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Myths! Lies! Recycling scams? Discover the real story behind the first Earth Day celebration and some of the biggest US climate catastrophes--and their solutions! Don't miss the award-winning History Smashers series as they get to the truth on the biggest environmental fibs!

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History Smashers: Earth Day and the Environment

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History Smashers: Earth Day and the Environment [Messner, Kate] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. History Smashers: Earth Day and the Environment

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Can you tell your ‘global warming’ from your ‘greenhouse effect’? Or your ‘microbede’ from your ‘meteor’? Do you know the difference between ‘pollution’ and ‘pollutants’?

Here is your child friendly A-Z of common environmental terms and their meanings.

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acid rain: A form of air pollution caused from harmful gases combining with water and oxygen in the air

atmosphere: A layer of gases that surround the Earth

axis: An imaginary line through the middle of the Earth from top to bottom

biodegradable: Materialthat can break down or rot naturally when attacked by bacteria

circumference: The distance around the middle (equator) of the Earth

climate: The usual weather condition in one area

diameter: The distance straight through the middle of the Earth

ecosystem: A community of living organisms (plants and animals) in a particular area

emissions: The production or discharge of something, this could be harmful

energy: How things move and change, it's all around us and takes many forms

environment: The surroundings or area in which a person, animal or plant lives

equator: The imaginary line around the middle of the Earth

fossil fuels: A natural fuel, such as coal oil or gas

G7: An international organisation consisting of some of the wealthiest and most powerful countries in the world

generators: A machine for converting mechanical energy into electricity

global warming: An increase in the surface temperature of the Earth

gravity: A force of attraction that pulls together all matter

greenhouse effect: Warming of the earth's atmosphere caused by a build up of gases that trap the Sun's heat

greenhouse gases: Gases that form an invisible blanket that trap the Sun's heat

landfill: Disposal of rubbish by burying it in the land

kinetic energy: The energy that an object has because of its movement

meteor: A space rock falling to Earth

microbeads: A tiny sphere, or ball of plastic

Moon: A rock that orbits the Earth

non-renewable energy: Energy that comes from sources that will run out, such as fossil fuels

orbit: The path of one object as it travel around another

pollution: The introduction of a harmful substance into the environment

pollutants: A substance that makes something such as air or water impure and or unsafe

recycling: The process of taking materials ready to be thrown away and converting (changing) them into reusable materials

renewable energy: Energy from a source that is not depleted when it is used such as sunlight, wind or tides

solar system: All the planets and moons that go around the Sun, including Earth

Sun: The enormous ball of gas at the centre of our solar system

synthetic: Materials produced by humans from chemicals or artificial substances rather than from natural ones

tides: The twice daily rise and fall of the surface of the ocean

toxins: Poisonous or dangerous materials or substances

turbines: A machine for producing power that is turned by continuous current such as water, steam or air

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Child friendly environmental glossary - It's Our Planet Too

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Words, words, words... we all hear so many environmental words every day, but do you know what they actually mean? Can you tell your 'global warming' from your 'greenhouse effect'? Or your 'microbede' from your 'meteor'? Do you know the difference between 'pollution' and 'pollutants'? Here is your chi

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Humans produce around 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. That is almost equivalent to the weight of the entire human population! We explore what plastic pollution is and why it is so harmful to our planet.

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Humans produce around 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. That is almost equivalent to the weight of the entire human population! We explore what plastic pollution is and why it is so harmful to our planet.
Our planet is home to billions of animal and plant species - from minuscule bacteria to gigantic blue whales. Unfortunately, it is also home to plastic and trash - lots of it. Scientists believe that there are about 5 billion tonnes of plastic waste on Earth.

Plastic pollution is a huge problem for our planet. Most of the objects we use on a day-to-day basis are made out of or wrapped up in plastic, from the majority of the food we buy in supermarkets to our toothpaste and toothbrush. This means that we produce an incredible amount of plastic waste every year - over 300 million tonnes of it. Almost half of that is single-use plastic, meaning that we only use it once like packaging, for example. The problem is that plastic is extremely hard to get rid of because it doesn't break down. Some scientists say that every bit of plastic ever made will be on our planet for millions of years !
Where Does Our Plastic Waste Go?
A big part of our plastic waste ends up in landfills, where it lasts for thousands of years. This waste releases toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, polluting the soil and harming not only the environment but also human health. People who live near landfills are more likely to have illnesses like cancer and lung disease.

Around 8 million tonnes of plastic waste also end up in the ocean every year. Most of it starts off as ground litter. Rainwater and wind carry plastic waste into streams and rivers and through drains, which all lead to the ocean! From here, waste can get very far. This is why there is plastic in every corner of the world, from the deepest part of the ocean floor all the way to the Arctic!

Currently, only a small part of our plastic waste - around 9% - is recycled. There are many reasons as to why recycling doesn't always work out. Dirty plastic waste cannot be recycled. Sometimes, it is also too expensive to do so. Recycling plastic can be more expensive than making new plastic and for this reason, many governments around the world decide to deal with it in other ways without acknowledging how harmful this is to the environment.
Why is Plastic Pollution Bad?
Our plastic waste harms millions of animals every year. Many of them, like birds and turtles, get stuck in plastic waste. Others, bigger animals like deers and elephants die from eating plastic as they often mistake it for food.

Moreover, all of life on Earth is connected in some way. When plastic enters the food chain, it ends up in our bodies, too. In 2022 , scientists found plastic in human blood for the first time.
What Can We Do?
Recently, leaders around the world agreed on universal laws to reduce plastic pollution. These laws will impact how we produce plastic and how we deal with waste. However, it will take years before every country on the planet implements them.

In the meantime, we should try to reduce plastic use in our daily lives, especially single-use plastic. Every small action counts - from saying no to plastic straws to buying products with less packaging.

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About the Author

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What is Plastic Pollution? - Earth.Org Kids

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Humans produce around 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. We explore what plastic pollution is and why it is so harmful to our planet.

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Earth Day - a Day of Action !

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Earth Day comes every April 22. It's a day to do some good for the planet. It's also a time to think about how to help year-round. Get inspired by reading about four young people who have taken action for Mother Earth. They're TFK's Kid Heroes for the Planet. Who are yours?

Fighting Wildfire

GLORIA BARRON PRIZE FOR YOUNG HEROES

When Reshma Kosaraju was 12, her family moved from Chicago, Illinois, to Northern California. Soon after, the Camp Fire started. "It was one of the largest fires in California history," Reshma, now 17, told TIME for Kids. Her school was about 200 miles south of the fire. But students had to wear masks because of the smoke. "It was kind of a startling experience for me, because I had never really had exposure to this problem," she says. It made her want to find a solution. She created a way to use artificial intelligence (AI) to predict forest fires. Her method is nearly 90% accurate. "I realized that if I could pull this off, the results could be quite impactful . . . in terms of how many lives we can save and how much we can help the environment." -By Jaime Joyce

Recycling Power

GLORIA BARRON PRIZE FOR YOUNG HEROES

On his 10th birthday, Sri Nihal Tammana learned a scary fact. Every year, 15 billion batteries are thrown out. They wind up in landfills. They pollute groundwater and harm the environment. Nihal's organization, Recycle My Battery, provides recycling bins for batteries.

"I'm very happy about the progress," Nihal, now 14, told TFK. Recycle My Battery has a team of 250 student volunteers around the world. In the past three years, they've helped recycle more than 260,000 batteries. Nihal has won many environmental awards, including the Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

"My biggest goal for this organization is to bring the 15 billion batteries being thrown away each year worldwide to zero," he says. -By Cristina Fernandez

Rescue Effort

COURTESY ELIZABETH FETHERSTON

Miles Fetherston-Resch, 10, is in the business of saving oceans. When he learned that sharks were in trouble, he persuaded his mom to help him start a nonprofit. It's called Kids Saving Oceans. Its website sells T-shirts, hats, and stickers made out of recycled plastic found in the ocean. A portion of every sale-some $40,000 so far-is donated to causes that support clean waterways.

Miles lives in Florida. He has loved the ocean for as long as he can remember. Getting into conservation, he says, "was just kind of personal to me." What about other kids who want to do this kind of work? "If you have an idea, go for it," he says. "The worst thing you can do is have it not work out. And that's not a loss." -By Brian S. McGrath

A Greener Future

COURTESY MIA PRICE

Mia Price, 18, says a greener future starts with making the right choices. Price is the chair of the sustainability committee at the Kinkaid School, in Houston, Texas. The committee recently met its goal of eliminating plastic water bottles from the school dining center. Now Price wants to make the school campus greener. After doing research, she presented her ideas to the school's building committee and board of trustees. Her ideas included installing solar panels and LED lightbulbs. She also suggests recycling materials from the old gym.

Price believes we can all contribute to a more sustainable future. "You need to take the time," she says, "to make the sustainable choice. Sometimes, it's a little inconvenient. But you will feel happier because, in the end, it is making a difference." -By TFK Kid Reporter Shaivi Moparthi

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Earth Day comes every April 22. It's a day to do some good for the planet. It's also a time to think about how to help year-round. Get inspired by reading about four young people who have taken action for...

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Earth is home to lots of wonderful wildlife. There are over 8 million species of plants and animals that live on the planet. Sadly, many of these plants and animals are in danger of dying out. They are called endangered species. This means that there aren’t many of them left in the wild. There are different reasons why species may become endangered. Most of them have to do with humans, such as pollution, overhunting, and the destruction of the home of plants and animals.

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Earth is home to lots of wonderful wildlife. There are - over 8 million species of plants and animals that live on the planet. Sadly, many of these plants and animals are in danger of dying out. They are called endangered species. This means that there aren't many of them left in the wild. There are different reasons why species may become endangered. Most of them have to do with humans, such as pollution, overhunting, and the destruction of the home of plants and animals. Read on for an explainer on endangered species for kids.
There are different levels of endangered species. Some are at bigger risk of dying out than others. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a group of international scientists, keeps a list of these plants and animals. In this list, there are seven levels, and they range from Least Concern (almost no risk of dying out) to Extinct (species are gone forever). Today, there are more than 40,000 species on the list that are in danger of dying out, including tigers, dolphins, turtles, and some types of penguins. There are also many species that are already gone forever, including some types of rhinos, frogs, and dolphins.
If you like our endangered species guide for kids, check this out next: Why Are There Tuskless Elephants?
The IUCN's work is important because it tells us how well wildlife is doing. It tells us about the animals and plants that need our protection the most. From there, scientists can do more research on the best ways to protect them, and governments can set laws to do the same. These efforts have helped to save some animals from dying out. The best known example is the Giant Panda. When the Giant Panda became endangered in 1990, the Chinese government and scientists worked hard to save the species. They passed laws to protect the panda from hunters, and made sure to protect its habitat. Slowly, there began to be more giant pandas in the wild. In 2016 , the IUCN no longer considered the Giant Panda to be endangered, although it still needs our protection.

The story of the Giant Panda tells us that we do not have to lose hope for all endangered species. Being endangered does not mean the end for the species. They can also become less at risk if we take action. When governments, scientists, and people work together, we can help to save our wildlife.

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Endangered Species for Kids: What are Endangered Species? - Earth.Org Kids

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Earth is home to lots of wonderful wildlife. There are - over 8 million species of plants and animals that live on the planet. Sadly, many of these plants and animals are in danger of dying out. They are called endangered species. This means that there aren't many of them left in the wild.

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Check out some Earth Day facts and history - as well as some suggestions to help the planet.

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Our planet is an amazing place, but it needs our help to thrive! That's why each year on April 22, more than a billion people celebrate Earth Day to protect the planet from things like pollution and deforestation. By taking part in activities like picking up litter and planting trees, we're making our world a happier, healthier place to live.

The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, when a United States senator from Wisconsin organized a national demonstration to raise awareness about environmental issues. Rallies took place across the country and, by the end of the year, the U.S. government had created the Environmental Protection Agency. By 1990, Earth Day was an event celebrated by more than 140 countries around the globe.

You can celebrate and protect the planet at the same time. Check out these Earth Day ideas to help save the planet any time of year.

BECOME A WASTE WARRIOR

The number of garbage trucks Americans fill each year would stretch halfway to the moon. Toilet paper tubes, made from cardboard, take two months to decompose in a landfill. A plastic bottle sticks around for way longer-it can take over 450 years to break down! But instead of turning to the trash bin, you could turn these items into an awesome telescope or a flower planter. Before you throw something away, think about whether it can be recycled or repurposed. You can also limit waste by reducing the amount of things you buy. For example, check the library for that book you have to read before visiting the store.

PLANT A TREE

Researchers estimate roughly 15 billion trees in the world are cut down each year, so help offset that loss by planting a tree of your own. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen for people to breathe. They also provide shelter and food for animals such as squirrels and owls. Depending on where trees are planted, their shade can even reduce the need for air-conditioning in hotter months. How many more reasons do you need to go green?

TURN OFF THE LIGHTS

Does that lamp really need to be on while the sun is out? Electricity doesn't just happen-it has to be produced from things around us. A lot of times it comes from fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) that contribute to climate change. But electricity can also be made from renewable sources like wind, water, the sun, and even elephant dung! No matter where it's coming from, try conserving electrical energy by using only what you need.

LIMIT YOUR WATER USAGE

It might seem like it's everywhere, but clean, drinkable water is a limited resource. In fact less than one percent of the water on Earth can be used by humans. (The rest is either too salty or too difficult to access.) Turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth can conserve up to eight gallons of water a day. To help save even more water, challenge yourself to take a shorter shower (but still get clean!).

OFFER YOUR TIME

With a parent's permission, volunteer to pick up trash at a nearby park, start a collection drive for recyclable items, or organize a screening of an environmentally themed movie. By getting involved and working with others, you're not just helping the Earth-you're making new friends too!

SPREAD THE MESSAGE

Talk to your friends and family members about what you're doing and ask them to help. Need to get the conversation started? Get everyone together and reconnect with nature by taking one of our Get Outside challenges, or check out some other green tips you can share. The more people do, the better off our planet will be!

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Celebrate Earth Day with these tips for helping our environment.

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Location in Hawes Library: 363.73 BAR

Combining history with science, this book charts the changes in our Earth’s climate, from the beginnings of the planet and its atmosphere, to the Industrial revolution and the dawn of machinery. You'll learn all about the causes of climate change, such as factory farming and pollution, and the effects that climate change has on humans and animals across the world.

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The Story of Climate Change introduces one of the most important issues facing our world today, and tells you what you can do to help make a change! history with science , this book charts the changes in our Earth's climate , from the beginnings of the planet and its atmosphere, to the Industrial revolution and the dawn of machinery. You'll learn all about the causes of climate change , such as factory farming and pollution, and the effects that climate change has on humans and animals across the world.global warming , you'll discover practical ways we can work together to solve it, from using renewable energy to swapping meat for vegetables in our diet.

As well as discovering the effects of The Story of Climate Change will give you all the information you need, and will inspire you to do your part to fight the climate emergency

With fact-packed text by Catherine Barr and vibrant illustrations by Amy Husband and Mike Love,

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The Story of Climate Change: A first book about how we can help save our planet

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Combining , this book charts the changes in our , from the beginnings of the planet and its atmosphere, to the Industrial revolution and the dawn of machinery. You'll learn all about the , such as factory farming and pollution, and the effects that climate change has on humans and ani...

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Evaluating Websites   (for Elementary students)

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This Earth Day, do something exciting with your garbage!

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Recycle Regatta: Students Fighting Ocean Plastic Waste

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Join the 2025 Recycle Regatta and discover how students turn recycled materials into boats while learning to protect our oceans and fight plastic pollution.

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Learn about the history of Earth Day. Students can discuss and comment on the historical events or add additional events from their own research.

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Discover how plastic waste affects our oceans, rivers, and lakes, and what we can do to help.

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The ocean is full of amazing creatures. It’s also full of plastic. There are about 171 trillion pieces of plastic floating in the sea, according to a study published in the journal PLOS One in 2023. That’s bad news for…

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Plastic is everywhere. According to the United Nations, enough plastic waste to fill 2,000 garbage trucks is dumped into waterways such as oceans, rivers, and lakes each day. There’s plastic litter at the bottom of the ocean and on top of Mount Everest.

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Plastic is everywhere. According to the United Nations, enough plastic waste to fill 2,000 garbage trucks is dumped into waterways such as oceans, rivers, and lakes each day. There's plastic litter at the bottom of the ocean and on top of Mount Everest.

Now plastic has been found in another unlikely place: on the backs of hermit crabs. According to a study published in February in the journal Science of the Total Environment, hermit crabs are using plastic litter as shells.

LUIS DIAZ DEVESA-GETTY IMAGES

Zuzanna Jagiello is a biologist at the University of Warsaw, in Poland. She's the study's lead author. "For me, a hermit crab in a plastic shell could be an icon icon someone or something that has important meaning (noun) The bald eagle is an American icon. of our times,"

Jagiello told TIME for Kids. "They don't have homes, so they use rubbish." Jagiello studies the Anthropocene age. That's the geologic geologic relating to the age of rock and its history (adjective) The geologic age of dinosaurs was the Mesozoic era. age we're in now. Scientists define it as the period in which human activity has had a major impact on the environment. Hermit crabs using plastic waste as shells is one example of that impact.

New Homes

Hermit crabs are small, soft-bodied crabs that live near oceans. To protect themselves from predators, the crabs typically wear seashells that have been left behind by dead sea snails.

CHAMELEONSEYE-GETTY IMAGES

But according to February's study, at least 386 hermit crabs have been documented wearing garbage. Of the world's 16 species of hermit crabs that live on land, 10 have been seen wearing trash. Nearly nine out of every 10 of those crabs were wearing plastic waste, such as bottle caps. The others wore glass or metal, such as broken lightbulbs or soda cans.

Jagiello says that she and her team first learned about hermit crabs wearing garbage when they noticed photos of them posted online. They decided to learn more by conducting research (see "Internet Ecology").

LUIS DIAZ DEVESA-GETTY IMAGES

For their study, the researchers scanned the Internet for photos of hermit crabs wearing trash. They found photos from all over the world. Some had been taken by scientists. Some had been taken by nature photographers. Many had been taken by people who were just curious.

What Does it Mean?

Scientists aren't sure why hermit crabs are choosing litter instead of snail shells. But they have theories.

Some sea snail populations are declining. Hermit crabs could be turning to litter because they can't find enough seashells.

LUIS DIAZ DEVESA-GETTY IMAGES

It's also possible that crabs are opting for plastic because it's light and easy to carry. Or they're drawn to its flashy colors.

Scientists agree that plastic pollution harms wildlife and habitats in many ways. But it isn't clear that the crabs are in any danger.

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"It's really an amazing example of the beauty of adaptation, how some animals are coping with the Anthropocene age," Jagiello says. "What are the long-term consequences of these adaptations? We don't know."

Internet Ecology

JORDAN SIEMENS-GETTY IMAGES

To study hermit crabs, researchers used iEcology, or Internet Ecology. It's a way of doing research. It uses information on the Internet to spot patterns in the natural world. For this study, researchers looked at photos of hermit crabs that people had posted online.

iEcology isn't perfect. The data can be biased. For example, people are more likely to take and post a photo of a hermit crab in a plastic shell than a snail shell, because it's more surprising.

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Plastic is everywhere. According to the United Nations, enough plastic waste to fill 2,000 garbage trucks is dumped into waterways such as oceans, rivers, and lakes each day. There's plastic litter at the bottom of the ocean and on top...

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Britannica explains invasive species and what we can do about them!

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Introduction
U.S. Geological Survey Archive-U.S. Geological Survey/Bugwood.org

An invasive species is any nonnative species that disturbs the ecosystems in which it has been introduced. These species may harm other living things and the environment and may affect the economy or the health of humans. Invasive species include plants, animals, bacteria, and other organisms. Invasive species can grow and spread quickly. They are also called introduced species, alien species, or exotic species.

Spread of Invasive Species
Kitty Kahout-Root Resources/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Invasive species may arrive in new areas through natural migration. However, other species often introduce them. Human activities are one of the most common ways invasive species are transported to new habitats. The activities can be either accidental or intentional. For example, people involved in the pet trade often import nonnative species. Insects may get in the wood of shipping crates and then be released in a new part of the world. Likewise, some marine species attach themselves to ship propellers and get transported when the ship travels to new places. Once released into the new environment, any of these species may become invasive. ( See also animal migration; human migration.)

Most introduced species have trouble adjusting to their new surroundings. Therefore, they do not survive for long. However, some introduced species can establish breeding populations and thrive. In many cases the new ecosystem lacks natural predators to prey on the introduced species. In other cases invasive predators gradually capture and reduce the natural prey population. Other invasive species may prevent native species from obtaining food, living space, or other resources. Over time, invading species can totally replace native ones, causing the extinction of native species in that area. Invasive plants and animals may also spread parasites and germs that may further disrupt invaded areas. ( See also endangered species.)

Modern humans ( Homo sapiens) are among the most successful invasive species. Humans have transformed natural environments into agricultural and urban landscapes. However, humans also contribute substantially to the introduction of different species to new areas. Thousands of years ago migratory humans spread diseases. They also brought domesticated animals with them as they traveled. As civilization expanded, people introduced exotic plants and animals from distant lands. They brought these species with them to use as food or to serve as curiosities in gardens and circuses.

Examples of Invasive Species
Australia and the Pacific Islands
Invasive species occur on all continents. The Norway, or brown, rat ( Rattus norvegicus) probably originated in northeastern China. Explorers accidentally introduced the rodent to the Pacific Islands between the late 18th and 19th centuries. The rat preys on many native birds, small reptiles, and amphibians. People also deliberately introduced some other species during that time. They took dogs, cats, pigs, and other domesticated animals to new lands. There the animals caused the extinction of many other species, including the dodo from Mauritius by 1681.

Settlers deliberately introduced the European wild rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) to Australia in 1827. Originally inhabiting southern Europe and North Africa, the rabbit served as a familiar object in a new land. It multiplied significantly in Australia, however, and harmed native trees and shrubs. In the 1850s people introduced the predatory red fox ( Vulpes vulpes) to help control the European wild rabbits. Instead, the red fox preyed on marsupials and native rodents.

The brown tree snake ( Boiga irregularis) is a native of Australia and Indonesia. It was introduced to Guam, Saipan, and several other Pacific Islands in the 1950s. It has caused the extinction of several birds, reptiles, and amphibians and two of Guam's three native bat species. The snake may have been brought to the islands to control native rodent populations. However, it is more likely that the original invaders were stowaways aboard military aircraft and cargo ships.

North America
In the 1980s the zebra mussel ( Dreissena polymorpha) created ecological and economic disruption to North America's Great Lakes. This species is native to the Black, Aral, and Caspian seas. Zebra mussels traveled in the ballast water in oceangoing ships. They were subsequently released when this water was dumped into the Great Lakes. Large numbers of zebra mussels clog water-intake pipes. They also remove much of the algae from the ecosystems they inhabit.

Fish farmers introduced Asian carp into the United States from Eurasia in the 1970s. The fish were supposed to help control algae on catfish farms in the South. The Asian carp escaped into the Mississippi River system during flooding in the early 1990s. The fish consumes large amounts of algae and zooplankton and often pushes aside native fish to feed. Their populations grow rapidly. Scientists feared that Asian carp might enter the Great Lakes ecosystem, where they could seriously disrupt the food chain. To try to prevent this, a series of electric fish barriers were built in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, among other measures.

By 2010 the Burmese python ( Python molurus bivittatus), a native of Southeast Asia, was a problem for the wetlands of southern Florida. Some people who kept them as pets decided they did not want the snakes anymore and released them into the wild. Other snakes escaped after Hurricane Andrew damaged pet stores in 1992. The Burmese pythons soon established breeding populations in the state. Growing to nearly 20 feet (6 meters) long, these giant constrictor snakes became significant predators in the area.

Kudzu ( Pueraria montana) is a fast-growing vine native to southern and eastern Asia. People introduced it into North America in the late 19th century for erosion control and decorative purposes. However, it readily spread over trees and shrubs, depriving native plants of sunlight.

Global Reach
Some introduced species have a global distribution. Most notable examples in this category are disease-causing microbes. Early European colonists brought organisms that caused the common cold, smallpox, and other illnesses to the native peoples of the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific. Beginning in the late 1960s, people who were infected with HIV-which causes AIDS -inadvertently carried the virus from Africa to Haiti. Later AIDS would spread to populations across the globe.

Solutions for Invasive Species
Most scientists agree that invasive species should be stopped before they are introduced to a new area. Port officials should more closely inspect materials being shipped internationally to uncover insects, seeds, and other stowaway organisms. Some officials believe that buyers, sellers, and transporters of illegal exotic pets should face tougher punishments.

Some ecologists focus on preventing invasive species from prospering in new habitats. They have called for aggressive monitoring and eradication programs. Many habitat restoration efforts concentrate on replanting and reintroducing native species while simultaneously removing invasive species. In addition, effective education programs give citizens the knowledge and resources to deal with invasive species in their regions.

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An invasive species is any nonnative species that disturbs the ecosystems in which it has been introduced. These species may harm other living things and the environment and...

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Location in Hawes Library: 578.6 SMI

This is the story of some newcomers, but also of human error and nature gone wild. By looking at thirty different intrusive plants and animals, They Are Here! explores invasive species, their impact on our environment, and the steps we can take to support local ecosystems under threat.

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They Are Here!: How Invasive Species Are Spoiling Our Ecosystems|eBook

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From the New York Times-bestselling author, Roland Smith, comes a fascinating, fact-filled resource that explores how humans have introduced—on purpose and by accident—plants and animals to parts of the world where they were previously unknown. . .sometimes with…

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Invasive Species? What can YOU do to help the problem? 

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Invasive Species? What can YOU do to help the problem? 

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New York State Conservationist Kids Magazine takes on the topic of invasive species, their impact on the world around us and what YOU can do to help.

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Earth Rangers ranks the top 10 most invasive species

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Where kids go to save animals! - The Kid's Conservation Organization

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Ten of the World’s Most Invasive Species - Where kids go to save animals!

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An invasive species might look harmless but if not controlled it can destroy an ecosystem. In this top 10 we take a look at ten of the worst.

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Watch the full episode of Weird But True, Season 1 Episode 10, "Animal Invaders"! This week Charlie and Kirby are playing the role of wildlife sheriffs – investigating invasive species crooks that are wreaking havoc on the environment! After a little research, it’s off to the Everglades to catch some caimans with the help of a local scientist. There they’ll learn how species invade non-native habits and why it’s important to monitor them to keep ecosystems balanced.

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Animal Invaders | Weird But True! | S1 E10 | Full Episode | @natgeokids

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Mystery! Science! takes on Invasive Species 

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Mystery! Science! takes on Invasive Species 

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Are your kids wondering: How do we know if an animal is an endangered species? This question came from John, a student from the United States. This episode is Part 1 of a special Earth Day mini-lesson series about endangered animals! Like, share, and vote on the next question here: https://mysterydoug.com/vote

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How do we know if an animal is an endangered species?

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What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet (Protect the Planet)

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Location at Hawes Library : 333.7 FRE

Did you know that every single plastic toothbrush ever made still exists? Or that there is a floating mass of trash larger than the USA drifting around the Pacific Ocean?

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What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet (Protect the Planet)

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What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet (Protect the Planet) [French, Jess] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet (Protect the Planet)

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Meet 12 young activists from around the world who are speaking out and taking action against climate change. Learn about the work they do and the challenges they face, and discover how the future of our planet starts with each and every one of us.

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Author Loll Kirby and illustrator Adelina Lirius's picture book Old Enough to Save the Planet is an inspiring look at young climate change activists who are changing the world. "Inspiring fare for the next generation of world savers." - Kirkus Reviews

The world is facing a climate crisis like we've never seen before. And kids around the world are stepping up to raise awareness and try to save the planet. As people saw in the youth climate strike in September 2019, kids will not stay silent about this subject-they're going to make a change.

Meet 12 young activists from around the world who are speaking out and taking action against climate change. Learn about the work they do and the challenges they face, and discover how the future of our planet starts with each and every one of us.

"Vibrant, expressive pen and ink illustrations supplement the text." - School Library Journal

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Old Enough to Save the Planet (Changemakers)

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The world is facing a climate crisis like we've never seen before. And kids around the world are stepping up to raise awareness and try to save the planet. As people saw in the youth climate strike in September 2019, kids will not stay silent about this subject-they're going to make a change....

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Discover shocking stats and surprising facts; inspirational interviews with National Geographic explorers and leading researchers who are working tirelessly to protect the planet; tons of simple suggestions for sustainable swaps; and more eco-friendly choices and smart action steps. This book answers all of your burning questions about plastic and offers tangible ways to get involved, reduce plastic use, and create a more plastic-free future!

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Jam-packed with surprising information about plastic's effect on the environment, plus loads of practical ways kids can cut down on their plastic footprint, this is the kids guide to being part of the pollution solution!

It's in your toothbrush ... your clothes ... your earbuds. Chances are, you're touching it right now. We're talking about plastic! Plastic is absolutely everywhere and in practically everything we touch, from pens to water bottles to sports equipment. And a lot of it is used once and then thrown away. Unfortunately, it takes a REALLY long time for plastic to break down and it can be harmful to our environment, especially wildlife. But why and when did we start using it in so much stuff? And how do we stop?

Discover shocking stats and surprising facts; inspirational interviews with National Geographic explorers and leading researchers who are working tirelessly to protect the planet; tons of simple suggestions for sustainable swaps; and more eco-friendly choices and smart action steps. This book answers all of your burning questions about plastic and offers tangible ways to get involved, reduce plastic use, and create a more plastic-free future!

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Kids vs. Plastic: Ditch the straw and find the pollution solution to bottles, bags, and other single-use plastics

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It's in your toothbrush ... your clothes ... your earbuds. Chances are, you're touching it right now. We're talking about plastic! Plastic is absolutely everywhere and in practically everything we touch, from pens to water bottles to sports equipment. And a lot of it is used once and then thro...

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Annie & Moby talk about endangered animals 

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Annie & Moby talk about endangered animals 

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SciShow Kids - How Plastic Hurts the World

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SciShow Kids - How Plastic Hurts the World

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Recycling trash is one really important way that we can help the Earth stay clean! It's much better to recycle things than throw them away, but it's super important to recycle plastic! Jessi is here to tell you why!

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Climate change is the process of the Earth heating up. It describes the changes in conditions such as weather, temperature, and rainfall over a long period of time. After years of observing the planet, scientists have discovered that one of the major consequences of climate change is global warming - the warming of the Earth's surface. They estimate that human activities have caused the planet to warm by 1°C since the Industrial Revolution that started in 1760. While it might not sound like much, this is a very important issue for us and wildlife all around the world. We prepared an easy guide on climate change for kids.
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Why is The Earth Getting Warmer?

The Earth is surrounded by a layer of gas, called the atmosphere. When sunlight enters the atmosphere, some of the sun's heat is reflected from clouds and the atmosphere, while most of it is absorbed by the Earth's surface, which makes the Earth warm enough to live on.

However, climate experts believe that human activities are the main causes of Earth's warming. When it is summertime, we turn on the air conditioner. When we want to go from one place to another, we burn fuel to power cars and buses. When factories make products like toys and phones, toxic materials are burned, releasing huge amounts of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. These gases are called greenhouse gases .

These toxic gases absorb heat by trapping a lot of sunlight. This increases the Earth's average temperature, which changes its climate. In fact, the past five years have been the warmest in centuries.

What are the Effects of Climate Change?
Melting Icebergs and Rising Sea Levels
About 20 000 years ago, large areas of Asia, Europe, and North and South America were covered with huge sheets of ice, each many kilometres thick. As the Earth's temperature increases, icebergs are melting, causing the sea level of the entire planet to rise. Some experts believe that by the end of the century, the global sea level will rise by a few meters! Such a rise will cause widespread flooding of low-lying coastal areas and threaten many large cities. Rising sea levels is the reason Indonesia is moving its capital city- the current one is sinking .

Today, the only ice sheets are found around Antarctica and the Arctic Ocean. Scientists predict that the major icebergs are melting more rapidly. Some satellite images show that unusually large chunks of sea ice have been melting during the Arctic summer- summers here might have no ice at all by 2050! Melting of floating ice is an important environmental change. Since ice sheets help cool the Earth and reflect sunlight like a mirror, the disappearing ice makes major changes to the climate. Wildlife living in the polar regions might also be pushed into extinction.
Worsening Natural Disasters
Warmer air caused by an increase in global temperatures can hold more water vapour than cooler air. When storms are ready to release water vapour in the form of rain, they have more to use, leading to heavier rainfalls.

As surface temperatures continue to rise, oceans will get warmer, causing larger storms, longer droughts, and larger wildfires. This is why Australia's recent bushfire season in late 2019 and early 2020 was the worst season ever recorded, killing more than 33 people and burning down more than 2000 houses.

What Can We Do to Stop Climate Change?

In our daily lives, we use electricity all the time, but to make electricity, dirty fuels, like coal, gas and biomass, are often used. These are fuels that release greenhouse gases, which is what causes climate change to happen much faster!

Luckily, not all power plants cause pollution. Some power plants use renewable energy. That means they are not burning fossil fuel to generate energy, but are using nature to make energy . This energy is not harmful to the environment and is always available. Governments should be generating power from this kind of energy instead of harmful fossil fuels.

Hydro power plants get power from water. When water held on top of a huge dam is released, water runs through the dam and spins the blades of the turbines. The turbines are connected to a generator that makes electricity as it spins. Similarly, wind power plants get power from fast-moving wind that rushes past windmills.

Solar power plants get energy from sunlight. Some people even have solar panels on the roofs of their houses.

We can also help slow down climate change by conserving energy in our everyday life. At home, we can take shorter showers and turn off the lights when we leave the room. To save manufacturing energy, we could recycle more. Outside , we can walk or bike more often.

We should also encourage our friends, family and other people to save energy. This way, we could really make a difference and stop climate change and global warming!
Check This Out Next: Reducing Emissions: What is the Paris Agreement?

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Climate Change for Kids - Earth.Org Kids

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Climate change is the process of the Earth heating up. It describes the changes in conditions such as weather, temperature, and rainfall over a long period of time. After years of observing the planet, scientists have discovered that one of the major consequences of climate change is global warming - the warming of the Earth's surface.

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Do you consider yourself - or do others consider you - like, a kid? A pretty smart and unique kid, maybe around elementary-school age, maybe middle school or even older? At a time in your life when maybe you're deciding what you're interested in, what things you love doing and what you care about?

Are you deciding that you're interested in animals and plants, like being outside or exploring wild places, and are generally intrigued by the wonder of living on this green-and-blue planet surrounded by billions of stars?

And finally, do you feel the urgency of saving all these animals and plants, and the planet they (and we) live on?

Then you can be - or already are - a kid conservationist. Cool.
So ... what exactly is conservation?
The word "conservation" of course comes from "to conserve" - to preserve, protect, save, defend, support, maintain, sustain: the opposite of "destroy" (or letting something be destroyed).

We often say we want to "preserve wildlands" or "conserve water." When it comes to the environment - well, we want to preserve/conserve the whole thing.

That means, as conservationists, we're taking action to save the ecosystems around us (like oceans, forests and deserts), the species that live in them (from birds to bears to bugs), and our planet's climate (which shapes the weather patterns, and the life-support systems, that keep us all going).

We don't always have instant success when we try to protect a wild place or endangered species. But often, we actually do - and that feel amazing. The Center for Biological Diversity actually wins its legal cases for endangered species about 93 percent of the time ... which, trust us, is a lot!

The point is that even if we don't succeed in one step toward saving a species or its habitat, the goal of conservation is to keep trying, to save as much as we possibly can for as long as we can. Meanwhile, we learn from our losses and celebrate our big and small victories - and we feel good about what we're doing throughout it all.

What are we saving our environment from? Why is it so important to save? How do we do it? And what makes doing it so ... exciting? Click here to learn all that - and more.

Pronghorn photo courtesy Flickr/mnchilemom

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Do you consider yourself - or do others consider you - like, a kid? A pretty smart and unique kid, maybe around elementary-school age, maybe middle school or even older? At a time in your life when maybe you're deciding what you're interested in, what things you love doing and what you care about?

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Do you ever find yourself wondering about something? Join Kaden in this episode of I WONDER to answer the question, what is conservation and why is it important to animals? Explore this topic as we explore Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

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Some resources are renewable, which means they can be replaced. Living things, such as plants and animals, are examples of renewable resources because they can reproduce themselves. But renewable resources can still be damaged or destroyed. For example, people might catch too many of one type of fish. If not enough fish are left to reproduce, that type of fish might die out. Conservation helps people manage renewable resources so they are kept in good supply.

Other resources are nonrenewable, which means they cannot be replaced. Fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum (oil), are examples of nonrenewable resources. Minerals, such as iron ore, also are nonrenewable resources. People can conserve nonrenewable resources by using them carefully. They can also look for other resources that serve the same purpose. For example, people can use less petroleum by using other types of fuel instead.

Water is one of Earth's most important natural resources. Water is used for drinking, cooking, washing, bathing, and irrigation. It is also used to produce electricity and in other manufacturing processes. As Earth's population grows, water conservation has become necessary. People need to be careful about how much water they use and be sure not to waste any. This is especially true during long periods of drought. Water will not be available for irrigation if a drought lasts for several weeks or months. As a result, no crops will grow, and a famine may occur.

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Conservation is the protection of things found in nature. It requires the sensible use of all Earth's natural resources: water, soil, minerals, wildlife, and forests. People...

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Location in Hawes Library: 363.73 BAR

Earth’s natural resources include air, minerals, plants, soil, water, and wildlife. Conservation is the care and protection of these resources so that they can persist for future generations. It includes maintaining diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems, as well as functions of the environment, such as nutrient cycling.

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Catherine Barr (Author), Steve Williams (Author), Amy Husband (Illustrator) & 0 more

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The Story of Conservation: A first book about protecting nature

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The Story of Conservation: A first book about protecting nature [Barr, Catherine, Williams, Steve, Husband, Amy] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Story of Conservation: A first book about protecting nature

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Here at National Geographic Kids, we know how much our readers want to make a positive difference to our world! So, read on to find out how to save the planet…

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Here at National Geographic Kids, we know how much our readers want to make a positive difference to our world! So, read on to find out how to save the planet...
1. Be a habitat hero!

All over the world, wild places are in trouble. As the human population has increased, we've taken over more and more land for our homes, farms, factories and roads.

In the rainforest, around 80,000 acres of trees are cut down every day to make way for farming, or to provide wood for industry. In other countries, habitats like grasslands, underwater habitats, and wetlands are also at risk - and so are the animals and plants that live there.

Luckily, lots of people are working hard to protect these precious places, and you can be one of them!

So, how can you help save our habitats?
- Stand up against deforestation, by avoiding foods that contain unsustainable palm oil.

- Keep your local habitats safe by sticking to the paths.

- Make your garden wildlife-friendly by setting aside space for nature! You could build a bee hotel, have a log pile, or even create a pond.

- If you own a cat that goes outdoors, put a bell on its collar so that vulnerable wildlife can hear it coming and make their escape!

2. Reduce, reuse, recycle!

We live in a ' throwaway culture', where many of our things aren't built to last. Each year, every house in the UK produces about 1 tonne of waste - that's about the same weight as a great white shark!

What's worse, is that 60% of what we throw away, is actually recyclable! That's why it's super important to check the label on every piece of rubbish, to make sure you're putting it in the right bin.

Check out our article on the circular economy to find out more about this wasteful culture...

Even better, you can avoid throwing things away altogether, by buying fewer things, taking better care of the things you have, and finding ways to repair or reuse things that are old or broken.

So, how can you reduce your waste?

- Before you throw something away, stop and think about what else it could be used for! For example, rather than using disposable paper towels to clean up in the kitchen, why not turn old clothes or bedsheets into cloths? Then, you can use them over and over again!

- Ask a grown-up if they can teach you to mend small rips in your clothes, so that they last longer! And if you really have to get rid of something, see if you can give it to charity instead.

- Fight plastic pollution by using reusable water bottles, bringing reusable bags with you to the shops, and always taking your rubbish home with you.

- Take your plastic prevention one step further by checking out our ten top tips, learning how to makeplastic-free gifts, and reducing plastic waste in school too!

3. Be a green eater!

In the past, people thought that we could take whatever we wanted from the planet, without any consequences! Now, we know that's not true. If we keep taking as much as we want, whenever we want, our planet's resources could one day run out.

That's why it's important that we try to live sustainably. Issues like overfishing, water scarcity (when there's not enough clean water to go around),and climate change are all affected by our lifestyle choices. Thankfully, there's lots we can do to help.

Around the world, we eat a whopping total of 360 million tonnes of meat and 156 million tonnes of fish every year. That's an astonishing amount!

If we could all cut down, just a little bit, it would take the pressure off natural ecosystems, and ensure that these animals - and their habitats - have a healthy future.

So, how can you become a green eater?

- Talk to your family, and ask if you could all try some vegetarian or vegan meals. There are loads of meat-free and plant-based recipes available online, or you can try our veggie pasta bake!

- Know where your food comes from! When you're in the supermarket, ask a grown-up to help check things like tins of tuna for signs that they've been sustainably fished, like the blue MSC label. These will have been sourced responsibly, in a way that helps protect fish populations.

4. Keep an eye on what you use!

Our daily lives require an amazing amount of water and energy. In countries like the UK, Australia, or the USA, these things are available at the push of a button or turn of a tap - but sadly, that's not the case for everyone...

Around the world, 2.5 billion people have no (or unreliable) access to electricity. Plus, 4.2 billion struggle to access clean water every day, which they need for drinking, bathing, washing, growing crops and rearing animals. That's why those of us that have access to these precious resources should be careful not to waste them.

So, what can you do to save energy and water?

- Go on a vampire hunt! Household appliances that are unnecessarily left on standby are known as 'vampire devices' as they sneakily suck up lots of electricity! Make sure they're all turned off at the wall, to stop them wasting power.

- On a sunny day, hang things outside to dry! This saves energy that would have been used on the dryer.

- If you can, try cycling, walking, or using public transport to get out and about, rather than using the car.

- Turn off any dripping taps, and make sure you don't run them for longer than necessary. Turn the taps off while brushing your teeth, and take short showers of four minutes or less!

5. Be a planet advocate!

The real secret of how to save the planet? Sharing your knowledge with others, and helping them to become eco-heroes too! Whether it's spectacular habitats, cool creatures, or eco-friendly living, don't be afraid to speak up and tell others about your planet passions! It takes lots of people working together to make change happen - so share, share, share!

Now, get out there and save the world - you can do it!

Thanks to Markus Spiske; Sabine van Erp; Surfing Croyde Bay; Louis Reed; Eutah Mizushima; Boudewijn Huysmans; Nareeta Martin and Abigail Keenan for the images used in this article.

What's your top tip for other kids learning how to save the planet? Let us know in the comments below!

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How to save the planet: a guide for kids! - National Geographic Kids

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Find out how to save the planet in our amazing kids' guide! Learn tonnes of handy tips and things you can do to make a positive difference...

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Location In Hawes Library: WHO HQ Collection Shelf

The earth is definitely getting warmer. There's no argument about that, but who or what is the cause? And why has climate change become a political issue? Are humans at fault? Is this just a natural development? While the vast majority of scientists who study the environment agree that humans play a large part in climate change, there is a counterargument. Author Gail Herman presents both sides of the debate in this fact-based, fair-minded, and well-researched book that looks at the subject from many perspectives, including scientific, social, and political.

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What Is Climate Change?

In the Canadian Arctic, winter used to come early. By early November, temperatures dipped below zero. Snow covered the ground. Hudson Bay became covered in solid ice.

Hundreds of polar bears lumbered onto the frozen water, making their way out to open ocean. All winter long, they swam from ice floe to ice floe. They mated. They hunted and fished. There were plenty of ringed seals to eat.

When summer finally came in August, the ice melted. The polar bears swam back to land. The males play-fought. The females watched over their young cubs. Months passed. Polar bears lounged on tundra-still-frozen ground-using little energy. They waited for cold weather. They waited to go out to sea again.

Polar bears are strong, majestic creatures, standing up to nine feet tall and weighing up to one thousand pounds. They are built for the cold. Their snow-white coat is thick, with a double layer of fur. Also, a layer of fat lies just under their skin, keeping them extra warm. For months, polar bears have to live off this fat, gained from winter feedings on the ice. When they're on land, they barely eat.

In early November 2016, the polar bears were still on land. There was no sea ice on Hudson Bay. Weeks passed. By December, there was still barely any ice at all. So the polar bears had to wait longer to return to the sea. Some paced back and forth along the shoreline. Others lay on the ground, not doing much at all.

The warmer climate affected the polar bears in important ways. In the 1980s, Hudson Bay bears were bigger and rounder, well fed. Recently they've been losing weight and becoming weaker. That's because with fewer weeks on ice, their hunting season has become shorter. They have less food. In Hudson Bay, polar bear numbers have dropped. The bears have fewer cubs. And not all cubs survive.

In 2016, the water in Hudson Bay didn't freeze until December 12. That was very late. "Sea ice is finally forming," one scientist reported. "The polar bears are moving quickly offshore."

Even on ice, however, the polar bears had a tougher time. There was more water between floes. The polar bears were already weakened by long months on land. And yet they had to swim longer distances to get from place to place to hunt.

Observers followed one female who had to swim nine days straight to reach an ice floe.

The Arctic-the polar bears' habitat-is changing. Temperatures have gone up about 3 degrees Celsius (°C), or 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit (°F), since 1900.

The ice cover is shrinking, too. In 2017, it was 30 percent smaller than it was twenty-five years earlier. And each year, the remaining ice cover is melting faster and faster.

The fact is that our entire planet is getting warmer, not just the Arctic. Certain gases in the atmosphere-"greenhouse gases"-hold in heat, keeping it from escaping into space. Higher temperatures bring changes in plant and animal life. In sources of food and water. In rainfall and snowfall, floods and droughts. Habitats around the world are at risk.

It's all part of climate change.

Chapter 1: Things Are Heating Up

First of all, what is climate?

Before you dress each day, do you check the climate to figure out what to wear? No, you check the weather.

Weather changes often, sometimes in the space of a couple of hours. Climate doesn't. Climate is the weather over long periods of time.

Scientists who study climate look at weather patterns. They need to measure temperature and precipitation (rainfall and snowfall). They'll look to see if there are changes over thirty years, fifty years, or even one hundred years. By studying these long periods, they see whether conditions on Earth are changing.

Scientists have taken measurements from weather stations around the world, in hot places and cold ones. And the average temperatures in all these places have gone up almost 2°F since the 1880s. That may not sound like a big difference, but it is.

Earth has been having fewer cold days and more warm days. There have been fewer record low temperatures and more record highs. Even freezing-cold places are getting warmer, and not just in the Arctic. It's also happening in Antarctica, by the South Pole. Ice caps, glaciers, and ice sheets-all forms of land ice-are melting.

When land ice melts, it runs into the sea. The additional water from the Arctic Ocean ends up flowing into all the oceans. This causes sea levels to rise around the world. On average, levels have risen eight inches since the early 1900s and about two inches since 2000.

Again, that doesn't seem like much. But these changes in the Arctic have an impact on weather patterns for the entire planet. It's like a teeny, tiny spark that sets off a fire.

In Alaska, coastal villages have already seen dramatic change. Homes are threatened by flooding and erosion-that's water wearing away the shoreline. Sea ice is melting. So is permafrost, the permanently frozen soil just under the ground. The permafrost even feels different. It's springy, which causes houses to collapse into the water.

The people of an island town called Shishmaref have voted to move their village. It will take years and much money to do it. But the people are ready. "The land is going away," one man explained.

What about places that are already hot? Higher temperatures are bringing changes in these areas, too. Land is drying out. Water sources are dwindling.

In Africa, Lake Chad sits on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Millions of people in Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger relied on the lake-once one of the largest in Africa-for drinking water, fishing, and farming. But there is hardly any lake left. Since 1963, Lake Chad has lost nearly 90 percent of its water. It has shrunk because higher temperatures made the water evaporate at a faster pace. (Overuse is another reason. After all, the lake provided food and water for so many.)

So how do climate scientists explain this global warming? It all starts with greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.

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juvenile nonfiction / science & nature / earth sciences / weather

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What Is Climate Change? (What Was?) [Herman, Gail, Who HQ, Hinderliter, John] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. What Is Climate Change? (What Was?)

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Filled with engaging big ideas that will inspire children to think about their role in keeping our world healthy, Our World Out of Balance details how humans have thrown the planet off-balance and ways we can work together to be part of the solution and create a healthier world.

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Our World Out of Balance: Understanding Climate Change and What We Can Do [Minoglio, Andrea, Fanelli, Laura] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Our World Out of Balance: Understanding Climate Change and What We Can Do

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A comprehensive article with tips and information about environmental protection written specifically for young readers.

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Earth Day is here! It takes place each year on April 22. The first Earth Day was 50 years ago. People celebrate by doing things that help protect the planet. Read on to learn more. How will you celebrate?

Back in Time

HULTON ARCHIVE-GETTY IMAGES

The first Earth Day was in 1970. In the United States, millions celebrated. Some cleaned up parks. Others recycled × recycle MEDIAPRODUCTION/GETTY IMAGES to make something new from something that has already been used (verb) The sneakers are made from recycled plastic bottles. . Lots of people helped out.

Speaking Up for Change

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People come together on Earth Day. They ask leaders for change. People in government × government JOE SOHM-VISIONS OF AMERICA/GETTY IMAGES" the people who make decisions for a country, state, city, etc. (noun) The president is the head of the United States government. can pass laws to protect our land, air, and water.

A Global Event

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Today, people all over the world celebrate Earth Day. These children in China are doing an art project. They are painting a big picture of the Earth.

Lending a Hand

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There are many things you can do with friends and family this Earth Day. Volunteer × volunteer FATCAMERA-GETTY IMAGES to do something without being forced or paid to do it (verb) I volunteer at an animal shelter on weekends. in your community. Plant a tree or clean up a park. Do your part to help the planet!

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You can make a difference by writing a letter. Write to leaders in your town, state, or country. Let them know what issues you care about.

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Earth Day is here! It takes place each year on April 22. The first Earth Day was 50 years ago. People celebrate by doing things that help protect the planet. Read on to learn more. How will you celebrate? ...

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Age-appropriate segments from the documentary series focusing on environmental conservation and wildlife protection.

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The Our Planet series, now streaming on Netflix and YouTube, shows the awesome splendour of the natural wonders that we risk losing, but also carries a message of hope: we can still save our planet if we act now.

To support this eight-part documentary, WWF has created a wealth of free materials to inspire schools and young people to explore the Earth's major biomes and the challenges they face. It is not necessary to have watched the series to be able to use the following resources.

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Educational resources designed to support Netflix's Our Planet series (available to access for free on Youtube), developed for schools in the UK.

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When you are researching don't forget to follow proper citations!

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Knowing the answer is one thing...but being able to justify your thinking by citing text is an entirely different type of skill. Taking the text and combing through it, like an old man at the beach with a metal detector, determined to find some treasures, not only takes strong reading comprehension skills but also takes some perseverance, to find what we're looking for.
Here are the six steps I use in my classroom, to teach this important reading skill:

1. Teach the Specific Steps to Cite Text Evidence

No secrets here...I'm a firm believer in teaching kids explicitly how to do the skills we want them to have, whether it's reading or math or any other subject. Often times, I like to make my thinking public, so that my modeling will give the kids an idea of what they can do to reach a particular learning goal. Mentor texts are a great tool to use here and can be read in one sitting, using lots of examples.

About the steps...To cite text evidence, we talk about how we need to read the whole text first (duh, but some kids might just try to skip this part and just try to answer the questions). Then, we read the question and think about how we might answer it.
Once we figure out our answer, we go back to the text and search for specific parts of the text, that will help us justify our answer. We make sure to take some time to discuss what it means to justify something and the kids enjoy this part a lot. For example, justify why you should have recess... Justify why you should be able to have a cell phone... Justify why you should be able to have a sleepover... Like little lawyers in the making!

I like using anchor charts so much and this one really comes in handy to teach kids how to cite evidence by using the author's exact words, using quotation marks, and telling where you found it (On page 7..., or In the second paragraph...). We also spend some time working on using commas and quotation marks properly, which is a skill that goes hand in hand with this reading strategy.

Next, I teach the kids a few specific sentence starters, which work really well when citing text evidence. After we've used them for a while, these come so naturally to the kids, that they have the set memorized without even referring to the chart.

Another early-on activity I have found to be useful is a whole class activity, which lets us practice/model this skill together. To get ready for this activity, I copy an interesting passage and then have the kids color code specific parts of the text that answer different questions. I actually do this verbally and write the questions on the smartboard as we go.

For whole group activities, I've found that if all the questions are all written down, you know the speed demon worker bee is going to do the whole page before we get to the second question!
So, here's how I do this activity...I might say, do you think so and so showed responsibility in this passage? Highlight the specific part(s) of the passage that support your answer (use yellow). For the next question, we might highlight in green, or underline in purple. I plan ahead so the kids have lots of opportunities to practice finding different parts of the text, without color coding on top of another answer.

Ok...I admit it, I can't get enough of task cards, and they're a great tool to use to help kids practice citing text evidence. Task cards give kids a lot of concentrated practice in a short period of time. Plus, the format is such, that they don't feel overwhelmed. When we do task cards for text evidence, I like to match the kids up in partners and they go around the room, recording their answers on a record sheet. Besides doing a Scoot/Scavenger type activity with the cards though, they could be used in small groups, for centers, photocopied and put into a reading notebook, or used to play a number of fun games (See my blog post called
16 Ways to Use Task Cards for more ideas).
Now this unit, including the task cards, comes in a digital format to give you greater flexibility.

I often create resources that I need for my classroom and this is no exception. I wanted high-interest passages that the kids would enjoy reading, that were rigorous enough to allow them to search for and find justification for their answers. Whether you use my differentiated Text Evidence Kit for 3rd - 5th grades, with color-coding passages, practice passages and games or the Text Evidence Unit (for 4th and 5th graders) or another type of resource, kids definitely benefit from practice with shorter pieces of text before we push them out of the nest a bit, into longer pieces of literature/novels or informational texts.

6. Use Actual Literature or Informational Text Books

All of this practice is necessary and the process is a great one for the kids, scaffolding their learning starting with the teacher, to guided practice, to the more independent work...but there comes a time when they have to show you what they've got. Time for them to dive into an actual book (gasp!) and to use that book, whether it is a piece of literature or some informational text, and answer comprehension questions, while citing evidence to justify their reasoning from the text. Whew! Not an easy task, I know, and not one that occurs overnight, but it is one that is attainable, with the help of a caring teacher...like you! Want to read about how to teach your older students (4th and above) to write effective constructed responses? This post has lots of tips for using the RACE strategy.
Click here to take a look!

I'd love to hear about your experiences with this concept. What has worked for you or what do you think is the most challenging aspect of it?

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Knowing the answer is one thing...but being able to justify your thinking by citing text is an entirely different type of skill. Taking the text and combing through it, like an old man at the beach with a metal detector, determined to find some treasures, not only takes strong reading comprehension skills, but also takes some perseverance, to find what we're looking for.

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Location in Hawes Library: Nat Geo Collection Shelf

In this child-friendly atlas, stunning animal photos combine with colorful, easily accessible maps to teach young readers about geography through the wild creatures that fascinate them. Each world region includes a "spotlight" on animals in the area.

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Captivating critters, eye-grabbing pictures, weird and freaky facts-what better way for kids to learn geography! In this child-friendly atlas, stunning animal photos combine with colorful, easily accessible maps to teach young readers about geography through the wild creatures that fascinate them. Each world region includes a "spotlight" on animals in the area. Thematic spreads deliver the facts about habitats, endangered species, and more. Careful research and all-around kid appeal make this a must-have children's atlas for home and school.

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National Geographic Wild Animal Atlas: Earth's Astonishing Animals and Where They Live (National Geographic Kids)

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Captivating critters, eye-grabbing pictures, weird and freaky facts-what better way for kids to learn geography! In this child-friendly atlas, stunning animal photos combine with colorful, easily accessible maps to teach young readers about geography through the wild creatures that fascinate them...

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On this Amazing Adventure you will discover the reasons why the rich biodiversity of our planet is so at risk, and why so many of its creatures are endangered.

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Tom Jackson (Author), Sam Caldwell (Illustrator)

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Endangered Animals Atlas: A Journey Across the World and into the Wild (Amazing Adventures)

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Endangered Animals Atlas: A Journey Across the World and into the Wild (Amazing Adventures) [Jackson, Tom, Caldwell, Sam] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Endangered Animals Atlas: A Journey Across the World and into the Wild (Amazing Adventures)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h7BLuH6fHs