Reduce…the use of fossil fuels when getting around

Reduce…the use of fossil fuels when getting around.

In this activity for Thinking Day, we grouped into our patrols. 

The Dolphins discussed low fossil fuel transportation and made posters (above left) showing their ideas which included: bikes, pogosticks, walking, scooters, skipping, horses, wheelchairs and running.   (How much fun would it be going to school using a pogo stick – or a horse!)

The Junior Guides investigated using muscle power (above right) and their ideas included:  gardening by hand, recycling, making your own things out of things you don’t need anymore and sweeping.

The Senior Guides completed a “Break it down” activity looking at the resources it takes to make a common object – a pencil.  A pencil is made from graphite, softwoods and cedar, paint, rubber and aluminium.  (Some have a plastic decorative coating too.)  The resources which make up a pencil can be transported from around the world including: Graphite, Brazil/Mexico; wood, Sweden/South Africa; paint, Estonia; Rubber, Thailand/Malaysia, Aluminium, China/Mozambique.

All of these resources, plus the energy used to transport them around the world, for something we take for granted.  The example of the pencil helped us pause and think more about our choices and how what we use and how we use it can effect our earth’s resources.

Challenge:  Share the “Break it down” activity of the Senior Guides at:

http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/activity/geography-of-a-pencil/?ar_a=2