Planet Protectory Discover
the Hidden Kea$
"reducing
reusing, and recycling the products we use, instead of throwing the,
away. We need your help on this adventure/ Can you help cis solve all
of the activities and pcizzles in this booklet?
United States Solid Waste EPA530-K-0'
Environmental Protection and Emergency January 200
Agency Response (5306W) ww.epa.gov/osw/
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In this first activity, use the
Bank on the left to fill in the blanks
with the correct key words. Remember? the words in the
Bank can
only be used once, and they are mixed up, so you have to hunt to find the right
one for each blank.
(P
Bank
pollution
react
environment
recycle
landfills
air molecules
land
Why We Already "Reduce,
"Reu$e, and "Recycle
Many of you might already know that the
"three Rs"-reduce, reuse, and _ -are
the most important ways for kids like us to
prevent our trash from harming the Earth.
When we think of ways to reuse our stuff or
when we collect it for the recycling bin instead
of throwing it in the garbage can, we help
keep the _ (including the air, water,
and soil) healthy. For example, when we
recycle, less garbage will pile up in those big
holes in the ground, called .
In addition, when we reuse our old things
instead of buying new products, like reusing
an old jelly jar as a pencil holder, we help
keep the air clean. In other words, because
we're reusing our old products, factories
don't have to make as many new products,
which will save energy and reduce the
amount of that factories
release into the air.
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and th.e
•fiarth/$ Climate
-»• >.
Burp/
Ok, so we know a few reasons why practicing
the "three R's" is good for the environment bat there is
another important reason that's less obvious. Did you ever think
about your garbage affecting the weather? Match the
descriptions below with the correct word in the
Bank and see if you can make the connection/
1. The average weather we experience over a long period of time.
It is affected by the way we treat our trash.
2. The air above the Earth's surface, which naturally contains
"greenhouse gases."
3. Two common greenhouse gases that warm the Earth enough for
us to live comfortably. When too many of these gases are
released into the air, however, they become pollution.
f . A measurable degree of heat When too many greenhouse gases
escape into the air as pollution, they trap the sun's heat and
cause this to rise all over the planet
5. A word describing sunny skies, rainfall, snowfall, and drought
Scientists say that if the Earth's temperature rises, its overall
climate could change, disrupting these patterns.
6. A place where our garbage goes when we do NOT reduce, reuse,
and recycle.
7. The chemical deterioration that our garbage undergoes after
it's dumped in a landfill. This process releases methane, a
greenhouse gas.
8. An animal that releases greenhouse gas- when it burps/ As this
animal digests its food, bacteria in its stomach produces
methane.
9. A human activity that releases greenhouse gases. This activity
\ results in the collection of raw materials, like oil and coal,
from the Earth's surface.
10. What we want to do to greenhouse gas releases.
To do this, we have to think about the products
we use everyday, find out how they are made,
and examine whether we reuse and recycle
them as much as possible.
j|Lxv*trer Bank
cow
weather
climate
track
decomposition
landfill
carbon dioxide
and methane
atmosphere
products
humans
temperature
reduce
mining
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New Rea$0n to 'Reduce,
, and 'Recycle
On the next page, read about the
products or materials you might use every
day and unscramble the missing words to
learn about how reusing or recycling these products
can help reduce greenhouse gases and prevent
global climate change.
When you have correctly unscrambled the words, you can use
the letters in parentheses to fill in the corresponding blanks (by
number) and decode the Planet Protector's secret saying at the
bottom of the next page.
After you're finished with this
section, go to the last three
pages of this activity,
where you'll find the
Trash and Climate
Change Game. Print
out the last two
pages and follow the
instructions for making
a "fortune teller" game
that you can play with your
friends to learn more about
products you use and how
they affect the climate.
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Plastic, Ketal, and <-*la$$ Product?
Do you drink milk from plastic containers, soda from metal cans, or eat peanut
butter from glass jars? These containers are made from natural SEROUCSER
( )1 , which are mined, transported, and then made
into plastic, metal, or glass at a ORTACYF ( )^. This
entire RUNTGAFNICAMU (_J3 process
releases greenhouse gases and causes climate change. By recycling or
reusing plastic, LEMAT , or glass items, you can reduce the
need to mine, transport and manufacture natural resources to make new
products. In other words, you reduce the amount of SHOUERNEEG-
( )4 gas released and help prevent
climate change.
Paper Product?
Do you use paper products such as paper napkins, paper towels, or
wrapping paper? To make these items, SRETE must be cut
down, transported by truck, and processed into paper at paper mills.
This procedure ALEERSES ( y greenhouse gases
and adds to climate change. By reducing the NATMUO of
paper you EUS ( )" everyday, or by recycling paper, you help reduce
greenhouse gases from being released during the manufacture of paper. You
also help preserve trees, which naturally absorb a greenhouse gas called
RBAONC DIEXIDO(_)7 from the air, helping
to prevent climate change.
Yard frlmming? and "food
Are there ever bits of food leftover after your
dinner? Or grass clippings left after your lawn has
been mowed? By collecting these materials, piling them
in a spot in your garden at home, and stirring them
regularly to allow air penetration, you can create a
TOMPSOC (_)8 pile. This keeps
these materials out of a landfill, where they decay and
release greenhouse gases. Composting also helps
plants to grow. Plants, just like trees, ROBSAB
carbon dioxide, removing it from the
air and helping to prevent climate change.
Planet Protectors'
Secret paying:
Who can help protect the Earth from
climate change?
216 537 8 ¥
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Planet Protectory
Math. Challenge
The following chart shows just how much greenhouse gas
is reduced by recycling certain materials:
1 ton of alcimincin) recycled =13 tons of carbon dioxide prevented
1 ton of newspaper = 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide prevented
Can cpcj use the chant above to fill in the
following answer blanks?
If you prevented 91 tons of carbon dioxide, you recycled
tons of aluminum cans.
If you and your friend each recycled f tons of newspaper,
together you would prevent tons of carbon dioxide.
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What dan, "We 90 at Ifome and at $ch001 to
Help $tap dlimate (Change?
Below are some hints, bat you have to figure out what words go in each blank,
then fill them into the corresponding boxes in the crossword puzzle.
ACROSS
1. Make your own
paper for gifts from old
newspaper comics or decorate
grocery bags instead of baying
new paper.
6. Plant a tree. A tree can absorb
up to 50 of carbon
dioxide each year.
7. Go to the library to learn more
about the connection between
reducing, reusing, recycling and j?
change.
8. No matter what product or
material you use, don't take
how much you want only how
much you .
1
7
I
2
f
:
i
3
6
'l
B |
5
1
1
1
I
4
^^^^H
DOWN
2. Use cloth bags and napkins because they
are and will not have to be
thrown away after one use.
3. Reuse a yogurt container as a flower
f. Pack your lunch in a reusable container
instead of a paper or bag.
5. Reuse and.
old clothes and toys.
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In the space below, write your own ideas on how to reduce,
reuse, and recycle your trash so that you can be a Planet
Protector and help prevent climate change.'
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PLAY THE CAME AND MAKE THE CONNECTION
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Folding Instructions:
Make all folds neatly and sqparelcj
1. Carefully cat along the dotted lines to make a
square.
2. With the printed side down, fold the paper
neatly in half and then in half again.
3. Undo the folds and flatten oat the paper.
Keeping the printed side facing down, fold in
each corner so the four points meet in the
center.
f. Flip the paper over. Again, fold in each corner so
the four points meet in the center.
5. Fold the square in half, making a rectangle, with
the open flaps facing down. The writing should
be right-side up.
6. Slide both index fingers and thumbs under each
of the four outer flaps.
7. Pinching your fingers together, push the top
corners of the flaps toward the center. Poke
down into the center to help form the shape.
To play the game:
1. Answer one of the questions on any of the outer
flaps.
2. Choose one of the possible answers on the
inside. By opening it either of two ways, four
possible answers are revealed.
3. Look under the selected answer to learn more.
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AND FOOD SCRAPS
O)
\
to
PAPER
PAPER is made from trees that must
cut down, trucked, and processed at paper
mills. These activities contribute to global climate
change by releasing greenhouse
o J o o
gases to the atmosphere.
You can help stop global climate change by
using less paper. Recycle used paper
and buy paper made from recycled
materials. Bring cloth bags to
tt the grocery store and use £
•jg i. both sides of a sheet
£ £ .g of paper as often
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