Earth Day

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• Further Education (Key Stage 5)
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• BTEC, GCSE

Introduction

This lesson explores Earth Day, it's history and purpose - culminating in your students proposing their own ideas for environmental advocacy around the school/ college. This is designed to really get your students to think about their own areas and actions - so embrace conversation and let them really go wild with their propositions!

Instructions

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Learning Objectives

1. Understand the history of Earth Day

2. Develop some ideas of how you can participate in Earth Day at your school

3. Summarise key ideas on how to help protect the environment and limit our own impact

Background

Since 1970, April 22nd marks the official celebration of Earth Day, a day to reflect on the movement towards a greener, more sustainable future and to raise awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations.

What are some of the ways that you help preserve the environment?

Here are some ways you can be proactive on Earth Day

It's all rubbish

The number of rubbish trucks filled each year would stretch half way to the moon!

Before you throw something away think about whether it could be recycled or reused in some way...

You can also reduce waste in limiting the things you buy!

Honestly... How thorough are you with recycling?

1

Super thorough 💪

2

I try when I can 👌

3

Forget most of the time 🤔

4

Literally never do it 😳

Live Green

Research estimates that around 15 billion trees are cut down across the world each year.

You can all help offset that loss by planting trees at your school or homes - they're important for the oxygen cycle and can provide shelter and food for animals!

Why not try and plant something?

Lights off

Currently, a lot of our electricity 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, and the sun.

Try conserving electrical energy (and save money) by using only what you need.

What contributes to climate change?

A

Solar panels

B

Fossil fuels like coal and oil

C

Hydroelectric power

D

Wind turbines

How can you save water while brushing?

A

Turn off the tap

B

Brush teeth in the shower

C

Keep the tap running

D

Use hot water

What percentage of Earth's water is drinkable?

A

25%

B

50%

C

Less than 1%

D

10%

What is a common source of ocean plastic?

A

Single-use plastic items

B

Paper bags

C

Metal cans

D

Glass bottles

What should you use instead of plastic straws?

A

Single-use cutlery

B

Reusable bottles

C

Plastic bags

D

Disposable cups

Be wary of water

Clean, drinkable water is a limited resource. Less than 1% of the water on Earth can be used by humans, the rest is either too salty or too difficult to access.

Turning off the tap when you brush your teeth can conserve up to 30 litres of water a day. Timing your showers is also a really easy way tp make a difference.

Plastic Problems

Every year, 8.8 million tons of single-use plastic ends up in the ocean: shopping bags, drink bottles, straws, food wrappers, and plastic packaging. Avoid using straws, drink from a reusable bottle and use ‘bags for life’ when you go to the supermarket.

Summary

Celebrating Earth Day each year is vital because it recognises the harm caused to the environment while showing support across the globe for protecting the Earth. You can take steps this

Earth Day to support sustainability through your own collective and individual actions.

Write a proposition for something you could do as a collective to participate in Earth Day as a school.

Did anyones proposition sound like something you could actually do?

Why not send those to the Principal and try and make an impact.