Support children to connect to their world

Unit Code: CHCECE012 Session 2

Recap - Sustainability

• What does it mean?

• Enough for all for ever

• Complete ‘Story of Stuff’ http://youtu.be/gLBE5QAYXp8

Impact of key global issues

• Human beings actions impact on the environment

• Often this can have a negative effect

• This is a big issue for local, national and international communities

• Watch ‘Because we are all connected ’ - http://youtu.be/OjGe-_OYWQQ

What are some issues

• Climate change

• Ozone layer depletion

• Greenhouse effect

• Earth’s resources

• Bio-diversity

Climate change

• Changes in weather patterns are caused by global warming

• Global warming is the Earth’s temperature getting hotter

Climate change Australia and the world are experiencing rapid changes in

climatic conditions.

This human induced climate change is resulting in significant changes in weather patterns.

Since the middle of the 20th century, Australian temperatures have, on average, risen by about 1c in an increase in the frequency of heatwaves and a decrease in the number of frosts and cold days.

Rainfall patterns have also changed – the northwest has seen an increase in rainfall over the last 50 years while much of Eastern Australia and the far southwest have experienced a decline

Climate change in Aus

Climate change

• What causes climate change?

What causes Global Warming?

• Burning fossil fuels

• Deforestation

• Farming

• Waste breakdown

• Industry - greenhouse gas emissions

• Watch ‘WWF climate change’: http://youtu.be/gEvmwNoMYEg

Greenhouse effect This is a naturally occurring process that

occurs as the heat radiated from the sun warms up the various gases that are in the earths atmosphere.

Without these gases it would be impossible for living things to survive.

The gases play an important role in trapping heat from the sun.

Greenhouse effect They keep the earth warm and insulated

– similar to what happens within a greenhouse for plants.

The 'enhanced greenhouse effect' refers to the effect that the increasing concentration gases has on increasing the world's average temperature – a direct result of Post Industrial Revolution activities.

Greenhouse effect

Greenhouse effect• Watch ‘Climate change advert’-

http://youtu.be/QD2WTK94c1U

• Human activity is is the major producer of CO2

• What are some ways we can ensure there is a happy ending?

• Using the iPads go to climatekids.nasa.gov/trivia/

Ozone layer depletion

• Watch - http://unfccc.int/cop3/fccc/kids/sikumi/ozon/index-e.htm

• The results of ozone layer depletion is a warmer planet or ‘Global Warming’

Greenhouse effect• Gases that contribute include:

• Carbon Dioxide - released into the air as humans and animals exhale and as we burn fossil fuels

• Plants and trees absorb much of this, deforestation is the major contributor to increases in carbon dioxide as trees are cleared for wood and development and the plants and trees are no longer able to absorb carbon dioxide via the process of photosynthesis

Amazon

• “The Amazon Rainforest has been described as the “Lungs of our Planet” because it provides the essential environmental world service of continuously recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen. More than 20 percent of the world oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest.” - Raintree website (1996)

• Unfortunately large tracts of the Amazon and other world forests are being logged for timber and to make way for agriculture

• During the past 40 years, close to 20 percent of the Amazon rain forest has been cut down—more than in all the previous 450 years since European colonization began

Deforestation

Greenhouse effect• Methane - While there is not as much methane in the

atmosphere as carbon dioxide, methane traps heat 21 times more effectively (National Centre for Sustainability)

• Mainly a by-product of bacteria that live in the intestines of some animals, including cows and sheep

• Helps to break down organic matter in wetlands (such as rice fields)

• Rubbish dumps also release large amounts of methane into the atmosphere as discarded organic matter breaks down

• Vivian Head (2008) states that methane emissions may account for as much as a third towards global warming and the main cause for rising ozone levels

Greenhouse effect

• Nitrous Oxide - Nitrous Oxide is produced naturally by bacteria that live in the soil

• Since 1970 nitrous oxide has risen by more than 15 per cent, mainly due to our increased use of nitrogen based fertilisers, emissions from sewage treatment plants and vehicles’ exhaust fumes

Greenhouse effect• Chlorinated Fluorocarbons (CFC’s)

gases can be easily converted into liquid and used in the production of fridges, air conditioners and aerosols

• CFC’s have a warming effect of 3000 to 13000 times more than carbon dioxide and they take up to 400 years to break down

• They also contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer

Greenhouse effect

• Ozone layer - absorbs 93-99% of the high frequency ultraviolet light from the sun

• Exposure to this form of light is potentially damaging to living things

• The ozone layer protects us from this

• Over the past 20 years the widespread use of CFC’s (Chlorofluorocarbons) in products like spray cans and refrigeration units has significantly contributed to the hole in the ozone layer

Eco footprint

Earth resources

• Natural resources are derived from the environment and many are essential for our survival

• They are materials and components that can be found within the environment

Natural Resources

• Examples of Earth’s resources are:

• Water

• Air - wind

• Sunlight

• Living and organic organisms such as forests, animals, birds

• Land e.g. metals such as gold

Natural Resources

• Some natural resources are renewable and some resources are non-renewable

• Therefore if we use too much of a non-renewable resource it will run out!

• Every man made item is derived from natural resources!

What Natural Resources make these items?

Using your iPad research what natural resources make these items.

Are these natural resources renewable?

Can these items be recycled?

Energy• Energy use is the major cause of climate

change in Australia. This is because 90% of the electricity we use is produced by burning polluting coal

• This has made Australians the highest per capita greenhouse polluters in the world

• To reduce greenhouse pollution we must become more energy efficient and switch from coal to renewable energy technologies like solar and wind

• What are some ways you could reduce energy consumption?

Energy

• “Walk around Australia. Try not to use the car.” Maeve, 4 years

Renewable energy

• What are some examples of renewable energy?

Renewable energy• Renewable energy is sourced from wind,

water, sun and biomass products, such as wood.

• There are two main ways people can use renewable energy in the home and business. The first is by installing small renewable generation units, or, more commonly, using wood or solar hot water

• The other way is to choose to use renewable energy as part of their electricity supply, via GreenPower.

Water

• Climate change is impacting on the average amount of rainfall in Australia and higher surface temperatures

• If you combine this with the increasing population you can quickly see why we are running out of water

• Australia is one of the driest continents on earth and we all must rethink how we can use water more wisely

• Many regions throughout Australia have water restrictions put into place and through a series of campaigns many people are now adopting more sustainable water practices

Water

• What are some ways we can reduce water consumption?

Biodiversity• Biodiversity encompasses every living

thing that exists on our planet and the environment in which they live

• From the smallest one-cell microbeto the gigantic blue whale

• It is an exquisite mosaic of life, of which we are all part

• It’s everywhere, on land, in rivers and lakes, in the seas and oceans, from your backyard and in the forest

Biodiversity• In simple terms the word

biodiversity can be described as the variety of plants and animals (species) and the places they live (ecosystems)

• In referring to school yard biodiversity you will be talking about all the different kinds of plants and animals found in (or passing by) the Preschool

Biodiversity• Australia is one of the most

diverse countries on the planet

• It is home to more than one million species of plants and animals, many of which are found nowhere else in the world

Biodiversity• Do you know how many species exist on

planet Earth?

• Well, neither do we.

• Scientists have named quite a few, but we are finding new species every day

• Australia is home to between 600,000 and 700,000 species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world

• Approximately 84% of our plants, 83% of our mammals and 45% of our birds are endemic – that is, they are only found in Australia

Biodiversity

• Why do you think it is important to conserve our plants and animals (biodiversity)?

Biodiversity• Humans depend directly and indirectly

on living systems for our health and well-being

• It provides all of our food and many industrial products and medicines

• Biodiversity also ensures clean air and water and fertile soils, it provides opportunities for recreation, tourism, scientific research and education, and it is a source of cultural identity for many Australians

Biodiversity• In what ways have Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander peoples looked after or used the land?

• In 2012, Aboriginal people managed 20% of Australia’s land

Biodiversity• “Save the whales and look after all

the animals.”

• Cam, 5 years

Activity

• What is your favourite animal or plant?

• Illustrate this now

Final Note!

• Sustainability: told as a Children's Fairy Tale with Beautiful Montage

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKWQuU0sHPw

If we have time…

• Watch Children of Rio – Sustainable Development.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSiYw3a-jfo