ECOLOGY - CED - Home · 2019-06-25 · ECOLOGY Ecology is the study of how all living things relate to each other and to their natural environment. People, plants and animals depend

DISCOVERING GOD’S GIFT OF NATURE

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ECOLOGYEcology is the study of how all living things relate to each other and to their natural environment. People, plants and animals depend on each other for survival. One could not exist without the others; therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility to understand and protect the environment.

THINGS TO KNOW AND DOComplete the Task, plus the number of tasks listed in each section.

THE 4TH “R”

Besides the “3 Rs” of Ecology: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, wise consumers know there is a fourth “R” that is just as important: REVIEW.

Do you know what is in the beauty products you use everyday, or how those products affect you and the environment?

TaskComplete the following task.

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Researcher David Suzuki has identified a “Dirty Dozen” list of ingredients many products contain that are not so pretty. Review your own products to learn what is in them and the harm those ingredients can cause. For this task do each of the following:

FIRST: KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

Download a free copy of What’s Inside? That Counts. at: www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/downloads/2010/ whats-inside-shoppers-guide.pdf. Read the guide to learn about the effects of the “Dirty Dozen.”

TO EARN THIS EMBLEM COMPLETETASK

PLUS

3 MIND MATTERS CHOICE TASKS

1 BODY BASICS CHOICE TASK

1 SOUL QUEST CHOICE TASK

2 OTHERS CHOICE TASKS

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SECOND: OPEN YOUR PURSE, CABINET, OR DRAWER AND PULL OUT YOUR FAVORITE PRODUCTS.

Look for the following:

INGREDIENTS CHECK IF FOUND PRODUCTS INGREDIENT IS FOUND INBHA / BHT

Coal Tar Dyes

Cyclomethicone / Siloxanes

DEA / MEA / TEA

Dibutyl Phthalate Formaldehyde-Releasing

Preservatives

Parabens

Parfum

PEG

Petrolatum

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

Triclosan

THIRD: MAKE A PLAN OF ACTION BASED ON WHAT YOU FIND.

Which is the most common ingredient(s) from the list that shows up in your products?


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Mind MattersComplete at least THREE of the following tasks.


1. REUSE.

Help reduce the waste in landfills by reusing clothes, books, toys, etc. Plan a corps or community-wide swap meet. Participants bring in gently used items they have outgrown or no longer need to swap for items belonging to other participants.

2. EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN.

Use recycled materials to make a craft project.

– OR –Hold a contest among troop members to see who can come up with the best idea for upcycling, repurposing, or reusing old things you would normally throw out.

3. YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT THE WAY ORGANISMS INTERACT BY MAKING A TERRARIUM.

Make a terrarium in a glass jar or old fish tank. Go to www.rachaelraymag.com/fun-how-to/get-real-guide/how-to-make-your-own-terrarium to read about one way you can do this.

Do the possible dangers listed for that product concern you? Why or why not?

What do you think is the biggest problem based on your review?

What can you do about the problem? Put your plan into action.

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During the hike, choose a plot of ground 3’ square to observe. You will be surprised at the amount of animal and plant life that is living in a small area. Use a magnifying glass to get a closer look. Make a list of the plants and living creatures you find. Carefully remove sod with a spade or shovel and you may find more living things. Carefully replace the sod when you are finished. Compare your list with a friend’s list.

How are they alike?

2. ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE CAN AFFECT ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN HEALTH.

Choose one of the following topics and find out how it impacts your health. Let others know about the danger by designing an infographic or poster, writing a song, or making a video about the subject.

• Global warming

• Population growth

• Air pollution

How are they different?

Body BasicsComplete at least ONE of the following tasks.


1. GO ON A HIKE IN A PARK OR COUNTRY AREA WITH YOUR TROOP OR OTHER FRIENDS.

Make a field journal. Use your senses to observe your surroundings. Record the following:

• Is it cold, hot, damp, or windy where you are?

• What types of animals and plants live there?

• Is there any litter or other pollution that does not belong? If you see litter, put it in a garbage can.

4. MAKE A POSTER THAT WILL REMIND PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

Display your poster at school, corps/church, or in your neighborhood.

5. HELP TO SAVE A TREE BY RECYCLING OLD NEWSPAPER.

Make new paper that you can use. If you need help getting started, go to www.lowes.com/creative- ideas/decorate-and-entertain/make-decorative-paper/ project for instructions.


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Soul QuestComplete the following task.


You have learned that people, plants, and animals are all dependent upon the environment for survival. Everything fits together according to God’s special design.

Just as nature fits together, the body of Christ, which is the Church, must fit together. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 to see how each part of the body needs, and is aware of, all the other parts.

To demonstrate the idea of working together, do the following:

Have two girls sit back-to back. Give one girl a picture, photo, or illustration to describe to her partner. Give the other girl a blank piece of paper and a crayon or felt marker.

The girl with the picture will give directions to the girl with paper telling her how to draw the picture. She can only name shapes, not objects. For example, she might say, “Draw a

OthersComplete at least TWO of the following tasks.


1. IF YOUR COMMUNITY DOES NOT OFFER CURBSIDE RECYCLING, SPONSOR A COLLECTION DRIVE.

Ask girls in your troop to save newspapers, bottles, and aluminum cans for one month. Deposit them at a recycling collection point.

2. IF YOUR CORPS OR CAMP DOES NOT RECYCLE, TRY TO ENCOURAGE IT TO START.

Start small. Find old boxes or bins and label them so plastic bottles and aluminum cans may be sorted for recycling.

3. EACH PERSON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY DO AND THE WAY IT AFFECTS THE EARTH.

We must make careful choices that protect our environment so that every part works together in harmony with all the other parts. An example of harmony would be cocoa and whipped cream. Hot cocoa with a giant blob of mustard on top would not be a good example of harmony.

Take a hike around your own neighborhood, community, or camp to look for signs of environmental harmony. Think of things that you can do to help make your area into a healthier and better place to live.

square in the middle of the page and put a half circle on top of the square.” She may not say, “Draw a barn in the middle of the page.”

The instructions continue until the picture is complete. Afterwards, discuss the following:

• How hard or easy was it to complete the picture?

• What would have made it easier?

• Which person had the harder task?

• How important do you think it was to work together?

• After doing this, is it easier to understand the Scripture? Why?

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My little sister helping her school stay clean.

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If you enjoyed this activity, find out how to put it to work. Talk to your school counselor about career opportunities that would allow you to use your new skills. What can you do now to help you prepare for a related job in the future?

Here are several careers related to this emblem. There are many others.

• Ecologist

• Environmental Risk Management

• Marine Biologist

Looking Ahead

After you have some ideas, share them in one of the following ways:

• Make a video to share your ideas with your troop. With the permission of your parents, share the video on YouTube.

• Write a letter to the editor to tell others in the community about your concerns. Invite them to join your crusade to improve environmental harmony.

• Start something. Get your friends involved in a project to make your area even better.

– Clean up a park.

– Plant a tree.

– Start a butterfly garden.

– Recycle.

• Take pictures of things in the environment that represent harmony.

• Make a scrapbook, photo journal or PowerPoint presentation to show the balance of nature.

4. EACH YEAR, APRIL 22ND IS CELEBRATED AS EARTH DAY.

Log on to www.earthday.org and choose a way to make your community a better place.

WebitesLesson Plans, Teacher Guides and Online Resources For Educatorswww.epa.gov/students/teachers.html

Green Tips, Earth Day News and How to Be a Hero of the Planetwww.timeforkids.com/minisite/environment

Learn about ecosystems, environmental issues, predator/prey Relationships and more.www.biologycorner.com/lesson-plans/ecology/

Earth Day/Ecology on Pinterestwww.pinterest.com/jerriemiller/earth-day-ecology/

Additional Resources


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If you are working on the Catherine Booth Award, take photos to share with the Review Committee.

1. LEAD YOUR TROOP IN SPONSORING A COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP PROJECT.

Choose a site that needs improvement. Secure the necessary permits or permission from the local government. Make plans with your troop for:

• Securing necessary tools and equipment.

• Assigning duties to work teams.

• Promoting and advertising your project.

• Collecting items that can be recycled and properly disposing of the others.

• Be sure to take before and after photos of the location. Evaluate the plans you made and the actual clean-up.

What went well?

S-T-R-E-T-C-H Project(s)Complete ONE of the following projects.


BooksProject WILD from the Council for Environmental Education

Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests from the American Forest Foundation

Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests is a Project Learning Tree module that examines the ecological systems of a forest; analyzes interdependencies within a forest ecosystem; and explores factors, like fire, that shape the development of forests.

What things could have been improved?

Be sure to save any photos, plans, and promotional materials to share with the Review Committee, if you are working on the Catherine Booth Award.

2. CHOOSE ONE TYPE OF POLLUTION (AIR, WATER, NOISE, SOIL) THAT AFFECTS YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.

Interview professionals, read newspapers, or listen to news reports that will help you understand the problem.

Write down your findings. Include pictures and news clippings. Tell your troop what you learned and decide together what can be done to help correct this problem. Discuss the following:

• How does this pollution affect human life?

• How does it affect plant life?

• How does the pollution affect animal life?

• In what ways is the community’s economy affected by the pollution?

• What research is being done to improve the problems caused by pollution?

• How long has the community had this type of pollution? Is it getting better or progressively worse?

• What legislation is being introduced concerning pollution?

• What news media coverage is the pollution problem receiving?

• What local organizations have been developed to help solve the problem?

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ECOLOGYMY TASKS AND ACTIVITIES:

My Name:

Date:

COMPLETED

MY NOTES:

MY BIG IDEAS:

I WONDER:

TaskSignature: Date Completed:

Soul QuestSignature: Date Completed:

Body BasicsSignature: Date Completed:

S-T-R-E-T-C-H Project(s)Signature: Date Completed:

Choice Task 1

Signature:

Date Completed:

Choice Task 2

Signature:

Date Completed:

Choice Task 3

Signature: Date Completed:

Mind Matters

OthersChoice Task 1

Signature:

Date Completed:

Choice Task 2

Signature:

Date Completed:

ECOLOGY - CED - Home · 2019-06-25 · ECOLOGY Ecology is the study of how all living things relate to each other and to their natural environment. People, plants and animals depend

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