Age Range: 11+

Table of Contents

Introduction............................................................3

Energy......................................................................4

Air Pollution............................................................8

Water Pollution.....................................................16

Mining........................................................................27

Biodiversity...........................................................35

Living in today’s world, many don’t recognize how small daily actions can contribute to huge environmental change. Energy is being wasted every minute without us thinking about it, the air is constantly being filled with pollutants, the amount of drinkable water is getting smaller, the materials we use from mining processes are destroying living habitat, and our environment is getting less healthy than before. Energy, air and water pollution, mining, and the earth’s biodiversity are five general concepts that everyone should be aware of.

Introduction

Energy

Our everyday actions are big contributors to how energy is wasted daily. Taking long showers, forgetting to turn off the TV or the fan or light, leaving the stove or oven on for longer than needed, and many more movements can waste energy easily. Recognizing everything we do will help us save energy and eventually save the Earth from dying. 

At home:

Turn off any unused appliances

Use power strips

Replace incandescent bulbs with LED or fluorescent light bulbs

Reduce the use of hot water

Use a laptop rather than a desktop computer

Buy energy-efficient appliances

Outside: 

Walk or ride a bike

Carpool

Take public transportation

Ways You Can Conserve Energy

Air pollution occurs when chemicals or substances are present in the atmosphere, which is caused by human activities and natural disasters that result in damaging human health and the living environment. 

Air Pollution

Smog from cars and combustion from factories is a big part of air pollution. Forest fires and volcanic eruptions can also cause air pollution. Home heating, home cooking and burning substances like kerosene, wood, and coal to heat the house are all ways to cause indoor pollution. 

What Causes Air Pollution?

To Our Earth:

Global warming

Acid rain

Smog

Ozone depletion

To Us:

Increases the risk of a heart attack

Worsens heart problems

Asthma

Lung problems

What Air Pollution Does..

Carpooling with others to reduce the smog coming out of cars

Reduce fireplace and wood use

Walk or ride a bike

Buy fewer things that are manufactured by fossil fuels, etc. 

How Can You and Others Help?

Water pollution occurs when a body of water such as lakes, streams, and rivers, gets polluted with substances that make it unusable. Water can be polluted very easily and one of the causes relate to air pollution. When water gets acidic, it is also considered polluted. Polluted water may destroy animals’ habitat and over time, leads to a decrease of biodiversity, a concept that’ll be further discussed.

Water Pollution

By the dumping of industrial waste.

Temperature rise causes a change in water by reducing the oxygen in its composition.

Deforestation (a practice of removing forests) which causes sediments and bacteria to appear under the soil and therefore contaminate/pollute groundwater.

What Causes Water Pollution?

To Our Earth: 

Prevent marine organisms, living things, from surviving and thriving

Becomes unusable/unlivable

Pollutes other variables such as nearby soil

Reflects an unhealthy environment

To Us:

Makes you ill

Increases your chance of catching a deadly disease

Develops unwanted diseases that are hard to cure

What Water Pollution Does...

Take shorter showers

Turn off water while brushing your teeth

Check pipes and faucets for leaks

Turn off water when hand washing dishes

Turn off sprinkler system when its raining

Save rainwater; seal leaks

How Can You Save Water?

Do not pour any type of fat or grease down the sink

Do not dispose household chemicals in toilets or sinks

Minimize use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers

Avoid using garbage disposal

Avoid plastic containers

AVoid littering in public

How Can You Prevent Water Pollution?