Our Concern for the environment By: Kaylie, Jordan, and Ben

A healthy school We are focused on helping the environment around our campus, with several measures in effect, and here are some. We recycle, compost and use the trash when needed. Also our buildings have environmentally friendly windows and materials, and much more.

The Trees Around Our Campus Some trees around our campus include: Oak, Pine, and birch Oak Oak Birch Pine

How the trees help in reducing global warming Trees breath in carbon dioxide. When the trees breath out they breath out oxygen which helps the environment.

Schools Should Participate Schools need to use environmentally friendly materials such as compostable lunch utensils and biodegradable plates and napkins.

Green Chicago-By Julia Lopez&Brian Mudrzak. The Most Common Types of Trees in Chicago Silver Maple, Norway Maple, Green Ash, Oak, Walnut

Number of Trees Chicago has a population of 2,800,000 people. We have 3,600,000 trees. Benefits of Our Urban Forest The “tree canopy” refers to the space that is covered (literally “canopied”) by the spread or “crown” of trees. Trees are beneficial to us in many ways. They improve our health by cleaning the air we breathe. They cool neighborhoods and homes on hot Chicago summer days. They are very important in helping Chicago adjust to climate change, because they reduce the impact of greenhouse gases. And, they are beautiful! For all these reasons, trees make our already green city an ever more beautiful and comfortable place to live, work and visit. Two mature trees can supply enough oxygen annually to support a family of four.

Why More Trees? We’re proud of our green spaces in urban places. Chicago’s world-famous lakefront parks, its community parks and gardens, miles of streetscapes and planted medians, the vast Cook County Forest Preserves – all of these urban spaces become green places because of trees! But it’s not easy being green: it takes generations of stewardship and continual reinvestment to sustain our urban forest. Chicago’s tree canopy requires constant care and renewal. The Chicago Trees Initiative is part of a long-term effort. Mayor Richard M. Daley has made it a priority to improve and expand Chicago’s urban forest for the past 20 years. The Bureau of Forestry within the Department of Streets and Sanitation plants thousands of trees every year, and maintains more than a half-million trees throughout the City. Mayor Daley’s GreenStreets Program also plants thousands of trees each year. Other branches of City government plant hundreds of trees each year. Chicago Park District plants thousands of trees each year. Community groups and non-profits plant hundreds of trees each year.

Chicago’s Millennium Park in the heart of our city

Working in the Environment December 2010

Ashland Pond: At the Ashland Pond one of the things we did was plant trees. After we planted the trees we put mulch on them to help them grow. Before we planted trees we weeded the blackberry bushes and took them out. On one of our field trips we drew plants and animals that we observed. By restoring the pond we are helping the community and the environment. Ashland Pond

Eagle Mill Farm: At Eagle Mill farm they grow organic fruit and vegetables in the spring and summer. When we go to the farm we plant tomato seeds, pepper seeds and pumpkin seeds. When we go to the farm we learn how to grow vegetables. We also cook the vegetables and put them on homemade pizza. They sell food to the local co-op for all of us to eat! Eagle Mill Farm

Bike Safety Bike Safety: This year we were taught how to ride bikes safely. At the beginning of this year we had bike safety for two weeks. During this time we learned how to ride bikes, use hand signals, check to make sure our bikes were safe, shift gears, and check our helmets. By riding bikes we are helping our environment reduce our gas emissions. It also allows us to exercise, save money, and provides good transportation for the environment.

Our Project ‘Concern for Environment ’ has elicited thought provoking responses from students across the world. The projects submitted by various schools gave us an insight as to how skillfully the environment is been taken care of at all levels. Sharing ideas on current environmental issues like global warming, deforestation reinforces the universal fact that Mother Earth should be protected by all her children living in different parts of the world. Nidhi,Uma, Sri Sri Academy, Kolkata, India