1. People, Resources, and the Environment

2. Agenda 1.Let’s talk about resources! 2. Mining for Chocolate Activity 3.Solutions? What can we do to conserve our resources and take care of our planet? 4.Worksheet

3. Did You Know?..... The Earth is finite….once our resources are gone they can’t be replaced. Each year we lose 23 acres of forest (size of the state of Indiana) to create farmland and obtain wood for fuel and other uses. Scientists estimate that 20 plant and animal species become extinct every week! Every time we use energy by driving in a car or turning on lights, TV or other electrical appliances, we are using fuel. On average, each person in the United States creates over four pounds of trash daily, more than people from any other country.

4. The United States Vs Other Countries in Using Resources

5. Activity Time!!! Mining for Chocolate  Do not eat cookies yet!!!  You should have one cookie, two toothpicks, and a napkin.  How many chocolate chips do you think are in your cookie?

6. Questions to Think About Can your land be fixed? Will it ever be the same as it was before? What do you think happens to the soil when it is mined for resources?

7. What Can We Do to Help Our Planet? The less we buy and the more we are able to reuse items or recycle them into other products, the better for the planet. Energy should be conserved or used up as little as possible. Trees that are cut down must be replaced. Waterways should be kept free from pollution. Only use what we need!

8. Recycle, Reuse, Restore!