We share our planet with other living things like animals, insects and plants. We are so lucky to have nature and the land to enjoy, like forests, lakes and wetlands. Most of our food comes from the land, too. Farmers use the land to grow crops and raise animals. But humans sometimes harm the land and other living creatures when we don't think about how much we take from nature.
Explore Environmental Elementary for hints on protecting wildlife and nature.
- Humans drive cars, build huge buildings and dig giant holes to throw away our garbage. These activities add up and hurt the land.
- Sometimes, the land gets so used up it can no longer grow food for us. Take a nature walk with your family to remind yourself how important the land is!
- Beluga whales are becoming extinct because of over hunting and other human activities. Help save them and other endangered animals by doing a school project and telling your class and parents about it.
- Buying your fruit and veggies from local farms helps the environment! Food that comes from far away makes pollution because huge boats and trucks have to ship the food to Ontario.
- Global warming is melting ice in the Arctic. This means the polar bears in Northern Ontario are losing their homes. Walk, bike or carpool to school to reduce greenhouse gas and help save the polar bears!
- Wolverines are endangered because humans have cut down the forests where they live. This means wolverines don't get enough food or have safe places to raise babies. Tell everyone how important your local forests are to help wolverines!
- Did you know cougars (also called pumas) live in Ontario! The sad fact is that pumas are endangered because humans have destroyed their forest homes to build farms, shopping malls and houses. Join a club that helps protect natural forests in your city to help save the pumas.
- Eastern elk no longer exist in Ontario. They have been extinct for more than 100 years because humans hunted too many for their antlers and fur. Spread the word so this won't happen to any more Ontario animals!
- Did you know the passenger pigeon (which was red-brown instead of gray) used to live in Ontario but is now extinct? Humans cut down the trees where they lived and disturbed so many nests they died out. Tell your class about saving trees, which also saves our feathered friends!
- Eating fruits and veggies is good for your health and the Earth! It takes kilograms of hay; litres of water and a huge field to raise a cow and produce about one kilogram of meat. That's a lot of resources for so little food! Growing fruits and veggies is often a lot easier on the land.
