By Jaci Tidwell, fifth grade student and niece of GFWC Conservation Chairman Angela Cutrera
In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, 2017, I have answered several questions about the environment. Think about how you would answer. Do you know as much about conservation and the environment as a fifth grader?
What does Earth Day mean to you?
To me, Earth Day means a day where you need to recycle and respect our world.
How can you save energy?
You can save energy by unplugging unused chargers, turning off lights in empty rooms, and using light bulbs that use less energy.
What are some items that can be recycled?
Some items that can be recycled are plastics, cardboard, newspapers, tin cans, aluminum cans, and glass. Plastic is good to recycle because it takes about 450 years to decompose.
How can you conserve water?
When you brush your teeth, turn off the water while you are brushing. Take short showers, because taking a bath basically wastes a few gallons of water.
Why is it important to care for the environment?
We should care for our environment because all of the trees and plants could die and we would not have any oxygen.
What are some things children can do to celebrate Earth Day?
On Earth Day, kids can make posters and put them all over their school or neighborhood to inspire other people to care for their Earth and community. They could also pick up trash around their neighborhoods and parks.
What are some things adults can do to celebrate Earth Day?
Adults can recycle more and help the environment by collecting and bringing recyclable goods to a center. They can lead an event where kids and their families go around neighborhoods and collect trash around the roads.
What does preservation mean?
Preservation means to save and protect the environment and to keep the wildlife populated by ensuring there is a place for them to live.
How can you spread the word about Earth Day?
You can talk to people about the importance of Earth Day and recycling and put up posters. Also, talk to your friends about how fun the outdoors is and why we need to protect it.
Are you making a difference?
I am making a difference because every year my 4-H club has a trash bash to clean up the roads around my school. I also clean parks with my Girl Scout troop and recycle and talk about conserving water. Our Girl Scout troop has visited and toured the landfill many times, where we learned about how important the environment is.
What would you like to tell everyone about caring for the environment?
We don’t have another world and we need to protect it.
Can the little things we do really make a difference?
If everyone does a lot of little things, they can make a big difference.
Should we only care about the earth on Earth Day?
We should celebrate Earth Day every day, one day is not enough!
So how do you compare to a fifth grader? How can you make a difference this Earth Day?