The document summarizes a student's learning about finite resources and their environmental actions. It discusses that fossil fuels like oil, coal, and wood are finite resources that will run out and cause pollution. The student learned coal reserves on Earth will only last 200 more years. Through a home energy audit, the student discovered they take long showers and set a goal to take shorter ones. At school, the student led an effort to give every classroom a recycling bin and teach recycling. They made a music video using green screen to promote recycling and reducing paper use, enjoying the creative aspects. The student found explaining the project to younger students challenging but rewarding.

1. Natural Forces Reflection
Global Inquiry:
I learned that “finite” means that something will not keep going and will
end sometime. Some examples of finite resources include oil, coal and
wood. It is important to conserve fossil fuels because they cause a lot
of pollution and someday they will run out. Some alternative energy
sources are solar energy, wind energy and water energy. While
investigating the coal industry, the most interesting thing I learned was
that the coal left on earth will only last for about 200 years.
Local Inquiry:
During my Home Energy Audit, I discovered that I take long showers.
So, I set goals to take shorter showers. During our BISS Energy Audit,
we discovered many problems, such as not having a recycling bin in every
classroom. So, we set a goal to give a recycling bin to every classroom
and to teach the ES classes about reducing, reusing and recycling paper.
Taking Action:
School Conversation Campaign
It is important to reduce, reuse and recycle paper because we can save
more trees and produce less pollution. First we made a recycling bin and
covered the box with green paper. Then we went to every classroom and
explained the reason we are doing this project. Finally, we went
everyday to collect the recycling bin.
It was difficult to explain because I was in the Pre-K group so I
thought they wouldn’t understand. I enjoyed this action because we could
use some creativity like art. If I took a different environmental action,
I would like to go to a classroom, which is unoccupied and go in and turn
the lights off if they’re on.
Environmental Music Video
We used persuasive language techniques in our lyrics, such as repetition
and rhetorical questions. I think the most persuasive line in the lyrics is
“repetition ” because small kids keep repeating things and it works.
While working on the movie, I learned about the types of shots,
establishing, medium, 2 shot, close up and cut-aways. I enjoyed making
this video because we could go on green screen. If I did another music
video, I would go on the BISS playground and film because it will look
realistic.
What else?
During this finite resource unit I especially enjoyed singing in front of
the video. After this unit, I will continue to use greenscreen to send
messages.