Greetings!
Welcome to the new RIPPLES! We are excited to bring you the revised form of the newsletter. Remember, we are now delivering this in two parts:
ECO-Current - The Upcoming Wave of Environmental Events arrived in your inbox about two weeks ago and announced events, grants and programs which may be of interest to you or your school. It's short & sweet with lots of links to get you to additional information that you may require.
RIPPLES: Even Little Changes Make a Difference contains the articles and information which are vital to keeping you up-to-date in your teaching. The articles are shorter and contain links to the sites where more information is available. If there is a reference site for a story, all you need to do is click on the link name or the picture to get to the site.
Our hope is that this new format will make it easier to navigate through the sea of information that is out there to focus on what is useful to you. Let us know what you think.
Environmentally yours,
The SCARCE Team
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| Environmental News for Schools |
 Re-Certify Our School's Earth Flag - Why???With the beginning month of the school year behind you, it is time to look forward to the spring and EARTH DAY! NOW is the time to consider re-certifying your Earth Flag. If it has been 4 years or more since your school earned theirs, then this should be on your agenda. Most of the students and some of the staff who earned the first Earth Flag are gone. New students and staff should see and experience what it means to be a "Green" school. Give them the opportunity to see how the ripples of some small acts can spread and make a difference in your school and your community. Call 630.545.9710 or email SCARCE, ecoed@sbcglobal.net, to begin the process. Log onto SCARCE - Earth Flag to review the steps involved to earn an Earth Flag. |
Getting Down & Dirty - "DIG IT!"
"To forget how to tend the soil is to forget ourselves."
Mahatma Gandhi
"A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Did you know that one shovel full of soil has more living organisms than the entire planet has human beings? Soil is a living breathing entity and one of the basic components that we need to exist. Without rich, nutrient-filled soil, we would not be able to grow food, purify groundwater, or enable the decomposers who break down the waste left behind. Soil is one of the most fundamental of our natural resources.
That is why the Smithsonian Institute has created a new soil exhibit called "Dig It". Soil is one of the necessities of life, and this exhibit is designed to show us why. Key to the health of our soil is composting. Composting is nature's way of naturally recycling, and we can help by composting our fruit, vegetable and grain scraps.
Whether it is with outdoor composting or vermi-composting (using red wiggler worms), SCARCE can help teach this vital concept to your students. Contact us to see how we can assist you. Also, log onto the Smithsonian website on soil for great teaching lessons and connections to Learning Standards for all levels K-12, Smithsonian - Soil
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National Family Literacy Day - November 1st
National Family Literacy Day is officially the 1st of November, however, you are encouraged to continue activities throughout the month. Get your students and their families involved. Do you need books for your classroom or for your students? Come to the Book Rescue - we have library books that you can take for FREE for your classrooms and students. All of the books have been rescued from the landfill and would love to be placed in the home or classroom of a needy child! Visit our website SCARCE - Book Rescue or call for hours. |
 The Countdown is On to America Recycles Day, November 15!
The National Recycling Coalition is again sponsoring America Recycles Day on Saturday, November 15. All people across the country are encouraged to participate and find ways to improve the recycling efforts in their communities. Log onto America Recycles Day for great ideas and information about recycling. Get your students involved! Use the "CONVERSIONATOR" to learn how your recycling makes a difference! It's loads of fun. If you need recycling information or programs for your students, contact us at SCARCE - we can help! |
 #7 - Is it a DANGER?!?!
Recently, several news reports have surfaced about #7 plastic and its danger to children and infants. SOME #7 plastics, those which are polycarbonate based and contain BPA (bisphenol-A) have potentially been named as the culprit contributing to behavioral, neurological and possibly fertility problems in children. A front page article in The Chicago Tribune on September 17, 2008 said that BPA in people has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and liver problems.
The PROBLEM: NOT ALL #7 is BPA - #7 means OTHER PLASTIC that does not fit into #1-6. So, all of the new the BIO-based plastics fall into this category as well. Often you will see PLA under the #7 which means polylactic acid (or polylactide) is perfectly safe. These plastics are all plant based: corn, potato, wheat and other grains. A basic description explaining pros and cons of PLA is found on PLA #7.
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Is Your Plant Stressed?
Take Two Aspirin & Call Me in the Morning
The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has discovered that plants that are distressed or suffering emit methyl salicylate, a substance very similar to aspirin. Scientists believe that this response helps the plant to protect itself by boosting its defenses to resist disease and reduce injury. This emission warns other plants that something is wrong, a sure sign that plants do communicate. This important discovery could also alert scientists to potential problems while monitoring forests and other areas and assist farmers in the early diagnosis of crop problems. Who knew that such a simple thing as aspirin could be so important? Log onto NCAR for more info. |
 "Caps Off!" to AVEDA
AVEDA, an environmentally friendly company which is the maker of botanically based beauty care products, is offering a program to help reduce the amount of plastic going needlessly into the landfill. The program is called "RECYCLE CAPS with AVEDA". They are collecting the plastic bottle caps which, for the most part, cannot be recycled and often end up in the garbage or in our waterways where wildlife mistake them for food. AVEDA will take the caps and recycle them to make new caps and containers. To participate, just collect the plastic bottle caps - have your students help - and take them to an AVEDA store. Check with your local AVEDA salon or store - Oak Brook Center and Woodfield are definitely taking the caps. To check out the program online, go to AVEDA - Bottle Caps. |
Fluorescent Lights in Schools
VERY IMPORTANT - Some schools have switched from fluorescent tubes with silver ends to those with green ends to reduce mercury. However, your schools need to be aware that ALL types of fluorescent tubes still contain mercury and MUST be disposed of properly. DO NOT smash them! Keep them whole and arrange to have them picked up by a fluorescent lamp recycler. DuPage County lists 5 places for recycling them:
Air Cycle Corp 800.909.9709
Everlights 815.469.0631
HazChem 630.458.1910 Mercury Waste Solutions 800.741.3343/pickup
800.664.1434/prepaid postage boxes
Fluorecycle 815.363.4411 |
 Additional Event: Free Electronic Recycling Event
October 25, 2008 Bloomingdale Best Buy
350 W Army Trail Road
630.582.1070
Bring your batteries, printers, copiers, telephones, stereos, video components, video game equipment, cell phones, & more. As a thank you for safely disposing of old electronics, you will receive a $5.00 gift card for bringing 10 or more items. Call for more info.
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The 3Rs - Ripples Reading Recommendations |
 Jump Into Science: Dirt
by Steve Tomecek
Ages: 4 - 8 years old
Take a journey with a friendly, little mole who reveals all of the down and dirty secrets about soil. Meet the different creatures who live there and find out why soil is so important to all of us. Dig up all of the facts - it's dirty business, but SO IMPORTANT!
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 There's a Hair in My Dirt!
by Gary Larson
Ages: All (really 10 & above)
Imagine finding a HAIR in your dirt! Disgusting (especially to a young worm)! This hilarious book teaches about soil and the environment as seen through the eyes of a worm family. Discover the wonders of the "underworld". Young and old enjoy the wit of this book!
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Thanks for looking through the latest and greatest of our efforts! We hope you found this to be a quicker, more helpful reference to the environmental issues that should be kept on your radar. We look forward to your responses, requests, and thoughts. Feel free to send us a quick note so that we know if this new format is helpful. We value your opinions.  The SCARCE Team
Scarce Environmental Education |
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DuPage County |
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