Earth Day - 2020

Celebrate Earth Day with Climate Conversations!

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

- focus on Earth Day history and meaning;

- engage in a conversation around climate change with an elderly relative/community member;

- learn about real climate actions.

ACTIVITY OVERVIEW:

Introduction

Have you heard that “Climate emergency” is the 2019 Oxford Word of the Year?

As defined by Oxford Dictionaries, climate emergency is “a situation in which urgent action is required to reduce or halt climate change and avoid potentially irreversible environmental damage resulting from it.” Oxford’s data showed that the use of “climate emergency” increased 100-fold (10,796%) over the course of the year. The data also reflect the increasing use of “climate emergency” among the scientific community. Last year on September 20, 4 million people turned out worldwide for the largest climate strike in history. It`s time to EARTHRISE with a global call for climate action! Especially today on the International Earth Day! Have you ever heard about it?

Step 1.  From the history of Earth Day

1a. Study the official site of Earth Day and learn about the origins of Earth Day.

1b. Watch the video 

1c. Complete Earth Day timeline

1970	The first Earth Day mobilizes 20 million Americans to call for increased protections for our planet
	Earth Day goes global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries
	Earth Day leverages the power of digital media to build millions of local conversations across more than 180 countries
	Earth Day Network launches A Billion Acts of Green and The Canopy Project. Earth Day 2010 engages 75,000 global partners in 192 countries
2020	Earth Day will mark 50 years with global activations that aim to mobilize a billion people worldwide for transformative action for our planet

1d. Who are Rachel Carson, Gaylord Nelson, Denis Hayes? What is their contribution to Earth Day history?

1e. Say what facts surprised you. Why?

Step 2.  Earth Day 2020

The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. The enormous challenge — but also the vast opportunities — of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary. Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable. Is it really the biggest? Let`s talk about then and now.

2a. Connect with an elderly relative, either online or on the phone and engage in a conversation about climate change. Ask them how the world has changed since they were young.

2b.  Look through the list of questions, rearrange the questions into three groups.

Weather	Food	Transport
Do temperatures seem hotter or colder?

2c. What other topic can you ask them about? Brainstorm a series of questions on it and complete the fourth column of the table.

2d. Share your findings with the class.

2e. Prove that climate has changed our planet.

Step 3.  Climate Action

Action doesn`t mean just talking. There is simply no time to waste and 2020 is a key turning point for our planet. We need urgent and ambitious action at every level, from heads of state to private sector leaders and individual citizens using their unique influence to drive change and make an impact. Everyone has the ability to do something to address our climate challenge, but we can all still do more. What will you do?

3a. Read the article and learn about the ways of doing about climate change.

3b. Comment on the way you are ready to join. Explain your choice.

Step 4.  Join Earth Day!

If you are ready to make a real step, you have several options to choose from.

4a. Study the interactive map and join digital activity you like most; 

4b. Join the global digital surge;

4c. Watch Earth Day live;

4d. Take 24 hours of action;

4e. Tell your friends, parents, peers about Earth Day;

4f. Take part in Earth Day, details are here. 

And remember that together we can SAVE the Earth:

Speak up
Act
Vote
Educate

References:

https://www.earthday.org/;

https://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/

The Queen's Coronavirus broadcast

Coronavirus knows no borders

Learn the facts about coronavirus and what you can do…

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that affect animals. Occasionally, coronaviruses have been known to move from animals to humans. The coronavirus we’re talking about today is a new virus, which causes an illness called COVID-19.

 How did the coronavirus outbreak start?

It’s not completely clear how the outbreak started, but it’s thought it’s likely to have begun in Wuhan, China at a local meat market known to sell wild animal meat.

We still don’t know for sure which animal sparked the outbreak, but it’s thought that the new virus could have originated in  bats. Bats weren’t sold at the market, but they may have come into contact with the animals that were.

 How is coronavirus spread?

Because we haven’t encountered this virus before, scientists are still working hard to discover exactly how it spreads. Similar viruses, like colds and flu, spread through water droplets in coughs and sneezes. These droplets can live on surfaces and spread when someone touches them with their hands. People become infected when they then touch their hands to their mouth, nose or eyes.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

For the most people, including kids, this coronavirus isn’t dangerous. It will make them feel poorly for a short time, before they make a full recovery. For a few people, like the elderly and people who have long-term health conditionssuch as diabetes, heart disease or asthma, the risk of becoming very ill is more serious. That’s why these people are making extra efforts to have less face-to-face contact with others at the moment.

That means you might have to change the way you keep in touch with grandparents, friends or family who are vulnerable, for the time-being. For example, how about video calling your grandparents, or sending them a letter? It’s good to keep in touch, but in a way that keeps you and others safe.

Coronavirus symptoms include:

a fever, dry cough, tiredness, feeling achey
What can I do?
There are plenty of small, easy things you can do. You probably do some of them already, but at this time, we all just need to be extra sensible and cautious as we go about our daily lives and activities:

– Wash your hands more regularly, for at least 20 seconds – that’s about as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice! Dry them with a paper towel and then chuck it in the bin!

– If you can’t wash your hands with soap and water, then use hand-sanitiser.

– Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth.

– Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Bin the tissue and wash your hands afterwards.

– Try to avoid hand-to-hand contact with others outside of your immediate family. There are all sorts of ingenious ways that people around the world are learning to make contact with each other without touching hands, like ‘footshakes’ instead of handshakes!

– Avoid contact with people who feel unwell, or if you feel poorly, let a trusted adult know.

What are people doing about coronavirus?

Thankfully, there are lots of people like scientists, government officials and medical professionals working extremely hard to learn how to better prevent, control and treat this virus.

Scientists are working with speed to create a vaccine, which will give people protection from the virus. It’s hoped that they’ll have a vaccine ready for trials by the end of 2020.

In the meantime, there are lots of changes being made to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Some of them might feel a bit scary or unusual, but rest assured, they’re being made to keep you and others safe:

– People who feel unwell, and the people they live with, are being asked to self-isolate. This basically means staying at home for 14 days so that you don’t pass the virus on to others. People can’t come to visit you during this time, but you can go outside if you have a private garden or balcony.

– People in some countries or cities are being asked to practise ‘social distancing‘. This basically means keeping your distance from others, avoiding social gatherings like meeting with friends, going to sporting events or gigs. This is to help prevent the virus from passing from person to person.

– Your parents may be asked to work from home. This might mean your family routine changes while they spend more time than usual at home.

– Your school may be closed, meaning that you will be staying at home during the week. Your teacher may set you school work for you to do at home, or even teach classes online.

– Cafés, restaurants, events and other public places may be closed.

These changes won’t be around forever, but they are important steps towards slowing the spread of coronavirus.

Should I be worried?

You might feel worried about coronavirus, about how it might affect you, your family and friends, and the changes that we are making to our daily lives at this time. The important thing to remember is that we are all in this together. Talk to your friends and family about your worries and work out how you will support each other during the coming weeks, ensuring you all stay happy and healthy.

Things you can do:

– Do things that make you happy like drawing, reading, and playing games.

– Have a break from talking or thinking about coronavirus. Keep yourself busy and don’t overcheck the news.

– Don’t believe everything that your friends tell you about coronavirus. Check the facts with a parent or trusted adult.

– Your parents, family and friends might be under more stress than usual, especially if they are working from home, or having to self-isolate, so think about things you can do to cheer them up. Perhaps you could help by tidying the house or writing them a note to brighten up their day?

 Do the QUIZ  

Mobile phones

Nowadays we can't live without our mobile phones,  though they've not really been in existence for very long. In fact, mobile phones as we know them today have only been around in the last 20 years. Mobile phones, particularly the smartphones that have become our inseparable companions today, are relatively new. However, the history of mobile phones goes back to 1908 when a US Patent was issued in Kentucky for a wireless telephone.

Mobile phones were invented as early as the 1940s when engineers working at AT&T developed cells for mobile phone base stations.

The very first mobile phones were not really mobile phones at all. They were two-way radios that allowed people like taxi drivers and the emergency services to communicate.

Instead of relying on base stations with separate cells (and the signal being passed from one cell to another), the first mobile phone networks involved one very powerful base station covering a much wider area. Motorola, on 3 April 1973 were first company to mass produce the the first handheld mobile phone.

Evolution of the Mobile Phone

Internet

The Internet is a worldwide, publicly accessible series of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packet switching, using standard IP (Internet Protocol). Now Internet has become one of the most important part of our life. Most of us cannot think of spending one day without internet. Internet has made our lives much easy.

International Internet Day is celebrated worldwide, every year on 29th of October. Since the year 2005 the International Internet Day has been famously celebrated to commemorate a momentous day in the history of telecommunications and technology. This was the event of the sending of the first message, first electronic message which was transferred from one computer to another in 1969. This was situated in California, in the USA. Today the International Internet Day is also an on-line project germinating from the society, of the society and for the society. The International Internet Day project is open to everyone and anyone just as access to the internet is open and free for everyone. The International Internet Day thus celebrates this grand democratic fervor which in essential is linked to this idea of liberation, where everyone is afforded an equal opportunity and an equal advantage to share of services, which connect the world to each other.

Will you be my Valentine?

Valentine's Day means different things to different people. For some, the day is celebrated with heart-shaped Valentine's Day cards, thoughtful gifts of flowers or jewelry, and romantic Valentine's Day dinner plans. For others, it's simply marked by time spent with a loved one and reading romantic Valentine's Day quotes, or posting a Valentine's Day caption on a cute couples Instagram photo. And to many more, it's just another day on the calendar—one that means very little, if anything at all. But no matter your personal relationship with the day, odds are, you've found yourself wondering about its origins from time to time. How did February 14 first come to be considered the day of love, anyway? What's the origin of Valentine's Day—and why have its romantic themes persisted to this day?  Oh, and while we're at it, where does the word "Valentine" come from?

Watch a video and be ready to discuss it

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!