1

Name: ______

HOW

GREEN

IS YOUR THUMB?

WORK BOOKLET

What is biodiversity?

After you have watched the Behind the News edition of ‘International Year of Biodiversity’, answer these questions. Remember that you are allowed to watch the video more than once if you like.

1)How many new species did they say were identified each year?

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2)In your own words, explain what biodiversity means.

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3)Why should we look after the environment?

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4)What are some of the bad things that humans have done to the environment over the years?

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5)What are two ways that we can look after our environment and protect Australia’s biodiversity?

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Planting a school garden

After you have read the information on the ‘planning my garden’ website that was on the powerpoint presentation, answer the following questions. Remember to use full sentence answers.

1)What are some of the important things that you need to think about when choosing a site for your garden?

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2)After thinking about those important things, where would a garden be best suited in our school?

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3)Why do you think that it is important to involve everyone in decisions about the garden?

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4)What are some of the ways that you can do this?

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5)If you were to plant a garden at school, choose 2 vegetables and 2 flowers that you would like to see in the garden. why?

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6)Draw a picture of your vegetables and flowers.

7)From the information on the website, list 2 good things about having a garden at school and list 2 bad things about having a garden at school.

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8)Finally, in one sentence state why you would or wouldn’t like to have a garden in your school.

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Comparing my carbon footprint

After you have completed the carbon footprint calculator, fill out the following information in the table below. When you have finished writing up your information, compare your results to a classmates’ by writing theirs into the column titled ‘my friend’s’.

My results / Australian Average / My Friend’s
Carbon Footprint
Tonnes/year
Land Footprint
Hectares/year
Tree Footprint
Trees/year
Water Footprint
Cubic meters/year
Number of earths needed to support daily lifestyle
Number of earths needed to support my daily decisions

Your own environmental pledge

Go and get a piece of scrap paper from the tote tray and trace your own footprint. Once you have done that you can cut it out and use other scrap materials and colouring tools to decorate them.

Use the information that you gathered on the previous page to reflect on one thing that you can do to reduce your ecological footprint. For example, you might decide to turn the tap off when brushing your teeth so that you can reduce your water footprint.

When you have thought the way that you are going to reduce your ecological footprint, write the activity down on your footprint. This will be your own pledge to walk lighter on the earth.

Take extra special care with your footprint because they will be displayed around the classroom so that we can be reminded of our pledge and how we are going to conserve and sustain our environment for future generations.

Our virtual walk to school

Instructions:

1)Click on the link from the powerpoint presentation to go to Google Maps

2)Type: One Tree Hill Park, New South Wales, Australia

3)Click on ‘Directions’, and on the left hand side of the page click this symbol

4)Click on the box next to ‘B’ and write the following:

St. Edward’s Primary School, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia

5)When the page has loaded, click on the orange man (located over on the left hand side of the map), and drag him to the starting point at the park.

6) You are now able to walk to school virtually using Google Maps.

7)When you have finished walking to school, answer the questions on the following page.

Virtual Walk to School:

1)Draw some of the road signs that you see along the way. What do you think they mean?

2)How many minute/s will it take you to drive to school?

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3)How many minutes will it take you to walk to school?

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4)What do you think are some of the safety hazards there are while walking to school and how do you think that you could minimise or eliminate these hazards?

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5)Do you think that walking to school from the park is a better option than driving? Why/why not?

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EXTENSION:write your home address into the box where you typed in the park. How many kilometres is it from the school and how long would it take for you to walk there? ______

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Protecting our biodiversity

As a way of promoting the International Year of Biodiversity, you have been chosen by the local council to design and create a radio advertisement with a partner. In the advertisement you need to talk about why the United Nations have chosen 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity and how we as individuals and members of the community can do our bit to conserve and promote biodiversity. Be creative! For example, you may wish to write and sing a song for your advertisement. Remember it needs to be something catchy so that the listeners can really think about how they can help the environment.

On a scrap piece of paper write a transcript of your ad with your partner and rehearse it. Make sure that you are both contributing to the radio advertisement equally.

When you think that you have it perfect, use the audacity program to record your ad.

Captain Planet: what planteteer are you?

After watching the episode of Captain Planet, put on your Green Hat andthink of a new character for the show. You may choose to create a new planeteer or you may decide to make them a polluter. Below are some ways to help you think about the type of character that you would like to create.

Use the mind map on the next page to plan your ideas

-Think about whether you want your character to be a hero or a villain in the show.

-If it is a hero are they going to have a special power like the other planeteers? If so what power could it be and how will this help the environment?

-If it is a villain how are they going to contribute to pollution in the world? For example will they cut down lots of trees or will they leave their rubbish on the ground?

-What will they wear in the show? Think about the types of colours that you will use for the costume. How will the colours show the audience that they are a hero or a villain?

When you have finished planning your character, use a scrap piece of paper to draw your new character. Give him/her a name and write a sentence about how they would help or pollute the environment. Don’t forget to give them a name!

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Mind Map:

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The 3 R’s

Today, you’ll useGlogster to make your own poster about the 3R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. To make your poster, follow the instructions below:

1)If you need to, click on the link that tells you how to use Glogster, then log in and start a new poster

2)Use two of the images provided, and two images you find yourself. Don’t use anymore than this because it will become too crowded

3)Somewhere on your poster you must include ‘The 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’. Make sure it’s nice and big, so everyone can see it.

4)Include a catch phrase(make it creative)e.g. ‘Everyone winswhengarbage goes in the bin’. You may like to record it on your poster through video or sound.

5)Include a fact about the environment. For example: ‘In 2003, the recycling of glass saved enough energy to launch ten space shuttle missions!’. You can find these facts by using google or going to this website:

6)Finally, make sure you include a feature you want everyone to see first. It might be your picture or slogan. Whatever you decide to make it, write it in the checklist below.

CHECKLIST FOR POSTER:
I have used two images from the sheet provided
I have used two images that I found myself on the internet
I have included ‘The 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ in my poster
I have included a catch phrase
I have included a fact about the environment
I have chosen a feature that I want people to see first and that feature iss ______