It's Not Easy Being Green... Or Is It? Ma Nama Na!

I'm going to be bold and daring in this statement:  The new "Muppet Movie" might just possibly be the greenest movie ever!

The elements of green are everywhere:

Let's start with the main plot point ~ a ruthless eco-terrorist/ capitalist wants to take over the namesake's property and drill for oil.

Secondary plot point ~ Jealousy, the green-eyed monster, rears its head in matters of love.

Money, a green favorite to many, was flowing this opening weekend.  Case and point:  "The Muppets" was the #2 grossing movie of Thanksgiving Weekend (love it or hate it, Twilight's Breaking Dawn wouldn't dare step aside to give up the #1 spot).  "The Muppets" grossing $29.5 million this opening weekend alone, according to UGO: The Movie Times.



But wait!  There's more!

Environmental steward Yazmin Watkins served on set, making it greener than ever! According to On Earth:  A Survival Guide To the Planet, her jobs were many.  She was the one in charge of:

• reducing the amount of waste produced on set;
• monitoring and eliminating waste in the areas of energy usage, water, and other vital resources;
• hiring green vendors; including organic caterers and composters
• making eco-friendly decisions along the way, whether it's reuasble bottles (plastic-be-gone!) or eliminating eco-unfriendly wardrobe malfunctions.
• All of this (and more) ties in with Walt Disney's Environmental Initiatives and Commitments, which they began in 2009. 

And then, of course, there's Kermit the Frog.

There's no question that Kermit is a fair-minded frog, and an environmentalist at heart.  How can you not be, when you rely on a clean planet as a multi-talented swamp-dweller?  How can there be any question about his eco-fortitude when he's known for singing "The Rainbow Connection?"  The song clearly is a tribute to clean air, optimism, and a view for a better world with it's word's "What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing? And what do we think we might see? Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection... The lovers, the dreamers, and me."

Then of there's his anthem, "It's Not Easy Being Green."  Can anyone deny that perhaps the green/eco-movement started here, with Kermit?

And then too, there the fact that Kermit is a Congress-speaking activist. Check out the video here of his day on Capital Hill in Washington, DC, where he was speaking on behalf of amphibian conservation for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Which all brings about another definition of "green:"  all the newbie children that all us "Muppet Show" fanatics of the 1970s are bringing to the show.  Our own children.  Many of us doing it not only as a family bonding experience, but also as a large yet valid excuse to walk in the theater and fork over our wallet-greens to purchase the tickets!  It is our turn to indoctrinate the youth of America.  Our time to pay tribute and homage to the late Jim Henson.  Our time to cherish the fact that "it's not easy to be green."  Our time to embrace our inner-green.

And yes, our time to perhaps embarrass our children as we openly sing along to the old favorite tunes that percolate throughout the movie.  Or, maybe that was just me...and my own mini me!

Movie Poster image from http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/press_releases/archive/2011/10/24/new-release-quot-the-muppets-original-soundtrack-quot-on-walt-disney-records.aspx and Kermit pic from http://www.theresabook.com/2011/09/a-bit-of-meme-kermit-the-frog/.  Walter pic from http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/press_releases/archive/2011/10/12/new-muppet-character-descriptions.aspx.

A Wish of Thanksgiving

The cornucopia has always been one of my favorite symbols of the autumn and Thanksgiving season.  The horn of plenty.  An image of wealth, that has nothing to do with money. It evokes the beauty and the bounty of nature and all that surrounds us.

May today bring you a moment to reflect and celebrate the wealth that surrounds you.  May you see the bounty that is around you ~ both in your own home, as well as in your neighborhood or globally.  May your Thanksgiving bring you love, laughter, joy, gratitude, and memories of friendships and family, and peace. 

Click here to see a special Thanksgiving card, from me to you.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Image from http://freebies.about.com/od/freeholidayfun/ig/Thanksgiving-Backgrounds/cornucopia.htm

Feed the Hungry With FreeRice.com

I ran across this new-to-me video, and was reminded about how much I love http://www.freerice.com/.

From their website, Freerice has 2 goals:

"1.  Provide education to everyone for free.

2.  Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free."

Play the vocabulary or other games, and "win" 10 grains of rice with each successful answer for folks worldwide who are hungry.  It's a win-win site.  Get smarter, help others. Check out this video to find out even more:

Subjects: 

LANGUAGE LEARNING:  German, Spanish, Italian, French

HUMANITIES:  Literature, Famous Paintings

GEOGRAPHY:  Flags of the World, Countries (on Map), World Capitals

ENGLISH:  Vocabulary, Grammar

MATH:  Multiplication, Basic Math (Pre-Algebra)

CHEMISTRY:  Symbolls (full & basic)

Video from http://youtu.be/j22rxwRE328; photo from the http://www.freerice.com/ website.

The Green View on the Roof

Today, I had the privilege of being part of a crew of at least a dozen or more parents, teachers, and even a grandparent of our school to make "green history" at my school:  Eagle Cove School.  As a Maryland "Green" School, we are all about being green.  Recycling is 2nd nature.  Composting is what we do.  We grow vegetables in the on-campus greenhouse.  We trek along the nature trail, and we seine in the river that neighbors our campus. Today, we ratcheted it up a notch:  today we put in a 15' x 25' green roof on a section of one of our campus building's roofs. 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  If that is indeed the case, then a Smilebox, with embedded video, is worth at least 10,000.  Watch it here, with photos I snapped throughout the day.  It's amazing what you can accomplish in a little over 3 hours when you come equipped with a crew!  Special thanks to Rick Truett, from RF Truett Sustainable Building in Pasadena, Maryland, for all the assistance along the way today, helping our Green Roof take shape.

Customize a picture slideshow

Another Successful Story of Stuff: The Story of Broke

I happen to think Annie Leonard from the "Story of Stuff" videos is sharp as can be.  I love the style of her videos in exposing things--whether it is over-production, over-consumption, pollution & plastic, health & cosmetics, and more.  In fact, it's been the topic of GTG conversation many times before.
Well, Annie Leonard is back at it, this time with "The Story of Broke."  In it, she looks at money, our country, our economy, and the fact that there does seem to be money for certain things, but not others.  Once again, she hits a nail on the head.  Check out her latest video below, or go to the Story of Stuff website.



Video from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G49q6uPcwY8

So...This One Time...At EdCamp...

There are times in our lives when movie lines are like the soundtrack or text reel of our lives.  I've got to say, here today, mine is from the 1999 movie "American Pie."  A view of the following clip might take you back down memory lane, especially if you're in the over-30 set.



Of course, I need to tweak the line a little bit: 
"So... this one time... when I was at EdCamp..."

EdCamp Harrisburg, that is.  Yesterday.  And yep, can't stop talking about it.

Of course, to get the full degree of why it's so embedded on my brain, you need to know what an EdCamp is.   For a great overview, and a list of all upcoming and past EdCamps (complete with Google Pin map), go to the EdCamp Wiki ~ a portal of all things EdCamp.  The video there of EdCampPhilly is phenomenal in that it allows you to see the learning in action.

So back to the original question...What is EdCamp?
The short version, though, is that an EdCamp is a free, "unconference."  Like-minded individuals (aka: educators) come together to a common place (aka: the camp) to meet in a forum to discuss their field.  There are no key-note speakers or high-rolling conference price tags.  The participants become the speakers who generate the topics on which to speak.  The conference topics evolve right there and then, that morning.  The players are the experts.  You have a crew of people who have different experiences, different expertise, and a massive sharing occurs.  You have multiple rooms with a variety of topics happening simultaneously, and you can bop in and out to get the most of your day on all the topics you are interested in.  Amazing conversations take place. Everyone goes home with valuable insight and information.

So... yesterday.... when I was at EdCamp.... I met great people & new-to-me ed-tech experts.  I put names, with faces, with Twitter-handles of some of the Twitter folks I follow who are rock stars of the #edtech field.  I got a wealth of new ideas and new sites to go check out.  I came home with resources that I'll be able to use with my 3rd graders--this week, if I want to.  I got to take part in interesting conversations and debates. It also showed me how little I truly know, and how eager I am to soak up more!

In short, EdCampHBG rocked.

Kudos to the team of organizers... and for those of you who couldn't be there, you can check out the backchannel of people's tweets from yesterday, and their reflections today, at either of these two spots on twitter:  @EdCampHBG or under their hashtag #EdCampHBG.  Likewise, you can see their Flicker photo roll, shedule, and the "meet the participants" at the EdCampHBG website. 

Next week, during my Eagle Cove School professional day, I have about a half an hour to present on all things iPad, edtech & more... and I'm sure it'll start out "Last week.. when I was at EdCamp....!"

If you can, be sure to find an EdCamp near you, and take part!!


Photo from http://edcampharrisburg.org/; EdCamp Website pic from http://profesorbaker.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/edcampsantiago-2012-te-toca-compartir/,
EdCamp Wordle from http://edcampharrisburg.org/2011/10/edcamp-ideas/; Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFdK3vKNE7Y

Seriously?! The Sponsor Versus the PSA

Sometimes, life never ceases to amaze me. Here's the latest "I'm shaking my head."

 A few weeks ago, Plastic Pollution Coalition started to play an anti-single-use-plastics video featuring the top 11 American Idol [A.I.]  finalists from last year.  Now, the A.I. sponsors are trying to put the kaputz on the video, asking Plastic Pollution Coalition to remove it from their YouTube Channel.  For lack of the need to reinvent the wheel, read an excellent article about it here from Beth Terry over at My Plastic Free Life,.which mentions another great article over at Forbes.  Watch the A.I. video in question  here below, for as long as it's still an active video (aka, not forced-to-be-removed):

Seriously? Sponsors removing a pro-environment, anti-litter commentary?  Nice. (That's sarcasm, if you weren't sure.)  As both the Beth Terry and the Forbes articles speculate, Coca-Cola is one of the major sponsors.  Gee, they have a lot of products that they serve up in plastic single-use containers.  Especially when they are the parent company to approx 545 product brands, listed here.  Among those, aside from the obvious Coke & Diet Coke (and this is coming from a Diet Coke girl, mind you,) there's Candad Dry, Dasani Water, Nestea, Seagrams, Fresca, A&W, Sprite, Fuze, Glaceau Smartwater & Vitami water, Hi-C, Minute Maid, Powerade, Schweppes, and Simply Orange... just to name a few.  Could they be the sponsor in question?  Hmmm.... Makes you wonder.

I am glad to see that the Plastic Polution Coalition isn't pulling the PSA.  To see their thoughts on the subject, go to their website.  In the meantime, the big question....what are you going to do?

Plastic Pollution Coalition logo from http://staging.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=714, Video from http://youtu.be/-8gatjXJZW4, coke & American Idol pic from http://www.2collectcola.com/cocacola/5.html.

Series 7 Billion: The Final 7th

It's been a full week.  Halloween.  November's arrival.  Daylight savings time.  Global milestone of 7 billion people.  Yep...not your typical week.

So, where do you stand, here, a week after the population explosion?  Feeling crowded yet?  As our GTG series o'7 billion draws to a close, here's a final resource for you.

Population Connection's Education Program is a great website focused entirely on population education.  It is a national program dedicated to teacher training (preK to 12), providing age-appropriate curricula on the multi-disciplinary fields of population trends, environmental education, public health, sociology, history, geography, anthropology, economics, ecology, and civics.   Whether it is through their newsletter, online resources, their curricular-products you can purchase, connections to state and national standards, or their teacher training, their resources are vast!  In their storehouse, they have 150+ activities (with a majority of those being hand-on, kid-friendly, clever classroom activities).

Great places within their site to investigate:

• The Basics of Population Education
• Teaching Materials & Tools
• Recommended Children's Literature (main focus: social justice and environmental stewardship)
• World Population Video
• Teacher Workshops
• Free Newsletter (the most recent:  "A Quick Trip to 7 Billion")
• Quick Trip to 7 Billion Wall Chart

Images from the Population Connection website:  https://www.populationeducation.org/index.php

Series 7 Billion: Part 6/7

Just how typical are you?  Regular?  Ordinary?  Run of the mill?  Average Joe?

From a population sense, you can find out just where you fall on the typical-ometer.  National Geographics, with their year-long dedicated series our global population milestone of 7 billion, has created a great video entitled "7 Billion:  Are You Typical?"  It truly helps you visualize what our "typical" global citizen resembles.  Also... again... the philosophy is emphasized:  just look how important the individual acts are of 7 billion participants. 

So, Go ahead, check it out...just how typical are you?



For more on our Green Team Gazette Series of 7 Billion, investigate here.
Video from http://youtu.be/4B2xOvKFFz4; image from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/7-billion

Series 7 Billion: Part 5/7

Today's my bday... happy birthday me!

We all have lots of things we ponder and contemplate on our birthdays.  In this season of 7 Billion, an interesting thing to ponder is our place in this great big population thing.  BBC has a great link where you can calculate just that!  Put in your birthdate, demographics, and find out where you are in in the grand population scheme.  

As for me and my birthday, I was the 3,646,597,107th person alive on Earth.  I was the 77,752,632,831st person to have lived since history began.  Looking at those numbers, the numbers of candles on the cake don't feel that bad at all!

To see more on GTG's "Series 7 Billion," check out this link.

Image from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-15391515

Series 7 Billion: Part 4/7

Here's the View from Down Under...An Australian perspective on how 7 billion will impact their country...but how much different is it truly on a global aspect?



Click here to read the other parts of GTG's "Series 7 Billion."

Video from http://youtu.be/iEKydURZhXQ

Series 7 Billion--Part 3 of 7

In this week of 7 billion awareness, both globally and here on GTG, this is a good video that highlights the environmental impacts highlighted in this video.  One of my personal favorites in the video is the Sir David Attenborough quote.



Another great place to go to investigated the impact of 7 billion for sustainability, urbanization, health care services & more is 7 Billion Actions.  This site also was developed through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which is leading this global campaign to build awareness around the perks and perils of 7 billion people. 

From their website, there objectives are focused around 7 major themes:

• Poverty and inequality;
• Women and girls empowerment;
• Reproductive health and rights;
• Young people;
• Ageing population;
• Environment;
• Urbanization.

Go to their website, view a story, share a story, take part in one or more of 7 billion actions!!

Still searching for more?  Check out Worldwide Institutes Vision of a Sustainable World and their article:  "As Global Population Surpasses 7 Billion, 2 Clear Strategis for a Sustainable Future." 

Also, click here to investigate more of GTG's "Series 7 Billion."

Video from http://youtu.be/b98JmQ0Cc3km, image from http://vimeo.com/sevenbillionactions

Series 7 Billion--Part 2 of 7

Here in the aftermath of Halloween, late night trick or treating (on a school night, no less), and sugar highs and lows, GTG is dedicated this week to checking out 7 billion--what it looks like in terms of population, and what that means for our planet. So, here's some "food for thought" and a few more finds (no, not quite 7 billion!) as you raid your Halloween stash!

1.  7 Billion and Me is a site with a boatload of information.  Included is yet another running tally of our population growth, along with a bunch of other resources as well.  (Kids do indeed find it pretty amazing as to how fast those counters move!).  You can also include your demographics (including your birth date) to determine just how exactly 7 billion affects you.  The website was created by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and it builds a bit of perspective on where 1 person can fit into the mix.  You also could experiment with your students to see how the results change if you vary the demographics and home countries!!

2.  The World of 7 Billion is another site, with a gazillion more goodies.  Among other things there, you can find an interactive wall chart showcasing a timeline of population growth, middle & high school lesson plans, and activities for school wide events.  You can also find student contest videos that were submitted by high school students back in May 2011 voicing how they, as students, could make a plan to be part of the global population situation.

3.  On Free Technology for Teachers yesterday, Richard  Byrne highlighted a story on NPR, Visualizing How a Population Grows to 7 Billion.  It included a great video, which you can check out there, or here below.



Pic with numbered signs equalling 7 billion from http://www.unfpa.org/public/home, Video from NPR, and World of 7 Billion from www.worldof7billion.org .

Series 7 Billion: The 1st of 7

October 31 is more than just Halloween. 

According to the United Nations, it's the anticipated date where the global population reaches a record

7 billion people.

That's a lot of people... and it makes a large global impact. In honor of that, National Geographics is doing a year long special series.  You can check it out at their website link here, where you can also check the running population total as it makes its way to 7 billion.or they have an exquisite iPad app you can download for free, for a limited time.  Their Video really also brings some powerful numbers visually to your attention.  Watch below, or at YouTube.
 

Another place to peruse if you are in pursuit of more information about what 7 billion looks like and what it means is DC's Museum of Natural History.  They have a great exhibit, and it's a good one to see if you are in the DC area and able to check out this part of the Smithsonian Institute.  We were there about 2 or 3 weeks ago, and were able to visit their exhibit dedicated to reaching 7 billion people.  Here are some of our pictures of that outing. 

Also, stay tuned the next week or so as we do our own series of sharing resources regarding our explosive 7 billion population!

 

Video from http://youtu.be/iOUf6Zqiwjk; pics from our camera!!

Bein' Green, This Halloween

Ask just about any kid in America what the upcoming holiday is this Monday, and they'll look at you like you're nuts if you don't know. 



Halloween 2010: Me as book
character "Michael Recycle"



It's Halloween Season!  Costumes are chosen, laid out, and ready to be worn for trick-or-treating.  Candy consumption no doubt is up!  Kids are prepped and ready!

 

Even though the colors of Halloween are traditionally orange and black, it's pretty easy to add some green in there too.  Wondering how to go from a "dark and spooky Halloween" to a "darkened green Halloween?"  Check out some of these links below to green your Halloween routine... and worst case scenario, mark your 2012 calendar to plan ahead with some of these great idea.

Me, Halloween 2009 as
Terracycle's Capri Sun Queen

Earth 911's Guide to Greening Your Halloween

Ask HR Green:  It's Not Too Late To Green Your Halloween

Plastic Pollution Coalition:  A Plastic Free Halloween Guide 

(including the Plastic Creeps Contest)

Alliance for Climate Education: Halloween Costume Contest

Green School Initiatives: A Happy Green Halloween

Chesapeake Bay Trust: Make It A Chesapeake Bay Halloween



Environmental News Network:  Having a More Eco-Friendly Halloween

Pictures of me, from my digital scrapbook; Plastic Free Halloween, from http://plasticpollutioncoalition.org/2011/10/plastic-free-halloween/.

Just a Dream? Just a Reality

You know your message is getting across, when one of your students... one of your 3rd graders.... someone who's only been hanging out with you for 2 months at this point in the school year, comes to you, all a-lit.  

The scenario:  The class came back from Library class today, with books in tow.  One of my gals, the one who returned all a-glow, came up to me to share what she'd found.  The book:  "Just a Dream" by Chris Van Allsburg.  She couldn't wait to tell me all about it, and it's environmental theme.  She just knew I'd appreciate Walter, his wayward litterbug ways, his dream of an environmentally-trashed world and his realization of his role as a major contributer to this world.  In the light of the day the next morning, Walter has a new vision, and a new way of living.

I was touched by the fact that my 3rd grade gal-pal couldn't wait to hear what my thoughts were on her book choice.  It was important to her because she knew all-things-green were important to me.  Not to mention, I totally agree--she's got great taste in literature!!

If you don't know this book...check it out.  Here are some other links for "Just a Dream," if you are looking for a way to integrated it into your classroom:

• Teacher's Guide
• Should We Clean The Beach, Environmental Lesson
• Author Chris Van Allsburg's Resource Page
• Teacher Vision Resources
• Teacher Earth Science with Children's Literature:  Just a Dream

Image from http://blog.richmond.edu/openwidelookinside/files/2009/09/6083_md.jpg

Make a Difference Day

Yesterday was "Make a Difference Day."   The 20th Anniversary of this "National Day o'Doing Good," in fact.

Sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine with the HandsOn Network & Newman's Own and held annually on the 4th Saturday of October, this is a day set aside as a day of volunteering, sharing, caring, and being a hands-on helper. 

A day to make a difference.

Hopefully you were out doing something in the world, working to make a difference through volunteering.  Of course, if you're just now learning about it today, all is not lost.  Here are some things you can do:

1.  Any day can be "Make a Difference Day."  Don't feel like: "Oh drat, I missed it.  Oh well."  Marking your calendar for next year is nice, but not enough.  Do something today, this week, this month to make a difference.  Some things on Eagle Cove School's upcoming agenda:  Collecting and delivering the surplus/extra Halloween candy for the pediatric oncology patients at Johns Hopkins, Making sandwiches for Happy Helpers for the Homeless, our weekly TerraCycle upcycling (chip bags, juice pouches, & Ziplocs) to keep them out of the landfill, gifts for the Angel Tree during the December holidays...

2.  Check out the Make a Difference Day Facebook page for some warm-fuzzy moments as you see how others shared of their time to help others.  Plus, maybe it will serve as inspiration for something you feel you can do.

3.  Check out the USA Weekend page, USA Today, or the Hands On Network to see some additional feel-good stories about how united our United States (and beyond) can be, working to help out a fellow neighbor.

4.  Check out the Make a Difference Day Tool Kit for more inspirational brainstorming... or to plan a mega volunteering activity for your neighborhood, workplace, church... or start planning ahead for next year.

5.  Get some other good ideas from the "United We Serve" webpage.

6.  Do something.  Anything.  Help.  You'll feel remarkable good for doing so!

Image from the Make A Difference Day Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/makeadifferenceday

Kerpoof & Brainpop ~ United!

Last night, I participated in an online webinar co-sponsored by Brainpop and Kerpoof.  Although I've used BrainPop many times, and I knew a little bit about Kerpoof (see GTG's GETABC series:  "K = Kerpoof")... you won't believe what a difference an hour makes!

Doing the "PD...in my PJs" (as is on the Brainpop website's webinar promo, advertising their professional development), wasn't half bad either!!

To see the archive of what I saw ("Navigating the Writing Process with Kerpoof and BrainPOP"), check out their Upcoming Webinars and Webinar Achives. 

Here's a little "Go Green" poster I whipped up in about 15 minutes after the webinar.  I made it on Kerpoof, just to try it out with my new skills.  I used their "Make a Card" activity button, which is programmed with an Earth Day Card choice and all the associated icons.  It makes for a pretty impressive presentation! (Of course, hindsight does show I accidentally cropped out my final word "Day" on the "Earth Day" bubble, but you get the idea!!)

Not to mention, both sites have some super resources and lesson plans for teachers, and BrainPop has some great graphic organizers.

 

So my wheels are spinning as mental activities & plans are brewing.  My class set of login cards are created (what a nice Kerpoof-perk!), printed, laminated, and ready to hit the computer lab with my classroom of kiddos!

Images:  Kerpoof from www.kerpoof.com, Brainpop from www.4thekidsarlington.blogspot.com, and Go Green Kerpoof poster my design at www.kerpoof.com

It All Adds Up ~ Capri Sun Face Value & Place Value

Last week I got a $130 check. Well, actually, it was given to me and my "partner in green" at school by our school's business manager. Even more specifically, it was a copy of the check that we had received...received from Terracycle. Why? It was a direct result of our efforts in upcycling juice pouches, glue sticks, Frito Lay chip bags, and Ziploc plastic bags.

At face value, $130 is a nice amount... perhaps not a memorable amount in a normal situation, but I am sure an amount that most people wouldn't pass it up. Yet, when you consider that each pouch, baggie, or stick that we rescue from the refuse bin warrants $0.02 each, that amount becomes a rather remarkable amount. Especially when you are talking about a school with a population under 100 students.

I think that this becomes the perfect teachable moment: Little acts do indeed add up. When my 3rd graders take part of the collection and counting process each week, they see that. (Sometimes through the "grodier" side of it!) When we use the juice pouches 5 or so weeks into school as a place value activity to show how 10 ones equals one group of tens, then 10 tens equals 100, and... oh wow... how that massive pile of juice pouches ultimately converts to ten groups of 100s, which equals 1,000.... they can indeed start to see how it all adds up.

When they see a $130 check that benefits our school, that comes from a multitude of 2¢ USED juice pouches (that were landfill-bound... that WE rescued for reuse... that we rescued from making its way to a waterway and ultimately the Great Pacific Garbage Patch of toxic trash)....  YES! It definitely adds up!

It's about then that the juice pouches start coming in (in bulk) from soccer game snacks and birthday parties... and the young activists are born.

Terracycle Banner image from www.terracycle.net; all other pics from my 3rd grade classroom.

The Drastic Cost of Plastic

Anyone who has been following along for awhile knows I have a couple distinct sentiments:

1).  Styrofoam is evil.  (Which, I'll address/re-address on another day.)

2).  Plastic is pervasive, a waste of petroleum, and a drastic planetary disaster in the making.

I ran across the article, "The Bottled Water Risk: ‘Tapped’ Awareness Event" from Columbia University's Earth Institute's "State of the Planet" website.  The picture above was striking. What as great way to bring about awareness of the perils of the plastic bottle... and advertise the importance of the movie "Tapped."  I think this truck should be on tour in every city!!

When I was grabbing some green-stats to use in my QR Code Eco-Quiz Cards I wrote about last week, I ran across the statistic that only 2 out of every 10 plastic water bottles are recycled.  That's 20% folks.  That means 80% of water bottles are NOT recycled, but rather trashed, & become landfill fodder. In today's age and time, I find this highly remarkable and downright distasteful.  We know better.  We should be doing better.  There's no reason for us not to!

I haven't seen it yet, but "Tapped" is high on my Netflix Queue.  This trailer says it all... and hopefully it makes it a "must-see" on your queue too!


Truck Image from http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/04/23/the-bottled-water-risk-tapped-awareness-event-photos/; "Tapped" image from http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Tapped/70124097?trkid=2361637

Know Any Notable Environmentalists? Check out Chesapeake Bay Trust

Think of the people you know....odds are, someone in the mix is a pretty outstanding.  If that someone is a little green at heart, they just might be award-worthy.  The Chesapeake Bay Trust, a non-profit dedicated to the improvement and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, annually offers grants galore.  CBF is are currently holding their award program for the 2012. 

So, ask yourself if you know a supreme environmental educator, a super eco-highschooler/college student, a superb steward of the Chesapeake Bay in your community, or if you know of a primo project that promotes the Bay. 

If you do, check out Chesapeake Bay Trust and their five environmental awards/scholarships for 2012.  Deadline for submission is December 16, 2011.  Click here to learn more!

Image from http://www2.guidestar.org/organizations/52-1454182/chesapeake-bay-trust.aspx.

Environmental Education QR Code Quizzes

You know the old commercial:  "He's cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs."  Well, in my classroom, my students are "crazy for QR Codes."

You know QR Codes, the box-like bar-scan codes like the one here.  (To learn more, check out GTG's "Q is for QR Codes").  Using Kaywa's QR code generator & books from my eco-library, I found some kid-friendly green-stats, and "QR-coded" them. 

My plan?  To monthly rotate the eco-jokes & green facts so that I have fresh statistics each month.  I foresee the iPads getting a workout, as well as some mental wheels turning as the kids realize the truth in the numbers.  To make a set of your own, check out my Slideshare document (click here, or find it below)... copy, cut out, laminate, grab a bar scanner, & away you go!

Qr Eco Codes

View more documents from Vicki Dabrowka.

Images from:  Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs:  http://www.annotatedmst.com/episodes/superdragon/index.htm; QR Code: generated at Kaywa with my own text;  my classroom window with eco-stats cards; and the Slideshare document that I created, from http://www.slideshare.net/thirdgrade/qr-eco-codes.