Rocks and mineral identification

The Green team has been meeting to identify some rock and mineral samples for the Science dept.

FUN!

Here are some links to help us:

Identifying common rocks...
indentify rocks
Rock hounds
Rock hounds
Identifying rocks (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary)
about rocks
Igneous rocks
Volcano rocks

All about rock identification




Rocks for kids

MINERALS

A mineral is the same all the way through. That is one reason we speak of
a sample or a specimen rather than a rock.
There are about 3000 known minerals on earth.
All rocks are made up of 2 or more of these minerals.

Mineral town


from the earth...these rocks and minerals are pretty cool!

Green Team don't forget we have a meeting every Monday. Exept beacause of Family Day Ms.R
is trying to get a meeting on Tuesday.

March Contest

In March we will be having a new contest.

The green team will be painting a door to the washroom, to give classes an idea of how it could look. Each class will make a sketch of how they think a door should look. Then the green team will vote on the best idea. What ever class wins will get to paint a bathroom door!

L

Meeting update

Congratulations Green team! Your message is being heard.

This afternoon some grade 8 students (non-Green team members) from 8C came around my class and asked to take our recycling down.

They first checked to make sure no non-recyclables were in the blue bin.

Also 7G students made some posters for the Valentine's Day dance with motto's such as: Happy Valentine's day ! Remember the 3 Rs.....or Sweet for the Earth..that kind of thing.

During our meeting on Monday we agreed for five announcement students to rotate:

Monday - Amanda
Tuesday - Ramith
Wednesday - Mustafa
Thursday - Andrei
Friday - Virangna

Please see Mrs. Baxter or myself if you'd like us to vet (radio word for edit) your on-air announcement BEFORE your turn.


We've decided to choose the monthly Energy awards and bi-weekly Waste awards as a group.

- for February we decided to advertise that each class should brainstorm some energy conservation ideas. So far, I only have a (LONG) list from 8A.

Remember for the individual waste award write down the person's name, grade and what you caught them doing to help reduce waste so the winner can be announced.

- for February we also agreed to ask each class to nominate a student for the waste reduction award

I have exciting news for our March contest!!

Bye for now,
Miss R


A final note as part of the PEMBINA INSTITUTE's Green Learning
In December, grade 6 and 7 students participated in the GreenLearning climate change survey which coincided with the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia. As the school with the most student responses, Crofton House School in Vancouver was awarded an Earthball (a one-metre ball of the Earth) for their efforts.

The students surveyed displayed an impressive knowledge of climate change and a willingness to take action. When asked to rank their concerns about the effects of climate change, they noted species extinction (81%), extreme weather (57%), loss of forests (57%), rise in sea level (27%) and loss of food crops (16%).

When asked how strongly they feel about climate change and Canada's support of greenhouse gas reductions, they indicated


 very strongly - 30%

 a lot - 35%

 a fair bit - 27%

 a little bit - 8%

 not at all - 0%


There are a number of actions that students said they would be willing to take now:


 Walk and bike more, drive less - 87%

 Turn off appliances etc. when not in use - 81%

 Avoid extra packaging - 57%

 Use the cold-water setting on clothes washer - 35%

 Eat vegetarian meals three or more times per week - 22%

 Use an automatic thermostat - 16%


Why not try to Trace your Carbon Footprint?

Green team updates

Congratulations to all Green Team workshop presenters.

As of today - Jan. 24 - half of our school has been educated by YOU the Green Team members about:

- environmental awareness
- waste reduction
- energy conservation

What a way to start off the third phase of Milne Valley becoming an EcoSchool!!

You have shared information with
6-a-d
7a-d
8a-d

next week it's time for the second half of the school.

We have to choose our class Energy award winners (individual waste winner) starting next month.

Bye for now,
Miss R