Pregnancy
Destination: Ecology Games
by Barbara FeldmanYou can find many games, quizzes, exercises, simulations and derbies online. Here are a few; each of them deals with ecology: the relationship humans have with their environment. Enjoy!
Eddy the Eco-Dog is a "lovable canine who helps kids discover cool things about nature, science and ecology." Kids in the early-elementary grades can click along with Eddy to discover "Which animal did Polly Pollution steal?" or play the earth-friendly games and puzzles. The Earth Walk of Fame features audio interviews with role models such as Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian astronaut scheduled to walk in space. Have your own ideas about ecology? Send them to Eddy at his very own newspaper: the Daily Planet.
This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency site uses art, coloring, comics, stories and games to involve kids in environmental science. One of the must-play activities is the Shockwave Dumptown Game. As City Manager, your job is to clean up the city. Keep an eye on the budget as you implement waste-reduction programs like home composting, drop-off recycling, and yard trimmings pick-up. Interested in telling the President what you've done (in real life) to clean up the planet? Find out how on The Trophy Case page.
"If your habits resemble those of average Americans, you contributed 1,570 pounds of solid trash, 23 tons of hazardous waste, and 3,613 pounds of sewage to the world's waste this past year." Twenty-three tons of hazardous waste? That's 126 pounds of hazardous waste a day. Amazed? Find out which household items need special disposal (and which can be tossed in your regular trash) in the informative, interactive Hazardous Waste quiz. Or try your hand at solving the problem of an overflowing landfill. In the Shrinking a Landfill exercise (on the Global Efforts page), your goal is to reduce waste by 10 percent with a budget of $50,000. Can you do it?
"I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I've come here to celebrate Earth Day, so please. Come join me and help spread the message I bring. Be a friend to the trees and to each living thing." Bring your preschoolers, early readers (and anyone needing a homework break) to Dr. Suess' cyberspace playground to catch Truffula seeds in a Shockwave basket. It reminds me a little of Pong (am I that old?)
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