Reduce Your Environmental Footprint

Writing Prompt Craftivity

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Run off on a variety of colors
of construction paper. !
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Students trim and color their
strap.!
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Girls can include a flower on
theirs. (Pattern included.)!
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To make this more of a
keepsake, have students
trace their own foot (with their
shoe on) and then add a strap
to make it a flip flop.!
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Students start their writing
prompt on the front and then
complete it on the back of
their shoe. !
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Punch a hole in the top and
I can reduce suspend from the ceiling. !
Students can also add their
my footprint photo, for that finishing touch. !
on the earth by . . . !
Hang a picture of the earth in
the center of the hanging
shoes for a bit more pizzazz.
 Flower Pattern For The Girl’s Flip Flop
There are some awesome flower metal punches available for the girls
to add a bit of pizzazz to their flip flop. !
If you don’t have any, use this pattern. !
Print and trim. !
Trace on an old file folder to make a template. Trace once and cut
out 3-6 at a time on a variety of colors of construction paper. !
Students can also add their photo to the center to make this even
more of a keepsake.

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Another writing prompt craftivity option: Have students trace their foot (with their shoe on) on a piece of
construction paper, cut it out and then glue ti to the front of their earth. They color the earth and then
write how they will reduce their ecological footprint on the back. Punch a hole at the top and suspend from
the ceiling.
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Run off on white construction paper. !
Students trim and color the land areas green. !
To save coloring time, you could also run these
off on light blue construction paper. !
Children glue the 3 globes together to make a 3D
sphere. Punch a hole in the top and bottom. !
Tie a loop to hang at the top, and attach the
students footprint writing prompt to the bottom. !
Suspend from the ceiling. !

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 Are You Aware Of Your Footprint On The Earth?
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We’ve all seen our footprints
on the beach or left in the
mud. When we step, we leave
marks that can last even
after we are long gone.
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In the same way, all of us
place pressure on the
environment by the way we
live our lives. Scientists call
this an “ecological or carbon footprint”, one which can show how hard we
tread on our earth’s resources.
!
Leaving an environmental footprint means we have left things behind,
that have not or can not be recycled. It also means we have used
emissions and gasses that can harm the earth and its atmosphere.
Leaving all this behind impacts the environment and often hurts the
earth that has taken care of us while we are alive.
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The size of our footprint depends on how much biologically productive
land and water we require to live our life. No matter what one knows
about leaving a "carbon footprint", the fact is that we all need to try
to reduce them, thereby impacting our world in a positive way.
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We can reduce our ecological footprints by not wasting electricity and
water; and by reducing, reusing and recycling. Even children can pitch
in and make a difference, by doing something as simple as turning the
water off while they brush their teeth, and donating their used clothes
and toys to places like Good Will or the Salvation Army.
!
So why is our footprint so important? The World Wildlife Fund’s
Living Planet report estimated that populations on Earth have an
ecological footprint about 20% bigger than what the earth can
sustain.
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This means we are taking more than what the Earth can replenish in a
given year. If you are careful about the amount of electricity and
fuel you use, the types of food you eat, the amount of water you use
and the amount of waste you produce, you could have quite a small
footprint – which is good for the environment.
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We are surrounded by people who don’t
know, understand or care about the
environment and the impact that they are
having on it, so be assured that you are not
alone in your endeavor to make a difference;
your efforts do count, and as the saying
goes: “Every little bit helps.”
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Now that you’ve learned a bit about environmental footprints, spread
the word about living responsibly and sustainably.
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I’ve made a list of suggestions of things a person can do to help out,
some of which are simple behavioral changes. Quite a few items on the
list are not difficult, expensive, or time intensive to perform.
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Many suggestions will also make you healthier, and don’t forget the
happy feeling you’ll have, that comes from knowing you’re trying to do
a few things that will make a difference to future generations.
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If you think about how you can reduce your footprint and make
yourself and your home more environmentally friendly, it’s going to be
those small changes that you can turn into habits that will be the most
successful.
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Take a moment and put a checkmark by the things you can do. Share
your list with your family and friends and get them on board. Work
together to make an even bigger difference.
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This list is by no means exhaustive . What other things can you think
of that you could do to to help?
How is your family as a whole doing? What can you do to encourage
them? What about your school? Can you think of ways they can
reduce their footprint?
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 A List Of Things You Can Do To Help Reduce Your
Environmental Footprint

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Put a checkmark by those you can do.
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Carpool.
Avoid peak traffic times if you can so your car isn’t idling for a long period
of time.
Ride your bike, take the bus, transit, shuttle, or walk when you can.
Optimize trips. Make a list of errands you need to do and run them all on one
day, combining stops with others.
Telecommute and work from home when you can.
Turn off lights when you leave the room.
Turn off the TV, radio and other things that you are not using.
Turn down the thermostat when you leave.
Have a programmable thermostat. The cost of one will be paid for in your
energy bill savings.
Use energy-saving light bulbs (CFL’s) the curly ones.
Keep your heating and cooling systems tuned.
Use ceiling fans instead of turning on the air conditioning.
Weatherstripping, caulking and insulation work together to save energy.
Do you have drafty doors and windows?
Buy energy saving appliances.
Turn the faucet off when you brush your teeth.
Put in a water-conserving shower head.
Take a bath instead of a shower.
Print materials on both sides.
Bring your lunch instead of going out.
Pack your lunch in a reusable container.
Put water in a reusable container instead of buying bottled water.
Eat healthier and avoid buying microwave meals.
Recycle your old electronic devices. YouRenew.com
Stop junk mail. Don’t sign up for catalogs that you only toss out anyway.
Buy locally produced food and goods so they don’t have to be transported
long distances.
Plant a garden and grow your own vegetables.
Buy recycled products.
Buy more “green” (no chemicals) cleaning
products
Collect rainwater.
Use an electric lawn mower, leaf blower etc. instead of a gas-powered one.
Use reusable bags for your groceries
Recycle cardboard boxes.
Reuse household items for crafts.
Make and give homemade gifts and cards.
Recycle aluminum and cans.
Recycle glass.
Recycle paper.
Donate used items like toys, clothing and furniture to places like Good Will
or the Salvation Army.
Compost kitchen and yard waste.
Eat fresh foods and not processed or packaged meals.
Buy only what you really need.
Reduce your water usage.
Reduce your paper usage.
Reduce your garbage.
Plant trees and flowers.
Minimize shower time and toilet flushing.
Run appliances at non peak hours.
Compost rather than use a garbage disposal.
Run clothes and dish washers only when full.
Look for and fix leaks.
Buy biodegradable products.
Buy non-toxic products.
Buy natural and organic products
Have your vehicle serviced regularly.
Keep your tires adequately inflated to
maximize gas mileage.
Change filters on your furnace and air
conditioners regularly.
Unplug electronics when not in use. To make this easier, use power strips.
Dry your clothes outside when possible.
Shop at farm markets and natural food stores.
Plant drought tolerant plants in your garden and yard.
Take cars to a carwash to be washed.
Avoid hosing down or power-washing decks, walkways and driveways.
Buy less and replace items only when you really need to.
Borrow and lend books instead of being new ones.
Buy used books.
Share magazines and newspapers with others.
Read books, magazines and newspapers online.
Conserve energy.
Choose to do business with companies that are doing something to help the
earth.
Choose brands that have cut down on packaging.
Drink fewer soft drinks
Eat out less.
Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Frequent business establishments that recycle.
Eat fewer packaged snacks and junk food.
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Discussion:
What can you conclude after checking some
things on this list?
Can students reduce their footprints and
impact the earth in a positive way?
Can you think of ways your school could reduce their footprint?
Share some of the things you are going to start doing immediately.
What are some of the things you can’t do from the list and why?
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 Here are some interesting sites to learn more about
environmental footprints and how to reduce them.
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How To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: ABC news video and
article: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/earth-day-2011-
reduce-carbon-footprint/story?id=13411866
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How big is your footprint on the earth? A quick and easy quiz: http://
www.deq.state.ok.us/mainlinks/earthday/resources/files/ftpquiz.pdf Total up
the points to figure out how you rank.
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How companies can and are decreasing their footprint: http://
www.makeyourbuildingswork.com/reduce-carbon-emissions/?
%20utm_source=bing&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=ReduceCa
rbonFootprint
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A carbon footprint calculator: http://www.carbonfootprint.com/
calculator.aspx
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How to recycle plastic bags: http://green.wikia.com/wiki/
How_To_Recycle_Old_Plastic_Bags
Includes links to all sorts of other helpful websites too.
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http://www.myfootprint.org/
This Ecological Footprint Quiz estimates the amount of land and ocean area
required to sustain your consumption patterns and absorb your wastes on an
annual basis. After answering 27 easy questions you’ll be able to compare
your ecological footprint to others’ and learn how to reduce your impact on
the earth.
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Ecological footprint indicator: http://www.sustainablemeasures.com/node/
102
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10 ways to reduce your footprint by the foods you eat: http://
www.goodguide.com/slideshows/2009/4/11/reduce-your-environmental-
footprint?jmid=866&j=232057354