10/02/2021
Confession time: The other day I used the word "environment" during a conversation in the car and I could hear the confusion on my son's face... I mean, we live relatively environmentally conscious lives (we've become more and more no-waste, reuse, recycle, real-food, etc.) but does he really understand what this means and more importantly WHY we do it? So I posted in several home study / no-waste groups and got some great responses.
Below is the list of suggestions so far, and I would really appreciate it if you would add your favourite books, films and references!
We are Catholic, so I especially appreciate the tip to research St Francis, as well as Pope Francis and why he chose this name. And also his encyclical "Laudato Si' " published in 2015 and with the subtitle "on the care of our common home". In it, the pope criticises consumerism and irresponsible development, complains about environmental degradation and global warming and calls on all the people of the world to "take swift and united global action".
Book: How to help the Earth by The Lorax van Dr Seuss (op Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbUS3jPjyrc)
Book: The Omnivore's Dilemma: Young Readers Edition (also available as auidobook)
Book: The Plastic Problem
Book: Save the Scraps
Book: 123 superslimme weetjes over het klimaat
Book: De fabels van Gunter Pauli
Book: The Diversity of Life on Earth by Nicola Davies (pre-read, as the ending may not be suitable for children)
Books. from Klimaatjes: https://www.deklimaatjes.com/boeken
Film: Plastic Ocean (op netflix)
Website: WWF.be/nl/school/ (educatief materiaal)
Tip: Study the life of Saint Francis and then ask why Pope Francis took his name and connect it with Laudato Si'. (videos for elementary and high school can be found on youtube)
This is a wonderful Earth Day book for children offers kids easy suggestions for going green! After explaining how the trash in a wastebasket ultimately ends...