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Books
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Saving The Environment
Welcome to the Earth's Kids Environmental Science page! This is the place to learn more about our environment and it's various habitats. This is also where you can learn how to take action to make the world a better place for all the creatures we share this Earth with! When the first astronauts traveled out into space they were struck by an amazing vision: planet Earth, sitting like a blue and green jewel in the blackness of space. An extraordinary place of life, and the only planet we know of that definitely has life, and in such abundance. And the more scientists learn about life on Earth, the more they realize that Earth is wrapped in a delicate web of environmental systems that connect, each to the other. Food webs, climate cycles, ocean currents, animal migrations, carbon/oxygen exchange and so on. We are now aware that changes in any one of these systems can have a huge impact. Similarly, other changes underway, such as human beings cutting down forests to harvest wood and clear new farmland destroys wild animal habitats, and in many cases the animals themselves. It even drives many native peoples from the land. It often creates top soil erosion and destroys the forest watershed that provides clean drinking water to cities downstream. And it slows the exchange of carbon dioxide into oxygen. Which in turn causes global temperatures to rise. Too much carbon dioxide leads to temperature changes... which leads to krill die offs in the ocean.. which leads to the decline of fish populations that feed on krill...which leads to the ocean birds and mammals (penguins, whales, seals, etc.) that feed on fish struggling for food -- competing even more with human beings who are also finding the supply of fish dropping to dangerous lows. So low that not enough baby fish will be born and grow to maturity to supply the creatures that depend on them. Scientists worry too that if all these systems get too off balance, nature may not be able to set things right again -- ever. Hopefully that wouldn't be the case. Certainly planet Earth has been through some pretty major changes over the millenniums and although many species of creatures have become extinct, life on Earth has continued on, in some form or another. And new species always develop and multiply. So far at least. But as scientists look to some of the other worlds in our solar system, including moons of some of the larger planets, they wonder: did life thrive there once upon a time... until some terrible change or error happened that threw the delicate balance too far off? Could this happen to our own planet? Could we make this happen through careless harm to nature? Even if changes that catastrophic could not happen-- that is, even if we could trust Earth to always find her balance again -- we know now that big enough changes are underway on our planet right now that we humans have to change our ways of doing things... if we don't want to be one of those species that goes extinct. Or, at the very least, if we want to cope effectively with the changes in weather patterns, crop growth, rainfall, pollution levels, global warming, and the depletion of our fisheries. So that we have enough food and water, clean air to breathe, and safe places to live.
But if it all seems overwhelming, consider this: right now we have more technological know how than we have ever had before. And we have more ability for scientists, inventors, activists, and world leaders to communicate with one another, all over the world, than ever before. We are able to spread the word about problems, share ideas, work together, pressure our leaders for change more effectively than any other generation in history. Yes, the problem is big. But the group we have assembled to work on it is big too. And guess what? YOU are part of that group. You, your friends and family, even your teachers and kids at school. So do your part. Learn. Spread the word. Email your government leaders. Share your ideas and your concerns. Together we can make it happen. One step at a time.
Below you'll find more Earth's Kids pages to help you learn more about nature and to help you take action for the environment . Be sure to surf the rest of this page for our Enviro Links-- as well as lesson plans and an offering of books and science equipment to help you learn more about the environment and the delicate relationships between living creatures and their habitats. Learn more about...
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 To read more about food webs, check out this incredible..
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What's For Dinner?
About Eating Low On The Food Chain...
Always remember that deciding what to eat is a very personal matter -- one that you should talk over with your family and your family's doctor. This is because taking care of your body is a very important responsibility -- one you will have for the rest of your life!
But there is another body that supports us all as we go through life, and that is the Earth herself. Because we want the Earth to be in good health, able to support us, it's important to think about how what we eat affects the environment of the Earth.
Currently, most of us with access to a computer also have access to a lot of meat. If you study food webs or food chains, you already know that eating meat is eating high on the food web energy system. In short, each animal we eat must itself eat a LOT of plant food to create and maintain the flesh that we eat as burgers, meat balls, hot dogs, lunch meat, and etc.
The Problem
You might be surprised to learn that, on modern factory farms, these "food" animals are actually being fed (plant) food that could be fed to humans. Lots of grain like corn and wheat as well as legumes (like soy beans) are fed to cows, pigs, and chickens. This is food that could have fed human beings -- a lot of them!
In fact, a lot more human beings could be well fed if we just fed the grain and legumes to humans -- instead of first feeding it to animals and then eating the animals. This is because each animal burns up a lot of the food energy in the grain and legumes (to fuel it's movement, breathing, and other life processes) before turning some of it into the meat that gets eaten.
In addition most people in the world can't even afford to buy this meat. Meat simply costs more money than plant food. This is because it costs a lot of money to feed, house, and care for the animal for the year or two before it is "harvested" for food. All this expense, plus the farmer or rancher's own need to earn a living, adds up to a big price tag. A price tag that many poor people, especially in third world countries, cannot afford.
Unfortunately, when a lot of plant food that could be eaten by humans is fed to animals, that plant food becomes more scarce and more valuable, and therefore more expensive! This means that plant food too becomes harder to afford. Which translates into hungry people.
(Learn more about the causes of world hunger and what can be done about it.)
The solution
Now don't worry, no one's suggesting we starve the animals! Naturally we must continue to feed those animals we already have. However, if we could stop raising more and more animals every year -- and feeding more and more of the grain and legumes to them -- and instead feed the tons of extra corn, soy beans, and other foods to human beings.
We wouldn't even have to stop eating meat all together -- just cut back. This way, the plant food that the Earth can provide will go farther and be more easily capable of feeding all the children of the world. This means that poor children, in the U.S. and in other lands, will never face a time when there is not enough grain or beans to go around.
What's more, it means that right now people could stop burning down the rainforest to create new pastures to raise more and more herds of cattle (to provide more and more hamburgers and pot roasts). And leave the habitat intact for those animals who already live there.
Furthermore, if we did not need to grown so much extra food each year, to feed to growing numbers of farm animals, it would save our soil. Soil can actually get used up -- or more exactly, the minerals and other nutrients that plants depend on can get used up. This makes it so that plants do not grow, or if they do grow, they don't produce very large fruits, vegetables, or grain seeds.
For this reason, many farmers feel they have to use chemicals in order to get their plants to grow and to produce a big harvest. This would be fine except many of these chemical fertilizers produce harmful waste products.
Conclusion
Clearly, over-using the soil can lead to serious problems. Limiting the amount of food crops we must grow each year (by needing to feed fewer animals destined for the dinner table), means that...
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Less of our existing farm land will become depleted due to over-use, making it able to continue being used for many generations to come.
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Fewer harmful waste products (from fertilizers used on depleted land) will be seeping into our ground and water, poisoning wild life and people.
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Less natural habitat must be destroyed to create new farm land.
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Fewer wild animals will become extinct due to habitat destruction.
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Nutritious plant food will be more available for human consumption, making it easier for the world's poor and starving to be fed.
By having more of our meals plant-food-based, rather than meat-based, each of us can do our part to limit damage to our farmlands, halt the destruction of natural habitats and the extinction of wildlife species, and to defuse food scarcity issues that help fuel world hunger.
Just by changing what we eat for dinner, we can have a profound impact on the environment.
Afterword...
Thank you for taking the time to read this article! We hope you'll think over what's been said here, gather more information, and talk it over with people you know.
Remember that each of us has the responsibility to educate ourselves and to use our best judgment. This applies not only to saving the environment however, but to taking care of our own bodies.
Please do not make a change to your diet (such as reducing or eliminating meat consumption) without first learning how to get all the protein and nutrients you need from plant food sources!
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Giving Service
In Your Community
Taking a Stand Against
Prejudice
&
Discrimination
Taking A Spiritual
Approach To Life
Learning...
About Yourself, Your World,
&
What You Can Do
Science Equipment
An offering of select
materials to enhance your enjoyment and understanding of
nature
Forget peering through a tiny little eyepiece -- the QX3 shows you the image right on your computer screen. Imagine a huge full color image and the capacity to take still photo shots and movies.
You can even modify your captured images to make a fun animated short film complete with sound bytes.
Hook this baby to your laptop computer and turn your next homeschool fieldtrip into an outdoor science lab excursion.
You can take the microscope off its cradle stand to scan the surface of large items-- or to scan fixed objects and organisms. Look at tree bark up close or examine a spider web without ever having to disturb or destroy a thing.
Educational
Toys & Science Equipment available from Edmund Scientifics
The Brilliant Earth Poster
In this nocturnal satellite map, heavily populated areas are evident due
to electric lighting in buildings and other structures.
Invite friends to locate New York City and other major cities around the world. -- The Brilliant Earth makes an interesting statement about the impact of man on earth. 36" x 24". Laminated
Pocket
Microscope
measures 5" long x 1" wide. Powered by two “AA” batteries (not
included). Features a clear acrylic base, on/off switch and side
focus knob. Specifications: Magnification: 30X
$10.95
Stereomicroscope
For serious students of the environment.
An excellent quality compass. -- Liquid-filled with bubble level, clinometer, map scales, carrying case, and multi-language instruction manual. -- Dial has 5 degree (0-360) gradations, compass disc has 2 degree gradations. Hairline guide is on a gradated reticle. Compass has a mounting bracket for tripod use
Butterfly Pavilion
comes with butterfly fact book and coupon
for 10 free "painted lady" caterpillars and special growth
food. For ages 4+ $29.95
Field Journal
Attractive,
well-made, soft-cover book specifically designed for children.
Carefully organized into sections for note writing and sketches
using prompts that help young journalists record their impressions,
discoveries, thoughts, ideas and questions regarding the world of
nature.
Space Age Ant Habitat
Kids can watch ants create 3D tunnels! Now available at
ScientificsOnline.com!
Supersonic Ear
Electronic listening device makes it possible to listen in on
wildlife, in the backyard and on hikes.
Smithsonian
Complete Weather Station
Includes a anemometer to measure wind speed, a wind vane for
determining wind direction, indoor and outdoor thermometers, a rain
gauge to chart rainfall, a data log pad to jot down research notes,
a full color cloud chart, instruction manual and more.
Using a blank silicon slab and the other materials provided in this kit, you will build a working solar cell. -- The kit then shows you how to use the solar cell to drive a pendulum, a small motor and a radio.
In addition, the kit gives marvelous insight into the usefulness of solar cells. -- Includes: a comprehensive manual and introduction to solar energy written by one of the co-inventors of the solar battery, Dr. Darryl Chapin. -- (Please note: all materials required except heat-insulated bricks and asbestos sheets are included.)
Build a Solar Power Demonstrator! -- This kit consists of an encapsulated solar cell array, a miniature motor, a wind propeller, an optical illusion disc, and an instruction manual.
With these components and the included instructions, you can study the impact of artificial light versus sunlight and learn the basic principles of solar cell energy generation.
Lesson Plans
Teaching About Ecology
with The Magic School Bus
Oil Slick
Transboundary Pollution
Keeping Our
Community Clean
(4-5 year olds)
How Animals Adapt
to their Environment
What Lives in the Water
(PreK-2)
Ocean Creatures
& The Web of Life
Discovering
Science
in Nature
(general ideas)
Activities for classrooms
by
the National Wildlife Federation
Lesson Plans Related
To The Environment
What Makes Up An Ecosystem
(Reproducible)
Earth Saving Scavenger Hunt
(Reproducible)
Earth Day, Every Day Unit Study
More EK Science
Pages:
Dinosaurs -- Great info, links, books, and
educational toys about these favorite prehistoric creatures.
E.K. Science -- Lots of links,
books, and equipment to help kids learn astronomy, physics,
chemistry, and more.
Your
Body -- Learn how your body
works, and how to keep it healthy!
Grow A
Garden -- Learn important principles in Earth
Science by preparing the soil, sprouting seeds, growing
plants to bloom or fruition, and coping with pests.
Wild Animals -- E.K.
Zoological Science
Science News -- Today's top science headlines and news, plus online science magazines.
Science Pages By EK Kids:
