This is the essential guide for teaching children about environmental protection. Through you, your students will learn how the little decisions people make every day affect the planet and, ultimately, human health. This book is the most comprehensive resource to incorporate the fundamental concepts of ecology with active steps to protect the Earth. Each chapter contains ways to make Earth-saving fun and empowering. The book provides clear ways to teach children how to make planet preservation a part of their daily life in their school, home, church, or any other place.
The first Earth Day in 1970 represented the true organized launch of environmental protection. Government agencies addressing environmental issues were formed, laws were written, and environmental activists spoke out, but the rapid growth of environmental problems far outpaced the success of protection efforts. Now the sustainability of the Earth is at a pivotal point in history. Between climate change, the rapid extinction of species, and the overwhelming amount of pollution, there is much to be done in order to preserve the planet that all life depends upon. United action now is more important than ever before. What you do and how you empower your students to act will make a major difference. Schools are a vital force in raising the next generation of global citizens, who must be equipped to solve the complex environmental problems.
This book stresses the principle of interconnectedness, which has been historically overlooked. Teaching how humans are tied to and responsible for protecting the balance of nature is the essence of sustainability and must be the wave of the future. Humans live in a web of life. If you pull on any one strand, it affects the rest of the web. This theme guides each chapter, examining every issue from an international perspective, to the local outlook, and all the way down to each individual human body.
Meant to be empowering for students, teachers, administrators, and parents, this book very simply and clearly provides overviews of environmental issues, background information, and tested activities. Instructors are provided with steps to turn their students' education into action. Throughout the book, hands-on experiences in the world of nature will help inspire action. In addition, it is widely known that student success is based on parental involvement. With that in mind, each chapter provides activities to bring the learning home. In this way, not only will the children benefit from potential increased academic success, they also get to act as teachers to their parents and help their whole family green their home and protect the planet.
Each activity in this book is meant to be adaptable to most age groups. There are resource options to help you either lower or raise the skill levels. The book relies heavily on the true beauty and fascination of nature. Art, music, and games lighten up what might seem like a frightening topic. The activities are meant to inspire and encourage appreciation, optimism, and smiles. There are definitely some big issues to overcome, but there are a plentitude of existing solutions to embrace in your own classrooms, schools, and communities. By teaching your students the concepts in this book, you will enable their engaged, excited young minds to come up with many more solutions. Working together on important environmental problems will inspire positivism and confidence.