farming? Chances are it took hearing about the issues more than once. Consider writing a letter or op-ed for your local newspaper, suggest Jonathan Safran Foer's "Eating Animals" for your book club, host a screening of " Forks Over Knives," or share information on your social media pages. You may be surprised how those you think might not be paying attention become the next to join you in the fight-I certainly have been.

Don't be Shy to Ask for More Options

Do you have a child who wants more veg options in school or are you looking for something better to eat in your company's cafeteria? Just ask! It's amazing what we can get if we just ask. Think of some specific ideas of what else you'd like to see - perhaps protein-packed three bean chili for schools or a veggie burger for your workday lunch spot.

Say "Thanks!"

If your school district or cafeteria already has great veg options, have you thanked them for it? Communication about plant-based foods and praise for those taking steps in the right direction is how we as a community are going to best fight factory farming. And so I must say, thank you for joining the fight!

To learn more about how you can use your food choices to benefit animals, the environment, and your own health, check out One Green Planet's #EatForThePlanet campaign.
Lead image source: Farm Sanctuary/Flickr

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How to Fight Factory Farms With Your Fork

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Many of us know the horrors of factory farms, but there is a way to help stop the abuses, and it starts with our plates.

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How the Growth of Monoculture Crops is Destroying Our Planet and Still Leaving Us Hungry

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How the Growth of Monoculture Crops is Destroying Our Planet and Still Leaving Us Hungry

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The future of our food is not looking so hot thanks to the prevalence of monoculture agriculture. What is a monoculture you ask? Simply put a monoculture is a single crop repeatedly grown on the same land. Major crops that are grown as a monoculture are usually grains (i.e. corn, wheat or rice), forage (alfalfa or clover), or fiber (cotton). The combined cropland in the United States covers a whopping 253.7 million acres!

These crops are called commodity crops because, while they might seem like their usage is pretty straightforward, they are used in a number of goods and products - how many times do you read soy, corn, or wheat when walking through a grocery store? To ensure the optimal yields of these crops, companies have manufactured special strains of these crops and special fertilizers and pesticides. Due to the technological advances from perfecting monocultures, crops are able to grow in scenarios where naturally they would have struggled.

But theoretically, shouldn't more crops mean more food for everyone? What's the big problem with monocultures? Let's explore why we all should be concerned about this practice.

Where are These Grains Going?

You'll notice how some food staples are on the list: corn, soybeans, wheat, and rice. These crops are not mostly going into our human stomachs though; instead, the majority of these grains are used to feed the huge amount of livestock being raised. For example, only 12 percent of the corn grown in the United States is used to feed people. You read that correctly - only 12 percent!

The demand for meat is so intense that it has been a driving factor to use monoculture crops so enough feed could be produced for livestock. In fact, at least 40 percent of the world's grain goes towards livestock. More specifically, nearly 47 percent of soybeans and 60 percent of corn grown in the United States go to the bellies of livestock instead of hungry people in the United States (and around the world). As a result of this practice, these grain food sources are at risk, and the environment is suffering as well.

What's the Big Deal?

So why are these food sources at risk in addition to the harm being done to the environment? Well, to start, when one crop is planted repeatedly on the same land, certain nutrients become depleted from the soil due to the crop's specific nutrient demand.

In fact, the Earth's soil is depleting at more than 13 percent the rate at which it can be replaced. which is scary because " Over 90 percent of the crop varieties grown 100 years ago are estimated to be already gone forever." This time frame corresponds roughly to the beginning of monoculture farming, which is dated back to 1901.

Instead of rotating different crops to naturally restore the nutrients and vitamins that are found in the soil, monoculture farming causes the same nutrients to diminish from the ground. Nitrogen is a key nutrient in crop growth. Plants, like soy, are able to "fix" nitrogen from the air back into the soil, where a crop like corn cannot. If you do not rotate between nitrogen-fixing plants and non-nitrogen-fixing plants, the soil will be depleted of this vital nutrient.

In order to continue planting a single crop on the same land, these nutrients must be replaced some way which created the need to apply various chemical fertilizers. In addition, these monoculture lands attract weeds and insects, which favor a certain type of plant. If there were a variety of crops in one field, bugs and weeds might not be so inclined to go near the crops they did not like. However, acres and acres of their crop of choice spells for disaster. For this reason, herbicides and pesticides are often used on top of these fertilizers. Many weeds have become resistant to these herbicides after years of application, creating "superweeds," which lead to the use of more and more lethal herbicides.

Risk to Humans and Animals

Soil that is nutrient deficient can be dry and susceptible to erosion. In turn, runoff Pollution is very prevalent in waterways near monoculture fields. Remember all the herbicides and pesticides we needed to protect these monocultures? Well, they go wherever the run-off water goes.

Not only do these chemicals kill the aquatic life in these water systems (poor fish!), but also can harm the other wildlife in the area. One particular insect suffering as a consequence of monoculture is the bee. Often bees and other insects are susceptible to the neurotoxins in the pesticides that are used on monoculture crops. In the case of bees, pesticides have been named as the number one cause of bee colony collapse. There go our crucial pollinators!

Humans are at risk of the negative impacts of monocultures as well! People living near pesticide-laden fields could be drinking nitrate polluted water from their wells. In the U.S., it is estimated that around 58 percent of the drinking water wells contain nitrate levels of 2 mg/L or above. Children in these areas have been shown to develop methemoglobinemia and adults have an increased chance of developing gastric, bladder, and esophageal cancers. Yeah, thought that might not sit well with you. Cancer? No thanks.

I'm Not a Farmer, So What Can I Do?

The answer is plenty! Spreading awareness and following these steps listed below can help turn our crop system around:

Eat less or no meat so the demand for grain crops for feed will decrease and the need for monoculture will decrease as well.

Purchase locally grown produce instead of crops from companies like Monsanto since they are big offenders in this area of farming.

Heck, forget buying produce: grow your own right in your own backyard! Lawns offer little benefit to the environment, so a garden is a way to go to help nature out.

To take an even more active role, you could check out and join the Millions Against Monsanto Campaign.

Consider signing a petition that battles monoculture and the negative effects it has on the environment. For example, you could sign one that wants to save the bees who are suffering as mentioned above. Search for others on sites like Change.org.

Let's save our food together!

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

, the largest plant-based Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster Recipe app on the App Store to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks .

Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that are raising awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.

Support Independent Media: Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!

Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.

Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter !

Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Do What You Can: Donate if you can, grow your own food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don't forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!

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How the Growth of Monoculture Crops Is Destroying our Planet and Still Leaving us Hungry

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Shouldn't more crops mean more food? What's the big problem with monocultures? Let's explore why we all should be concerned about this practice.

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Food Web | Science Trek | PBS LearningMedia

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This video segment from IdahoPTV's Science Trek illustrates how energy from the sun moves through the food chain. Learn about the food chain, and what are producers, consumers, and scavengers as well as where humans fit into the mix.

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What Do Animals Eat? | PBS LearningMedia

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Do you eat like a horse? Or more like a bird? As you might expect, different animals eat different things. Some animals specialize in eating one particularly rich food source, while others eat whatever they can find. This video segment samples the diversity of feeding habits among some of the world's creatures.

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Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life, Video Read Aloud

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Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life, Video Read Aloud

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Humans and animals get energy from the food they eat. We depend upon other plants and animals for energy. We eat different kinds of foods and drink water and liquids to help take care of our bodies. What about plants? How do you think they get their energy? Do they eat? How do they get the things necessary to survive? Plants don't eat food to get energy. They make their own food by combining things in their environment. Imagine the plants around you. What do you think they need in order to make food and survive? Plants take water, air, and energy from the sun to make room. They get water by pulling it up from their roots. They get carbon dioxide, which is a gas from the air around them. They get sunlight from the sun. Landscape water and carbon dioxide and use the energy from the sun to create food and oxygen. They use the food to take care of their structures and they release the oxygen into the air. This process is called photosynthesis. What does the word photosynthesis mean? Let's break the word down. Photo means light. And synthesis means create. Now, let's flip those two words together. Photosynthesis is the process for plants use light to create food. Let's review what we've learned. What are the three things plantain in order to make food? Plants need water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight. And what is produced? Oh. And oxygen. What do you think happens to the oxygen released by the plants around us? Some of it goes into the air and becomes part of the atmosphere. Some of it is breathed in by humans and other animals who need the oxygen to survive. So plants really help us by providing oxygen for us to freeze in. Without oxygen, we wouldn't exist. So please try to take care of and protect the lovely plants and trees around you.

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Watch How Do Plants Get Energy?, Botany Videos on TeacherTube.

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5E Instructional Model Explained: A Framework for Inquiry-Based Learning

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5E Instructional Model Explained: A Framework for Inquiry-Based Learning

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Whether exploring space phenomena in science or deciphering word problems in math, questions are bound to arise: Is there anything faster than the speed of light? Why am I not supposed to divide by zero? How do rockets fly in space? So, why not tap into students' natural curiosity and have them lead their own learning? With the 5E instructional model, students can explore life's mysteries all while being active participants in their learning through inquiry-based activities.

What Is the 5E Model?

The 5E model uses a constructivist approach to learning, which means it focuses on students constructing knowledge from experiences. The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) initially developed the 5E model, or center inquiry practices, in a cycle that provided a process to facilitate learning. Since then, the model has been widely adopted and adapted by a variety of groups, but the initial goal remains the same.

The 5E instructional model consists of five phases: engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. Throughout the process, students work collaboratively to observe, investigate, analyze, and draw conclusions. Meanwhile, the teacher serves as a facilitator, guiding students in the learning process. This framework can be used to teach STEM subjects, like math and science, to introduce and investigate new concepts. Plus the 5E model provides students the opportunity to explore new concepts critically and retain information through meaningful learning experiences. In fact, research shows that the 5E model is tied to "a significantly better acquisition of scientific concepts" compared to traditional textbook focused instruction.

5E Learning Cycle

The 5Es describe the phases of this inquiry-based learning cycle. As students move through the 5E learning cycle, they build on to their prior knowledge and construct meaning about the concept at hand.

Engage

Engage is the first phase of the 5E model. During this phase, teachers are activating students' prior knowledge to identify what students know or do not know about the upcoming concept. As teachers tap into students' background knowledge, students can make connections and teachers can identify any knowledge gaps. This phase also serves to pique students' interest and curiosity about the topic at hand. To engage students, ask open-ended questions, lead a class discussion, or view videos to introduce a concept.

During the Explore phase, teachers are guiding students in exploration and problem-solving in a concrete way. Through hands-on activities, such as creating models or conducting experiments, students can investigate the new concept and discuss ideas and observations with their peers.

Explain

The Explain phase is run by the teacher. During this phase, the teacher facilitates a whole-class discussion by asking questions, comparing student responses, and helping to guide the class towards the key ideas being taught.

During the Elaborate phase, students have the space to apply what they learned. They can take their new knowledge to form a new hypothesis, explore real-world scenarios, or create a presentation to share with their peers. This phase allows students to extend their learning and create richer connections to concepts.

At this phase, the teacher assesses student learning through formal and/or informal assessments. Informal assessments, like exit tickets or oral presentations, or formal assessments, like tests or quizzes, can be used to determine whether students understood the key concepts. During this phase, students can also evaluate their learning using self-assessment tools like rubrics.

The 5E instructional model empowers students to lean into their curiosity and explore the world around them. Implement the 5E model to guide students in meaningful, inquiry-based learning.

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See how Go Math! K-6 uses the 5E model as the foundation for lesson designs, guiding students toward proficiency by building on their previous understanding of mathematical concepts.

Explore how the HMH Into Science K-5 and 6-8 curricula use the effective 5E lesson design, which encourages students to Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate science, in hands-on and digital environments.

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5E Instructional Model Explained: A Framework for Inquiry-Based Learning

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Learn how to use the 5E instructional model to engage students in inquiry-based learning.

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5 E Instructional Framework and Activity Chart

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5 E Instructional Framework and Activity Chart

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Vocabulary Graphic Organizers-KIM, Frayer, Concept Definition Web, Directed Reading and Thinking, Text Map, 4 A Protocol

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Vocabulary Graphic Organizers-KIM, Frayer, Concept Definition Web, Directed Reading and Thinking, Text Map, 4 A Protocol