Environment

=We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, = =we borrow it from our children. = =~Native American Proverb =

 **The importance of environmental education: ** Our nation’s future relies on a well-educated public to be wise stewards of the very environment that sustains us, our families and communities, and future generations. It is environmental education which can best help us as individuals make the complex, conceptual connections between economic prosperity, benefits to society, environmental health, and our own well being. Ultimately, the collective wisdom of our citizens, gained through education, will be the most compelling and most successful strategy for environmental management. =(National Environmental Education Advisory Council, Report to Congress, September 2000) =

=Be Aware: = =**Facts: **= =- Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. = = -Every ton of recycled office paper saves 380 gallons of oil. = = -Energy saved from one recycled aluminum can will operate a TV set for 3 hours, and is the equivalent to half a can of gasoline. = = -Americans use 50 million tons of paper annually -- consuming more than 850 million trees. = = -The Chesapeake Bay is a commercial and recreational resource for the more than 16 million people who live in its watershed. = = -The Susquehanna River provides about 50 percent of the fresh water coming into the Bay (an average of 19 million gallons of water per minute.) = = -Arctic ice is quickly disappearing, and the region may have its first completely ice-free summer by 2040. Polar bears and indigenous people are already suffering. =

=**Recent articles regaring a variety of environmental topics:**= = -State Hold off on blasting at Rocks State Park = = source: [] 1/19/10 As a result of mounting public opposition, the State Highway Administration has delayed destruction of rock formations to build roads = = = = = = = = -Defending Rocks Rd. source: The Aegis 2/3/10 = = The Maryland State Highway Administration stated that the controversial improvements to Rocks Rd are critical. The engineering and testing of the area continues although the actual building is slated to be delayed until the fall. = = = = = = = = -Renting Seen as on Edge of Rebound = = source: Baltimore Sun 1/31/10 = = Baltimore area apartment building is on increase. = = = = = = = = -An Electric Boost for Bicycles = = source: New York Times 2/1/10 = = Electric bicycles are seen as an alternative to car travel. = = = = =

= -Baltimore's green building law still in limbo = = source: Baltimore Sun 2/3/01 = = Environmental stardards for building are strict and its passing is uncertain. = = = = = = __-__Towson Preservationists Call it Quits = = source: [] 2/12/10 = = Society who protected historical buildings in Towson has decided to disband = = = = = = = = -Great Lakes and Global Warming Could Equal Massive Snowstorms = = source: [] = = (Times Magazine) 2/12/10 = = Climate change affects weather patterns, but people should refrain from drawing conclusions based on a single season = = = = = = = = -Wild Animals don't need help to weather storms = = source: [] 2/12/10 = = Wild animals are survivors, they have learned to adapt to harsh weather conditions = = = = = = = = -Regulatory issues may 1 arise Hiding a Hollywood Symbol, to Make it More Visible = = source: New York Times 2/12/10 = = Although the land surrounding the legendary "Hollywood" sign in Hollywood California is owned by private individual, the land had been used as a hiking and recreation area. Now, the sale of the land is pending and a group of preservationists are attempting to raise enough money to buy it and thus preserve its history. = = = = = = = = -A New Smokestack cleans Baltimore's air = = source: Baltimore Sun 2/20/10 = = A 400-foot smokestack at Brandon Shores power plant cleans the polluted air in Baltimore. Constellation Energy has spent $875 million to clean air pollution produced by its coal-fired power plant on the Patapsco River. = = = = =

= = = Be Informed : = = Great General Pages = = [] - kids page with categories such as You and Your Environment, Animals, Garbage and Recycling = = [] - kids page with Critter Corner, Nature Notes, Your World = = [] - Kids For a Clean Environment = = [] - educators page, activities and activism = = = = Water = = [] - water pollution information and activitsm = = [] - National Aquarium in Baltimore, visitation and conservation information [] Chesapeake Bay Foundation, education and issues related to the health of the bay = = [] Chesapeake Bay conservation and history = = = = Maps = = [] - design your own maps, mark local State Parks = = = = Causes: = = [] - many tolerance related activities, also some activities related to social action and finding a cause = = = = Local Maryland/State Park: = = [] - kid's State Park information [] - links, local information including Chesapeake Bay = = [] - Maryland Department of Natural Resources, watershed maps [] - exploring the Chesapeake Bay in the 1600s and now, also lesson plans = = [] - Maryland State Parks site, maps and history on MD State Parks = = = = Climate Change: = = [] - kid's games, links and information regarding climate change = = [] - kid's global warming activism led by a 14 year old, includes many project ideas = = = = Animals/Habitat: = = [] - kids habitat and wild animal information for animals around the world [] - wider range of animal information = = [] - kids outdoor activities and experiments, includes coloring pages and learning activites [] - animal information including habitats = = = = Recycling: = = [] - recycling, air, land, water sections [] - tools for zero waste, sections for teachers and kids, links to local programs [] - kids recycling = = = = Politics/Law = = [] = = = = Trees/Rainforest = = [] - Arbor Day activities, rainforest information, outreach = = [] - facts on deforestation, climate change = = = = Energy = = []- Conowingo Dam - local hydroelectric energy = = [] - Peach Bottom - local nuclear energy = = [] - kids site focused on wind = = energy, although other renewable as well as non-renewable energy sources are found at the bottom of the home page = = = = Films/television = = -Planet Earth (Discovery Channel documentary) - 11-part documentary with separate sections for various parts of Earth including Deserts, Fresh Water, Caves, Great Plains, Jungles, etc. = = -An Inconvenient Truth (global warming) - Al Gore's global warming documentary including scientific proof, course of action = = -30 Days (television series, episode 105, Off the Grid) - Two people who consume and pollute at a high level learn to reduce their carbon footprint = = -Earth (Disney documentary) - tracking the migration of elephants, whales and polar bears = = = =Be Engaged: = = What can we do? As teachers, it is important to model environmentally responsible actions for our students. Students need to be active in their role in preserving the environment. Engaging students in meaningful environmental activites helps them take pride in their world and inspire positive life-long habits. Here are some ideas how: = = = = -Every classroom should actively reduce, reuse and recycle products by: = = *Having paper and container recycle containers that are clearly marked and available. = = *Unneeded lights and electronics should be turned off when not in use. = = *Paper waste should be minimized by using front/back of paper and half sheets when possible. The backs of paper can be used for alternative purposes. = = *Have students sign a Pledge to Mother Earth, vowing to do their part in taking care of their planet. = = -Sponsor a class and family recycling drive. First choose something to collect, gather in the classroom, and take to the facility to recycle (as a class if possible). Some ideas: batteries, styrofoam, used sneakers, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, etc. = = -School-wide recycling project. Sponsor recycling of often-discarded items such as cafeteria paper, cans and bottles, printer cartridges. = = - Enforce a No Idling Zone. Vehicles must be turned off instead of allowing them to idle on school property. = = -Go on a Litter Clean-up of the school grounds, watershed or community. = = -Sponsor a campaign for computer users to use blackle.com instead of google.com as a search engine (to save watt hours). = = -Visit and explore the natural resources in a local State Park. = = -Participate in school beautification. Plant indigenous trees and flowers on school grounds. = = -Field trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, water treatment facility, recycling center, Conowingo Dam Hydroelectric Plant = = -Have student read journals from Captain John Smith's Chesapeake Bay exploration in the 1600s. Compare his vivid descriptions of the natural resources then to what the bay is like now. = = -Form an extracurricular Environmental Club to increase activism and dissemination of environmental information. = = -Have students participate in a recycling race by providing a varied bag of recyclables. Students choose items as a team to place in their bin. Items are awarded a point value based on the time it takes them to biodegrade. The team with the lowest biodegrading time wins. = -Sponsor trash-free lunches at your school.