Challenging kids to join the Earthsavers mission

Children must be told and shown that they can accomplish wonderful things for planet Earth. They can either learn to tackle global issues until it is second nature to them, or they can grow up feeling that the environmental problems are too big and difficult – too hopeless to deal with. We should not let that happen. “Let us give the child a vision of the whole Universe… an imposing reality and answer to all questions. We shall walk together in this path of life, for all things are a part of the Universe…” This idea focuses the child’s mind so that he ceases his aimless quest for knowledge.

Geography and history keys to the universe

The basic ideas which even kindergarten children can learn are the fundamentals of GEOGRAPHY and HISTORY. Geography is easy to learn using first the PUZZLE MAPS OF THE WORLD (7 pieces), then ASIA (27 pieces). PUZZLE of the PHILIPPINES is for Grade I. Grade I children may do the advanced lesson of “THE FOUR BLANKETS OF THE EARTH” referring to planet Earth and its covers – the land (lithosphere), the waters (hydrosphere), the air (atmosphere). The fourth is the biosphere or all living things that inhabit land, water and the air. With a small globe it is easy to spot the land, three-fourths of it the oceans and rivers, then imagine the invisible outer layer of air.

History deals with time and how things change within time. THE PRESCHOOL HISTORY TIME LINE can be injected into one picture album of “The First Five Years of Robert dela Cruz.” His picture per year should include his parents, siblings and relatives. A major annual event may be illustrated with pictures. For example – Robert’s father takes the family to live in Singapore. Another year, Robert’s sister, Jane is born. As the child grows, the looks of the family members also change.

BOTANY and ZOOLOGY are the other keys to the universe. Classified Picture Cards of plants may be matched to identify the “parts of a plant, a leaf, or a flower.” ZOOLOGY CARDS OF VERTEBRATES will help identify the “parts of a mammal, bird, fish, reptile or amphibian.” However, actual gardening and pet care should complement these science lessons.

Genesis – God’s gift of creation to man

The first book of the Bible, Genesis, recounts that in the beginning there was nothing, only God. Then, for five days, each day covering a millennium of years, God created the Earth and filled it with the best animals, plants and minerals. He made Earth a paradise. THE CLOCK OF ERAS gives the specific concept of time with regards to creation of the earth followed by the coming of life. Each hour represents 375 million years.

After this was prepared, He created Man giving him all the life on planet Earth and the divine gifts of “full knowledge and immortality.” But when Man sinned, he lost Eden. He became ignorant and primitive, and was reduced to cultivating the Earth to survive. However God, in His infinite wisdom and love, gave man a key to life, which none of the other living creatures had – intelligence, imagination and free will. His life must be fulfilled with good works and prayers to redeem himself as a child of the Creator. Toward the end when he proves himself, he can join the Holy Father again in the real Eden.

BC and AD time line scroll

THE TIME LIFE SCROLL is a long strip of cloth divided by a small Baby Jesus figure. The 20 spaces to the left represent 20 centuries before Christ (BC) and 20 spaces to the right of Jesus signify 20 centuries after Christ or AD (Anno Domini). Grade II and Grade III students use picture cards showing the stages of man’s discovery of his basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, transport, medicine, etc. placing them on the centuries before Christ was born and the various inventions Man made in Anno Domini to perfect them through the Age of Monarchy, eras of Exploration, Modern Era until Space Age. To do this mankind must work within an invisible network – THE COSMIC ORGANIZATION that obliges all to learn and respect the laws of life, in order for him to survive.

The earthsavers’ vocabulary

Scientific words are part of the campaign to save the earth. We must understand them before joining this mission: ACID RAIN. When we look up, we see the blue sky and clouds. But there are also things we do not see, some of which are harmful to the Earth. When factories work, and car engines are on, fuel is burnt. Invisible gasses are then released into the air. Combined with water in the air, they become acidic like lemon or vinegar. Mixed with rain clouds or snow, the acids fall back to Earth, as Acid Rain. They harm plants, rivers, lakes, fishes and other living creatures, and sometimes they also kill the forest. We can help stop making Acid Rain. One way is to walk or ride a bike for short distances instead of riding a car. Car pools will also help and maximize the use of vehicles.

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT. A green house is a building made up of glass, where you can grow flowers and other plants that need a lot of warmth. The sun shines through the glass warming the greenhouse. The roof and walls keep the heat from getting out. The Earth is blanketed by invisible gasses, like carbon dioxide, which act like a greenhouse. When the sun shines in, the gasses like a roof, trap the heat and keep it close to the planet. We need warmth, but, if the Earth’s temperature should get hotter by a few degrees, the weather all over the planet would greatly change. Places that are warm would become too hot to live in and places that are cold would become warm. The places where most of our food grow could get so hot that it won’t grow anymore. Every child can help stop the Greenhouse Effect by using less energy, protecting and planting trees, as well as recycling, so factories don’t work as hard in making things.

THE OZONE HOLE. Up in the sky, above the air we breathe, is a layer of gas called ozone. The ozone blocks rays that are bad for us from coming through. The ozone layer is now damaged by man-made gasses, called CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons). They are used in refrigerators, fire extinguishers, air conditioners, plastic foam, etc. The CFCs float to the top of the atmosphere, where the ozone layer is and can eat up the ozone like little Pacman.

You need not be a grown up to save the earth

You need not be a grown up to help save the Earth. As parents and teachers, we should pass this message to our kids. We must provide them with tools for survival. Learning the 21st Century Education they can change and save the world.