How to Become a Sustainable Kid
How Can YOU Be a Sustainable Kid?
Word of the Week
Sustainability
Sustainability is the practice of acting in a way that protects wildlife and nature.
You can live sustainably by recycling, using less energy, and taking shorter showers!
Species Spotlight
Mallard Duck
Anas platyrhynchos
Mallard ducks are one of the most well-known waterfowl in the world. They live in many freshwater habitats across the Northern Hemisphere, often very close to people. Mallards are a species of dabbling duck, which means they feed in water by tipping their body forward with their rump up in the air! They eat plants, insects, small crustaceans, and many other small animals typically found in lakes and ponds. Like most ducks, male and female mallards look very different. Males have an iridescent green head while females are mostly brown.
While it might be fun to live so close to ducks, living close to humans can cause some challenges for mallards. Mallard ducks frequently run into pollution like litter that can cause them to become tangled or sick. Soda can holders and wire can get wrapped around them while small pieces of plastic can accidentally be gobbled up. Chemicals and other toxins in lakes and ponds can be eaten while they feed, causing some to become very sick.
One way you can help mallard ducks is by making sure your garbage and recycling are stored correctly. If you have a loose lid on your garbage can, litter can get blown into nature. You can also take walks around your local ponds and waterways to pick up litter with the help of a grownup!
Conservation Corner
Managing Your Eco-Anxiety
Eco-anxiety is defined as the stress caused by the fear that we will not be able to save the environment. As we discuss big threats the environment is facing, it can cause big fear, but there are ways to manage it.
One of the best ways to manage eco-anxiety is by acknowledging the work you are doing every day to protect the planet. When you do, know that you are not alone and that kids and adults around the world are working with you.
Another good way to manage eco-anxiety is to focus on your local community where you can make an impact that you can see. You can volunteer to help plant native trees and flowers, remove invasive species, or pick up litter in your area.
Perhaps the best way to help control eco-anxiety is to spend some time looking at the good things that are happening in nature! With your grown-up's guidance, you can explore websites like Happy Eco News or the Good News section of The Daily Climate to see the amazing work being done to protect the environment.
BRAIN BLAST
One of the best ways to become a sustainable kid is to think about your day-to-day actions and see how you can make them more sustainable. Make a list of the things you do every day (brush your teeth, wash your hands, eat cereal, etc.) and determine if any of it harms the planet. If so, what can you do or purchase differently to fix it?
Sustainable Solutions
Identify if each activity is sustainable or unsustainable by clicking the correct answer.
How to Become a Sustainable Kid Challenge
Use the challenges below to help you live more sustainably! Feel free to complete both for EXTRA sustainability.
Glossary
Conservation
The act of preserving the environment.
Climate Change
A change in global weather patterns as a result of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Deforestation
The act of forests being cut down or burned to create room for human expansion.
Endangered Species
An organism that is threatened with extinction.
Environmental Threat
Something that has a negative impact on plants, animals, and the natural world.
Greenhouse Gas
A gas largely produced by burning nonrenewable resources that traps heat near the Earth's surface. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases are all greenhouse gases.
Habitat Loss
When habitats are destroyed and changed into human-managed land such as farms or cities.
Invasive Species
An organism that has established a population somewhere they are not typically native to.
Pollution
Toxins or other harmful substances that have entered the environment and are harming the natural world.
Sustainability
The practice of acting in a way that maintains the health and well-being of wildlife and nature.
xxx
xxx
Sign Up for our Newsletter
Stay up to date with new adventures, live classes, deals, and more!
Helpful Resources
*Please note we do not offer refunds for EdZOOcating Adventures memberships. We recommend you explore the 3-day free trial prior to subscribing!*