22 April Earth Day l l Earth Day

22 April – Earth Day l l Earth Day is a day to promote awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. It is on the 22 nd of April. The first Earth Day was in 1970. It was founded by U. S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year.

The state of our planet A lot of people think that our planet is in a bad state. We don’t look after it. Here are three examples of environmental problems in many countries:

1 l There are too many cars in city centres. They pollute the atmosphere. There are big traffic jams, and it’s often impossible to find a parking place.

2 l We produce more and more rubbish. There are huge rubbish dumps in most cities. A lot of rubbish is plastic, and it survives for years and years.

Approximate Decomposition Times - Paper - Fruits, vegetables - Wood - Cans - Plastic containers - Glass bottles 1 month 6 months 4 years 100 years 500 years never

3 l Factory chimneys pollute the air. This affects birds, animals and humans. We all need to breathe clean air.

These are ‘big’ environmental issues. Many governments and city authorities have projects to make things better. But what can YOU do? What do YOU have control over? How can YOU make a difference?

The aim of the lesson: l Answer the question: How can YOU make a difference?

AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT “MAKING A DIFFERENCE” ♦ What can we do about rubbish? ♦ The project suggests three ‘R’ ideas – and you discover a fourth one when you complete all four parts. ♦ Here are the first three ideas: R E D U C E the amount of rubbish we make. R E U S E things: don’t throw them away. R E C Y C L E things: find other uses for things. Be inventive!

WORD FILE ► environment ► look after (v) ► pollution The air and earth around us. To take care of a person or thing. Things which make air, water or the earth dirty. ► recycle (v) To use an object in a different way. ► reduce (v) To make something smaller. ► reuse (v) To use an object again. ► rubbish (GB) / The things that you throw away. garbage (US) ► traffic jam When the traffic cannot move. ► battery An object that supplies electricity.

WORD FILE ► belong (v) ► code word ► driftwood ► kettle To be a possession of a person. A secret word. Wood that is on the beach. A metal container to boil water to make tea. ► mess When a place is untidy or dirty. ► mission An important journey or project. ► rechargeable Batteries that you can use many times. ► safe Not dangerous. ► swap (v) To exchange things.

READING AND LISTENING

Environmental Quiz l l How much do you know about protecting the environment? Read these facts about protecting the environment and decide which are true and which are false. Circle your answer and put the letter in the box at the end. The letters will spell the name of the organization concerned with protecting the environment.

l l This organization: protects the environment; fights against water and air pollution; protects animals and plants; regulates the ecological situation.

How green are you? Do this quick quiz to find out how much you help to protect the environment! Do you (1)____ all your used bottles, packets, boxes and paper? Do you just throw your rubbish in the (2)_______ (or on the floor!) and not worry about it? Do you buy environmentally (3)______ products, even if they’re a bit more expensive? Do you frequently buy (4)_______ razors, cameras, etc? Do you care about the rainforests being cut (5)______ ? Do you think that an urban (6)_______ is always better than a (7)_______one? Do you think that cars (8)______ the atmosphere with their exhaust (9)_____? Do you think that the car is the best invention ever?

How green are you? Do this quick quiz to find out how much you help to protect the environment! Do you recycle all your used bottles, packets, boxes and paper? Do you just throw your rubbish in the bin (or on the floor!) and not worry about it? Do you buy environmentally friendly products, even if they’re a bit more expensive? Do you frequently buy disposable razors, cameras, etc? Do you care about the rainforests being cut down ? Do you think that an urban environment is always better than a rural one? Do you think that cars pollute the atmosphere with their exhaust fumes? Do you think that the car is the best invention ever? If you answer ‘yes’ to most of green question, you’re a real friend of the Earth ! If you answer ‘yes’ to the red ones, you’ve got a lot to learn!

REDUCE l This means you REDUCE the amount of materials you use. For example, if you use both sides of a paper, you are reducing the number of pages you need.

REUSE l This means you USE the material OVER AGAIN, either for the same purpose, or for something else. For example, a coffee can might be REUSED as a container for crayons or pencils.

RECYCLE l This means you USE the material OVER AGAIN to make NEW product. For example, old newspapers are RECYCLED when they are made into new paper products.

RESPECT

REDUCE RESPECT REUSE RECYCLE

l Look at the pictures (1 -4) on the poster and fill in phrases a -d using the words below. What can we do to help save the environment? bottle banks l trees l dirty parks/rivers l clean-up campaigns a. clean up………. b. take part in…. c. plant……………. d. visit……………. . l We can _____.

Fill the table: REUSE paper REDUCE RECYCLE amount of water rubbish

Fill the table: REUSE old tins old towels writing paper water fruit/vegetables peelings CDs magazines newspapers postcards shoe boxes glass bottles plastic bags an old T-shirt REDUCE amount of water energy consumption rubbish use of cars gas electricity paper RECYCLE paper plastic aluminum mobile phones a computer milk carton glass bottles plastic bags crisp packets

l READ AND TRANSLATE THE SLOGANS: Let’s keep the Earth green and healthy and full of millions of wonderful creatures! l The Earth is our home. Don’t pollute it. l Nobody will help us and our planet if we don’t help ourselves. l If you don’t think of the future, you will have nothing l IF EVERYBODY DOES A LITTLE, IT WILL ADD UP TO A LOT! l

Making a leaflet “Earth Day” Work in groups. Prepare a leaflet advertising an Earth Day your group is organizing. List the activities you are going to do on 22 April. The leaflet should contain information such as: ♦ date, ♦ place, ♦ activities. The leaflet should have: ♦ catchy titles, ♦ pictures or drawings to attract the reader’s attention. l

Remember: Earth Day is Every Day! l l l We know that the Earth is our home and we must protect and keep it. People must care about the Earth every day. Think globally, act locally!

Do all the GOOD you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.