Green champs were asked to read and summarize an environmental article. Here are some examples of their research.
“Why Kids Need to Spend More Time in Nature” is an article by Danielle Cohen. In this article she talks about the multiple reasons why children of the 21st Century need to spend much more time outdoors instead of indoors. In this day and age, technology has found a way to make children want to do this. Many tablets, phones, and computers are used by many children each and every day. There are games and social media apps that keep them from going outside and enjoying fresh air. This can also lead to children not getting enough exercise. They don’t go outside because there isn’t “wifi” and “electric outlets” for their devices. Cohen states, “The national panic about kids spending too much time indoors has become so extreme that the crisis has a name: Nature deficit disorder.” As you can see, this problem is getting very severe. Cohen also states that, “The average American child is said to spend 4 to 7 minutes a day in unstructured play outdoors, and over 7 hours a day in front of a screen.” This is so severe that children are only spending an average of 4-7 minutes a day, outdoors. That is as much time as it takes for me to do my hair each morning, which isn’t very long. On a smaller portion of this article called “Why go outside?” Cohen tells the reader that, “just a picture of greenery can benefit mental health.” If this is true, think about actually seeing the greenery in real life. That would be even more beneficial. It would also make children happier and more focused during class. These are a few more things that Cohen lists that benefits children; It builds confidence, It promotes creativity and imagination, It teaches responsibility, It provides different stimulation, It gets kids moving, It makes them think, It reduces stress and fatigue. As you can see, it is very important that children spend more time outside rather than indoors for multiple reasons.
By: Reese Goodwin
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
By: Chasen Colwell
Did you know that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is twice the size of Texas? The Great Pacific Garbage Patch has turned into an international issue which could eventually affect the society of future inhabitants. This specific Garbage Patch is just one of five across the globe. Just to give you some background information on the garbage patch, it was discovered in 1997 by someone named Charles Moore. It covers an estimated area of 1.6 million square kilometers or approximately 994,193.9 square miles. The trash ranges from tiny microscopic particles all the way to ropes and fishing nets. Because of a growing population and more plastic being used, the situation will become worse unless something happens. Litter can be swallowed or entangled in marine life and carry invasive organisms across the ocean. To give you some reference of how big it is I inserted this photo below: 📷