Reducing Waste (3 of 3)

Welcome to Change is Simple’s Online Learning Platform!

Overview: Today is a review of this unit’s information that was covered in the previous two lessons. Access to those two lessons is at the bottom of this page. Today’s activity is a set of questions through a form that is based on the topics from the 2 previous lessons.

Grade Level: K-6

Theme: Waste Reduction

Supervision needed? No

Essential Questions: 

Materials Needed:

Standards:

Today’s Activity:

This week we covered a few ways that we could reduce our waste production. We’d love for you to complete this reflection through Google Forms as today’s activity.

If you can’t access the page above, click on the link below to take you to the Google Form directly!

Not here on Monday or Wednesday? Here’s a refresher!

Check out these videos to get a sense of what we talked about.

Monday

Wednesday

Did you enjoy today’s activity? Stay tuned for more, and in the meantime…

Send us a photo of yourself doing today's activity and if you would like, please share your name(s) and where you are from with cisonline@changeissimple.org

Reducing Waste (1 of 3)

Welcome to Change is Simple’s Online Learning Platform!

Overview: Today we are going to learn all about reducing waste in our lives. We will see how much waste we truly create and what are some easy ways we can help lower that amount. We will be learning how to sew up a ripped shirt ourselves!

Grade Level: K-6

Theme: Waste Reduction

Supervision needed? Yes

Essential Questions: 

• What are natural resources?

• Why should we care about how much waste we produce?

• What is beneficial about reusing or repairing old stuff?

Materials Needed:

• Ripped t-shirt or clothing

• Needle

• Thread

• Scissors

Standards:

Introduction video

activity one - sewing

Supplies Needed:

• Ripped t-shirt or clothing

• Needle

• Thread

• Scissors

Step One:

• Cut off plenty of thread in comparison to the length of the rip

  • Choose a thread color that matches the fabric

I CHOSE A DARK COLOR FOR A BETTER VISUAL

• String the thread onto the needle (I used that silver guy to help me)

• Pull the thread even in length on both sides

Step Two:

• Tie a knot at the end of the two pieces of thread on the opposite side of the needle

• Pull the knot tight

Step Three:

• Turn your article of clothing inside out

Step Four:

• Pinch the two sides of the rip flat against each other

Step Five:

• Push the needle through the two sides of the fabric

• **Make sure to start a bit to the side of the opening to make sure you don’t miss any spots (I started to the left of my rip)

• Gently pull it through until the knot reaches the first side of the fabric

• **DO NOT PULL IT THROUGH**

Step Six:

• Bring the needle back to the first side and push it through again right next to the first spot

• Pull it through gently and pull mostly tight, but making sure not to pull the first knot through the fabric

• Continue doing this until you have sewn past the other edge of the rip

• **Make sure to continue to line up the two pieces of fabric making sure they are flat against one another.

Step Seven: Version #1

It’s time to make a finishing knot!

**sorry I switched yarn color :)

• Put the needle through the two layers of fabric

• Make a knot using the needle side of the thread on the back side of the shirt.

• Continue to pull the needle through

• Pull the needle, making the knot tight

• Repeat 2-3 times

Step Seven: Version #2

As a secondary measure, you can tie a separate knot with the thread.

• After the needle is through the fabric, tie a knot with the needle

• Pull it tightly to the surface of the fabric on the back side

Step Eight:

• Cut the excess thread

• Turn the shirt right side out

• Horray!! You’ve fixed your clothing!

activity two - alternative

What you will need:

• Adult Supervision / Assistance

• Item to fix

• Creativity!

What can you fix in your house that is broken or needs repairing? Repairing things so we don’t have to throw them away is a huge way we can have a positive impact on the environment and save our precious natural resources!

Choose an item in your home that you would have thrown away and find a way to repair it.

Examples:

• Jeans with a hole in them - patch them up!

• Backpack with a rip or broken zipper - ask your parents for help sewing it up and fixing it

• Turn cardboard boxes into a play space!

• Repairing an old bookshelf or piece of furniture!

step 3: reflection

Question 1: Why is it important to sew up ripped clothing or repair items instead of throwing them away?

Question 2: What is all of our STUFF made from? (Hint: They occur naturally on earth)

Did you enjoy today’s activity? Stay tuned for more, and in the meantime…

Send us a photo of yourself doing today's activity and if you would like, please share your name(s) and where you are from with cisonline@changeissimple.org

Renewable Energy Sources (3 of 3)

Welcome to Change is Simple’s Online Learning Platform!

Overview: Today we are going to be wrapping up our renewable energy lessons! Today you will learn all about wind power and then do an activity where you will build a wind turbine at home!

Grade Level: 4-6

**For younger students, ask a friend at home for assistance!

Theme: Energy Conservation

Supervision needed? No

Essential Questions: 

• What does renewable energy mean?

• How does wind power work?

Materials Needed:

• Recyclable items found on your home!

• Tape or glue

• Scissors

• Pencil

• Pin or tack

Standards:

Review

We learned a lot of information about our renewable energy sources and why they are so important from the two previous lessons. Let’s see how much you can recall! Answer the following questions before continuing.

Question 1: Define renewable energy source.

Question 2: What are fossil fuels?

Question 3: What types of structures/machines/technology works to help us harness energy from the sun and water?

Activity

In this activity, Change is Simple challenges you to get creative and make a wind turbine out of recyclable materials you have in your home! This means yours will be personalized and unique based on the materials you choose.

Materials:

• Recyclable items found on your home!

• Tape or glue

• Scissors

• Pencil

• Pin or tack

*** Depending on the material you have available, the activity instructions and material list might not match so get creative with how you make yours!

Step 1: Locate and clean recyclable items of choice.

Make sure they are washed and ready to use!

Step 2: Brainstorm what design you can make out of your materials.

Parts:

• Stand / tower

• Blades

Try to think about what items you have that would be best for each.

Step 3: Using the material you chose for the blades, draw and cut the shapes you will use for the turbine.

Be sure to have all the blades connected in the center for the next step.

Fold the blades down as pictured. This will help the blades catch the wind and rotate!

***The blade shape pictured are modeled after the standard shape for wind turbines used in real life, but many different shapes will work for this activity. Try experimenting with different shapes to see if it will work!

Step 4: Poke a hole through the center of your blades using the pin or tip of pencil.

The blades should fit loosely in the hole made so that they can rotate.

Step 5: Using the extra material from your blades, cut a piece of material in the pictured shape and fold.

This will be used to connect your blades to your stand!

*If you need to make your stand by folding, cutting, or constructing do that before this step!

Step 6: Poke a hole through the very top triangle and attach it to your stand using glue or tape.

Step 7: Reassemble the turbine by putting the blades on the tack and attaching it to the stand.

Leave room between the stand and the end of the tack (as pictured) so that the blades can spin.

Step 8: And done, you made a wind turbine! Place it in front of a fan, wind source, or blow on the turbine blades to see it in action!

*** Yours will most likely look different than the activity example depending on the materials you have available and that is totally awesome and encouraged! We would love to see the design you come up with!

Reflection

Awesome job this week! Here are some important take aways from this week’s lessons:

• Renewable energy sources are those which will never run out or be depleted and are healthy for the environment.

• Renewable energy is energy harnessed naturally from the environment (sun, water, wind).

• Using renewable and clean energy sources prevents pollution and excess carbon dioxide emissions.

• Renewable energy sources replace the use of burning fossil fuels which are harmful to the environment.

Making the transition to clean energy sources that benefit not only us, but the planet is what will help make our future a brighter place. The use of solar panels and hydropower turbines to power our energy grid lowers our carbon footprint (the level of carbon dioxide emissions we are responsible for) and the amount of pollution we produce. This is because when we are using clean energy we are not burning fossil fuels and polluting the environment. When there is less pollution and carbon dioxide in the air, our environment is healthier and so are we! If something has harmful effects on environment, it probably isn’t beneficial to our health either.

With today’s technological advancements, the transition to renewable energy has never been easier. This hopefully means we will be transitioned to clean energy sources in no time! But to do so, we all need to do our part in understanding why is important to use renewable energy sources and begin to take actions to help the environment in our daily lives. See how many answers you can brainstorm to the following questions!

1. Why is it important to use clean and renewable energy?

2. What does a healthy environment look like to you?

3. What are the benefits of having a clean environment to live in?

4. What actions can you start taking today to reduce your impact and help the environment?

Did you enjoy today’s activity? Stay tuned for more, and in the meantime…

Send us a photo of yourself doing today's activity and if you would like, please share your name(s) and where you are from with cisonline@changeissimple.org

Renewable Energy Sources (2 of 3)

Welcome to Change is Simple’s Online Learning Platform!

Overview: Next on the list of renewable energy sources is hydropower! Following solar power, hydropower is the second most popular renewable energy source in the US. In today’s lesson you will learn more about how water can generate electricity, how we use hydropower, and even create your own turbine! Check out the video below to get started.

Grade Level: 4-6

**For younger students, ask a friend at home for assistance!

Theme: Energy Conservation

Supervision needed? No

Essential Questions: 

• What does renewable energy mean?

• How does hydropower work?

Materials Needed:

• Bottle Cap

• Pencil/Pen

• Ruler

• Paper Plate

• Tape

• Scissors

• Stick

Standards:

Vocabulary:

• Electromagnetic generator: converts motive force or mechanical energy (in this case it is the water pushing the turbine) into electrical power

• Potential energy: mechanical energy, stored energy, or energy caused by its position (like when a ball is placed at the top of a hill)

• Transformer: a device that takes power from the generator and converts it to higher-voltage current which we can then use

• Gravitational pull: force which tries to pull two objects toward each other

Activity one

Today we will be creating our own hydropower turbines!!

You will need:

• Bottle Cap

• Pencil/Pen

• Ruler

• Paper Plate

• Tape

• Scissors

• Stick

Step One: Take the cap to a bottle and draw a circle around the center of the paper plate.

Step 2: Cut the edge of the paper plate off.

Step 3: Take the ruler and draw 4 lines across the plate. Top to bottom, side to side, and the middle sections - all through the center of the plate.

Step 4: Take the scissors and cut on the lines from the outside edge of the plate to the edge of the circle drawn in the center.

Step 5: Then fold the blades into position. Leaving a small lip at the edge of each blade that stays flat.

Step 6: If you want to make your blades more water proof, you can put tape over the blade edges.

Step 7: Take a stick or pole and stick it through the center of the plate. 

Step 8: Now test out your amazing homemade hydropower turbine!

**Tip! If it is too tight around the stick, it might not spin well. So make it a bit looser.

**Also, you can add a rubber band behind the blade on the stick if it slides off too easily.

reflection

Question 1: Try increasing the flow of water over your turbine. Does the turbine spin faster?

Question 2: Do you think more energy generated when the turbine spins faster? Explain your answer.

Refer back to the video if you need a refresher, or do independent research!

Did you enjoy today’s activity? Stay tuned for more, and in the meantime…

Send us a photo of yourself doing today's activity and if you would like, please share your name(s) and where you are from with cisonline@changeissimple.org

Pollination

Welcome to Change is Simple’s Online Learning Platform!

Overview: Today’s topic is pollination! We will be learning about the structure of flowers and how important flowers are for bees! We will be going outside to find flowers in our own area so we can draw them at home. Then we will be labeling the flower parts learned in the video.

Grade Level:  K-6 **For grade 4+ do the bonus activity in Activity Two!

Theme: Earth Systems, Sustainable Food Systems

Supervision needed? Yes

Essential Questions: 

• What does pollination mean?

• How do flowers play a role in bees’ lives?

Materials Needed:

• Sheet of Paper

• Colored Pencils

• Camera

Standards:

step 1: Introduction video

step 2: find & draw

Now it is time to get outside and take a picture of a flower around where you live! If you do not have any flowers where you live, choose an image online of your favorite flower.

1. Take a picture of it and then head back inside to draw out the flower! Flowers are an incredibly important part of our pollination process. 

*** Make sure to document like a scientist: Location of the flower, date, and time the photo was taken!

April 16th - 3:10PM - Down the street in a garden.

2. Now grab your colored pencils and a piece of paper and draw out the flower you found! Get creative! 

3. Now it is time to label the parts of our flower! 

Parts to label: stigma, anther, petals, stem, and leaves 

Bonus! (Grade 4+)

Want more of a challenge?

• Now write an explanation of why each part of the flower is important. 

• What is nectar?

• Where would pollen be found?

***Once you have finished answering the questions above, click below to see an example!

step 3: reflection

Question 1: Why are bees so important? 

Question 2: What gets transferred from flower to flower? What does that transfer help do?

Question 3: What did you like most about today’s activity?

Question 4: Now take a picture of your flower drawing and your reflection questions. Then email them to us at Change is Simple! (amy@changeissimple.org)

step 4: additional resources

Want to learn more? Check out our extra information to fuel your learning!

Did you enjoy today’s activity? Stay tuned for more, and in the meantime…

Send us a photo of yourself doing today's activity and if you would like, please share your name(s) and where you are from with cisonline@changeissimple.org

Watersheds

Welcome to Change is Simple’s Online Learning Platform!

Overview: In this activity, students will create a watershed using a piece of paper and coloring materials. Students will follow along to an instructors direction to learn what is a watershed, and what you may find in one. After creating the watershed, students will conduct an experiment to understand where water travels through a watershed after a rainstorm. This lesson will highlight how water brings pollution from roads, construction zones, farms and residential areas into our lakes, streams, and oceans. 

Theme: Water pollution, natural resources

Grade Level: 2-5

Supervision needed? No

Essential Questions:

• What is a watershed?

• How does pollution travel though and enter a watershed?

• How does pollution impact a watershed?

Materials Needed:

• Paper

• Coloring utensils

• Spray bottle with water

Standards

• 3-LS4-4. Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.

• 2-ESS2-1. Compare multiple solutions designed to slow or prevent wind or water from changing the shape of the land.*

• K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.

Background:

What is a watershed?

A watershed is an area or ridge of land that separates the flow of water to different rivers, streams, and lakes. All of the water that falls over a watershed will flow to the same basins (lakes and ponds). When rain falls, or snow melts, that water travels downhill over dirt, roads, and farms carrying whatever it comes in contact with. That means that the water collects and carries pollution to nearby lakes and oceans!

What is pollution?

Pollution is any substance or item that is harmful to the environment it is in. Water pollution takes many different shapes. If rainfall or snowmelt travels over a farm, it can collect fertilizers from the soil and carry them to lakes and oceans. This fertilizer can harm aquatic life. Similarly, oil from cars on the road can harm aquatic life if it gets carried to oceans, lakes. etc.

student led experiment

Activity Duration: 15 Minutes

Materials Needed:

1. One sheet white paper

2. Assorted Markers

3. Spray bottle with water

Step 1: Set up experiment.

Crumple up a sheet of white paper with both hands, and then lay out and semi-flatten.

Color the ridges of your watershed in purple.

To create the towns in your watershed, draw three small towns (red) at three places in the valleys of your watershed. (A valley is a low point of land between mountains).

Next, draw a large city (orange) close to one of the towns. The towns and city are locations in our watershed where we often find large amounts of oil on roads from cars, and pollution from people.

Next, draw four farms (green) in different flat places throughout the watershed. Most farmers use fertilizers to help their crops (fruits and vegetables) grow! These fertilizers are helpful for the farms, but harmful if they end up in our waterways, causing a dangerous process called eutrophication. To learn more about eutrophication, click here!

Finally, draw a coal mine (black) near one of the cities. Coal is a major fossil fuel. The process of mining coal from the earth usually contaminates nearby waters with highly acidic water and metals. To learn more about the process of coal mining , click here!

Step 2: Create your hypothesis.

Soon, you are going to take your spray bottle or pipet and create rainfall over your watershed. Before you do this, you must make a hypothesis as to what will happen when you conduct this experiment!

Question 1: Where will the precipitation end up after the storm ends?

Question 2: What will happen to the pollution that comes from the coal mine, farms, and cities/roads?

Step 4: Create a rainstorm over your watershed!

Take your spray bottle and start to spray water on all areas of your watershed. Carefully observe the changes that occur. Be creative! You can make certain areas heavy rainfall areas and others lighter areas to observe the differences. Record your observations on a sheet of paper (pictures or words!)

Step 5: Reflection

1. Was your hypothesis (guess) from step 3 accurate?

2. What happened to the bodies of water after a serious rainstorm occurred over the cities and farms?

3. How could this runoff impact our watershed?

Now that you have completed this experiment, you hopefully understand that when it rains, pollution travels from our major towns and cities, farms, and industrial areas into our rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans. This can harm animals that live in the water and prevent humans from having clean drinking water. Let’s brainstorm some ways that we can help protect our watersheds from pollution!

The Change is Simple team has come up with three ways to help you get started:

Ride your bike or walk instead of riding in a car! The less we drive, the less oil ends up on our roads.

Pick up trash, even if it’s not yours! The best place for trash is in your trash bin, NOT outside where it can blow into our waterways!

Support local farmers that use little or no fertilizers! The less fertilizers used, the less that ends up in our oceans.

Stay tuned for more activities! In the meantime, send us a photo of yourself doing today's activity and if you would like to share your name(s), and where you are from to cisonline@changeissimple.org