Lesson 3 How are you contributing to the environment?

1. Lesson 3How are you contributing tothe environment? Quiz: Self Reflection: (Workbooks) 1. Do you take your own shopping bags to the shops or do you buy plastic bags? 2. Do you compost your vegetable peels, tea bags, egg shells, cardboard boxes? 3. Do you try to buy food with as little packaging as possible? 4. Do you try to swop clothes, buy vintage or buy second hand clothes? 5. Do you try to grow your own food? 6. Do you try to save water, electricity, reuse grey water? 7. Do you try to save paper as far as possible? 8. Do you recycle and reuse as far as possible? Discuss: What are you doing and what are you prepared to do to protect the environment?

2. Environmental Warriors Read the article about 15 year old Greta Thunberg from Sweden taking a stand against climate change: • https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/sep/01/swedish-15-year-old-cutting-class-to-fight-the-climate-crisis (5 min) • Class Discussion: (5 min) • What are your thoughts about what Greta • Thunberg is doing? • Discuss what do you think of her comment: “Everyone believes that we can solve the crisis • without effort, without sacrifice.”

3. # Trashtag • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5untmzyQK0g (2:23) Video explaining how #Trashtag movement started. • Originally started as the #Trashtag Project by UCO Gear, a US company selling equipment for outdoor activities in 2015, it picked up after Facebook user Byron Román posted a before and after picture of an area he cleared, inviting “bored teens” to “take a photo of an area that needs some cleaning or maintenance, then take a photo after you have done something about it, and post it”. The #Trashtag challenge has now spread beyond just young people. • How about a class challenge to engage in this project?

4. Preserving the environment so that we can use the plants to keep us healthy What can South Africa contribute to the world interms of maintaining a healthy environment? The answer is Indigenous Knowledge. We have the most amazing indigenous plants which are unique to SA and can be used for medicinal and healing purposes. A short introduction will follow:

5. 1. Spekboom: Do you know what a spekboom is?

6. Some facts about a spekboom: •  It improves the quality of the air we breathe and helps fight climate change. • Spekboom (aka Portulacariaafra) is a succulent that helps fight air pollution. It has the ability to 'sequester' or capture four to ten tons of carbon per hectare! • It is truly South African, is easy to grow and you can eat it.

7. Other plants which grow in SA which can be used as medicines • Cancer bush: is used as an immune booster in the treatment of HIV/Aids, as a medicine in the treatment of chicken pox, internal cancers, colds, 'flu, asthma, TB, bronchitis, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, liver problems, haemorrhoids, piles, bladder and uterus problems and diarrhoea. It is seen as a miracle plant.

8. Plan of Action (20 min) 1. In small groups, select an environmental issue in your community or school which you feel strongly about. 2. Draw up a step-by-step plan of action of how you will tackle the issue to improve the situation. A timeline should be included. 3. Mention practical strategies which you will implement in your plan of action. 4. Present your plan to the class in this lesson and then post your efforts on #Trashtag