Let's Save the Earth

Read this link on pollution and answer questions 1-4.

Then read this link on bottled water and answer questions 5-8.

#9 is an extra - be honest with this one!

1. What is Cammy Holmes doing along the Anacostia River ?

2. What does the organization called the Ocean Conservancy do?

3. How many tons of trash did volunteers collects along coastlines in 2006? Why do you think they had to collect so much trash?

4. About how many volunteers came out in Washington, D.C. for the International Coastal Cleanup? Is this a high number or low number? Why?

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5. So why don’t more people drink water straight from the kitchen faucet?

6. What natural resource is used to make plastic water bottles?

7. How many bottles of water do Americans buy per year?

8. Out of every six bottles of water Americans buy, how many bottles actually get recycled?

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9. Americans are "trashing" the Earth today. You all, as students, will have to deal with it when you grow up. Be honest - how do you fell about "adopting" a trashed Earth?

Chomp! Meat-Eating Plants

Plants are nice because they only absorb the sun's light for energy, right? Nope - not always true! Read this National Geographic article on plants that "eat" at this link and answer the following questions.

1. What is the name of the place that has a new exhibit about plants?

2. What are meat eating plants called?

3. Name two types of carnivorous plants and tell how each one traps its victim.

4. Why do you think an insect can't climb out of an Asian pitcher plant?

5. In what types of areas do most carnivorous plants live?

6. Do you think carnivorous plants can trap small animals? Why or why not?

Freaky Fish!

Look at the fish in the above picture. What do you notice about it? Yep, you guessed it - it's head is transparent, meaning you can see through it. Go to this National Geographic link and read page one of the article. After you read page one, watch the video clip titled "Fish With Transparent Head Filmed" and then proceed to read the rest of the pages of the article (four pages total). Answer the following questions.

1. What was your immediate reaction to looking at the Pacific Barreleye Fish?
2. What is MBARI?
3. What does pivot mean? Explain.
4. What species of jellyfish do the barreleye fish steal food from?
5. When swimming in the ocean, would you ever get to see a barreleye fish? Why or why not? (Hint: look on page 4)
6. Would you like to have a Pacific Barreleye as a pet? Why or why not? (At least 3 sentences)