Environmental Awareness: How you can do YOUR part!

Did you know that as a child, you hold the power to change the earth? From nature conservation, to recycling at home, to reducing ‘greenhouse gases’, the way that you live every day is going to have an important effect on our environment, especially over the next several decades (Kids Clubber Tip: A decade = 10 years!). You’re never too young (or old!) to start paying attention to how you can help the world around you.

The broad topic of ‘Environmental Awareness’ can seem like a huge thing to a small child. But there are baby steps that kids can take every day to make sure they don’t leave their ‘carbon footprint’ on our Earth! Here are a few tips that all kids can follow, and share with their friends:

-Global Warming is an increase in the Earth’s temperature. We all contribute to global warming through activities we take part in every day, such as: riding in a car, clearing trees and plants off of land to put buildings in their place, dumping garbage into landfills, or turning on an air conditioner. Sharing car rides, putting new plants into the ground, and watching how much garbage we throw out can help to eliminate what we all contribute to global warming.

-The Water Cycle is the way that water rises, falls, flows and goes. Water is a renewable resource (meaning, there is the same amount of water on Earth now that there was 1 million years ago). However, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do everything we can to conserve water. After all, only about 1% of water is usable by living creatures! Most of the water in this world is salt water. To do your part in conserving water, make sure you don’t turn on a hose to water plants outside or to wash a car if the weather forecast is calling for rain. Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth. Take shorter showers and baths. And most important, don’t pollute! Pollution can effect water on land and make it unusable.

-Recycling (making something new from something old) takes up less money and less energy. Aluminum and steel cans, cardboard, glass, newspapers and plastic bottles can all be separated from your trash and used to make something else.

The Scientific Process: Six Steps You Need to Know!

If you’ve read our back Events Page, then you know that science & magic company Wondergy is going to be visiting the mall for three days in July! We want you to brush up on your science skills before you attend the events, so we’re going to let you in on a little secret…there are only six simple steps in the Scientific Process that will help you build an understanding of science! With only six steps, that makes everything easy to remember! So, are you ready? Let’s roll up the sleeves on our lab coats and get to reading!

The first step in the Scientific Process is Observing. Observing is using the five senses (see, hear, touch, smell, taste) to gather information about objects and events, their characteristics, properties, differences, similarities, and changes.

The second step is Measuring. Measuring is comparing an unknown amount with a known unit to determine its dimensions, weight, capacity, temperature, speed, or quantity.

The third step is Communicating. Communicating is using written or spoken words, graphs, demonstrations, drawings, diagrams or data tables to share information and ideas with others.

The fourth step is Classifying. Classifying is grouping objects or events together based on their similarities or differences.

The fifth step is Inferring. Inferring is explaining, making interpretations, or drawing conclusions based on observations and data.

The sixth and final step is Predicting. Predicting is forming and stating an expected result or occurrence that will happen in the future, based upon all of the information you have gathered in the first five steps.

Now that you know the six steps to the Scientific Process, check out our family activity to put your knowledge to work!