Last Lesson: Climate Change

What a feeling after finishing our fourth and final workshop--these weeks have flown by!  We chose to end with the subject of climate change (el cambio climático) so that the students could understand the effects of everyday habits and how they can directly or indirectly damage the environment.  Pollution comes from transportation and gasoline (cars, airplanes, trains), heating and air conditioning, and electricity.  Whether water, air, or soil pollution, all forms contribute to the irreversible destruction of the environment.

In keeping with tradition, we kicked things off with vocabulary...

1. Global warming: an increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect.  Expected long-term effects of current global warming are rising sea levels, flooding, melting of polar ice caps and glaciers, fluctuations in temperature and precipitation, more frequent and stronger El Niños and La Niñas, drought, heat waves, and forest fires. 

 2. Greenhouse gases: any of the gases whose absorption of solar radiation is responsible for the greenhouse effect, including carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and the fluorocarbons. Although greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, the elevated levels especially of carbon dioxide and methane that have been observed in recent decades are directly related, at least in part, to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation of tropical forests.

 3. Fossil fuels: Fossil fuels are fuels containing carbon – coal, oil and gas – that were formed over millions of years through the decay, burial and compaction of rotting vegetation on land, and of marine organisms on the sea floor.  Burning fossil fuels is the major way in which humans add to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

4. Renewable energy: energy that comes from sources such as sun, wind and falling water – sources available in an unlimited supply.

It was great to see that the students knew so much about all these terms!  Then, we decided to mix it up and incorporate fun facts in the form of a matching game! 

 It's a little difficult to see, but give it a shot! Spoiler alert: answers below...

1. False (J)—global warming is also caused by human-generated factors.
2. China (C) emits the most greenhouse gases (surpassed USA in 2006-2007).
3. A compact fluorescent light bulb (A) uses 60-80% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb or halogen bulb.
4. 100 years (E)—even if carbon dioxide emissions ceased immediately, past actions would still affect the planet for decades to come.
5. Narwhal (G)—their restricted geographic distribution, specific migration routes, and specialized diet makes them more vulnerable to global warming than polar bears.
6. 70 million tons (D)—equivalent to 1.4 billion pounds every day.
7. 20 million tons (B)—this amount lost per day is equal to the amount of water New York City uses for an entire year.
8. 150,000 (F) global deaths per year due to the effects of global warming: extreme weather, drought, heat waves, decreased food production, and vector borne diseases like malaria.
9. True (H)—rising temperatures allow mosquitoes to survive at higher altitudes, potentially bringing them to regions that lack population immunity.
10. Sometimes (I)—hybrids have improved fuel economy, but some use those savings for added power.

Activity: "What's Your Message?"

Each student was given materials to create his or her own magazine “advertisement.”  The ad can be about what the student believes is the most important regarding sustainability and the environment or simply his or her favorite topic.  Afterward, each child’s “ad” will be placed in a scrapbook for El Buen Pastor to keep, thereby commemorating what each believes to be the most important and continuing to raise awareness about the subject.

 Some decided to focus on recycling or greenhouse gases, and one student even created an ad for a "solar store!"  We love spending time with these students and (hopefully) having a positive impact on how they view sustainability and bettering the environment.  After healthy lifestyles, recycling, rainforest prevention, and climate change, we'll return next week with a scrapbook of their ads!

Hasta luego,

Caryn, Chiara, and Katelyn