EnviroKids October 2018 Issue

Planet Earth and Beyond

Term 4, 2018 (Vol 39.3)

Preserving Our Natural Resources Let’s Talk About Trees

Come Discover Fossils Speak in 5 of our 11 Official Languages

Spotlight on the Sun and the Moon This is How Earth Works

Contents

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to term 4 EnviroKids! Final school holidays are almost upon us, and before you know it, the Sun will set on another year. Talking about our star, did you know that one million Earth’s could fit inside the Sun? Our Sun sustains all life on Earth, provides us with warmth, energy and light, and is truly remarkable – read more about it on page 8 . One million is a large number, but is tiny compared to the size of Earth’s population, which is sitting on around 7,6 billion. The youth accounts for a large portion of this number, and it is estimated that around 360 000 babies are born every day, yet our resources are dwindling. More than ever, it is important for our youth to be mobilised and join in on conversations that matter.

Read about how you can have your voice heard on page 23 . One topic that tops the list for important conversations is our natural resources and how to preserve them. Did you know that only around 1% of the world’s water is accessible and drinkable? Learn more on page 18 . When we consider our future, some- times it’s important to take a look at the past. Turn to page 14 to find out more about fossils and what the past can tell us about life on Earth. I hope this issue of EnviroKids proves useful for term 4, and that you feel encouraged to take a moment and wonder at all our natural beauty. Speaking of wonders, did you know that Table Mountain in Cape Town is one of the New7Wonders of Nature? Turn to page 10 to find out why.

6 Marvel at Earth. Learn about our beautiful planet. 8 Take a trip to our Sun. 9 Howling at our Moon. Learn about this celestial body. 10 New7Wonders of Nature. Thumbs up for Cape Town! 12 Astronomy. Look up at the stars and understand the science behind them. 14 Fossils. Come take a dig at these interesting facts. 18 Water One of our most precious resources. 20 Meet our trees. Our gorgeous green, source of oxygen! Learn This 16 Animals: Here's a list of Endangered Species and how you can protect them.

24 Have some fun with this crossword and these math questions. 25 Cut out and create your own Mrs Ples!

2 Enviro News. What’s been happening in our environment. 4 Calendar. Diarise these dates and celebrate. 5 Book Club. Here’s our top picks of must-read books this term. 22 Language Corner. Learn to speak in 5 of our 11 official languages. Regulars

For Fun

Carina

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About the Cover The team at WESSA uMngeni Valley are a passionate bunch. There’s nothing about our beautiful planet, and more importantly our magnificent country, that doesn’t excite them. Pictured is a team of school-goers enjoying a breath-taking view at WESSA’s education centre uMngeni Valley in KwaZulu-Natal.

SUBSCRIBE Email: envirokids@wessa.co.za ADVERTISE/SPONSOR Email: envirokids@wessa.co.za WESSA MEMBERSHIP Visit www.wessa.org.za, Email: wessamembers@wessa.co.za

Editing Assistance: Nadine Mason Design: Carina Borralho Printed by Printulu With thanks to Phindile Molefe, Jenny Duvenage and Dr Graham Avery for additional support. Publisher: WESSA

Official quarterly publication of WESSA (incorporated association, not for gain). Registered NPO 000-716 The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of WESSA. Copyright on all content belongs to WESSA and the individual contributors. No part may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. Photocopies may be made for non-profit educational purposes provided the source of the material is clearly acknowledged.

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or contact 031 201 3126 Editor: Carina Borralho envirokids@wessa.co.za 079 434 6844

P.O. Box 394, Howick, 3290 www.wessa.org.za ISSN 1995-6703 Reg. No. 05/04658/08

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SA and China Discover Some Old Bones In August 2018, a research team announced the discovery of two new dinosaur species in China, the Bannykus and the Xiyunykus – both meat-eating dinosaurs. One of the lead- ing members of the research team was pro- fessor Jonah Choiniere from the University of Witwatersrand (Wits). “With their strong, clawed hands and weak jaws, they appear to be the relatives of today’s aardvarks and anteaters,” he said. Bannykus and Xiyunykus are important because they show how this particular species of dinosaur called alva- rezsaurs, adapted to new diets. “China and South Africa have a great deal of overlap in palaeontology, and it has been a privilege to cross-train students there over the last two years,” said Jonah.

Say NO to Animal Petting Who wouldn’t want to cuddle a lion cub, right? Lion cubs are adorable. The truth is, playing with cubs makes them tame and this means they can never go back into the wild where they be- long. By paying to pet a lion cub or to walk with bigger lions, you are making them used to humans, so they become easier to hunt when they are too old and dangerous to pet. Rather go to a proper game reserve and take amazing photos of wild lion cubs in their natural habitat. During school holidays, don't visit plac- es that let people touch or hold cubs, or even walk with bigger lions. To find out more, visit youth@bloodlions.org or follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter using @YouthForLions. 3, 2, 1... Lif toff ! In August 2018, NASA sent the $1.5 billion Parker Solar Probe spacecraft to orbit the Sun in an attempt to dis- cover the mysteries of solar storms. With this informa- tion, scientists hope to protect Earth from potential so- lar flares. This is an historic mission, and is the closest a spacecraft has ever been to our star, the Sun. The Park- er Solar Probe’s mission is due to last until mid-2025.

Enviro News 100-Million Year Old Flower Found Preserved A 100-million-year-old flower has been discovered in Myanmar, Burma. It belongs to a newly discov- ered species of tree. This species is part of the Cuno- niaceae, which is a group of trees still common in the Southern Hemisphere. Amber is created when tree resin dries and hardens – perfectly preserving anything trapped inside it.

Food for Thought HSBC, which is one of the world’s largest banks, said that by 1 August 2018, the world had used up all the planets resources for a year. They noted that this is due to large businesses and governments not using re- sources efficiently and not putting enough measures in place to prevent further damage caused by climate change. To calculate Earth’s natural resource budget, the Global Footprint Network considers the demand for natural resources (food, forests, and marine prod- ucts) as well as humans’ effects on the environment from factors like carbon emissions.

Congratulations to our July winners! You have each won a robot from UBtech valued at R1500! The answer to the question "what can run but can't walk?" is "Water" or "River". Simone Verster * Erin Hutchings * Stuart Whitelaw

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Book Club This Term’s Must-have Books, Posters and Tools!

2018/9

WIN! See below for details

Dates to Remember

October 2 World Habitat Day 4 World Animal Day 5 World Teacher Day 5 World Smile Day 9-15 National Marine Week 13 African Penguin Day 16 World Food Day 17 International Day for Eradication of Poverty 31 World Cities Day

Did you know?

China produces over half of the world’s broccoli.

November 10 World Science Day 14 World Diabetes Day 20 Universal Children's Day 21 World Fisheries Day 23 Buy Nothing Day 24 Big Birding Day 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Poster: Insects of Southern Africa This fantastic poster illustrates 60 of South Africa's common and conspicuous insects, with icons showing which are poi- sonous. These colourful educational posters make beautiful wall hangings, and are ideal gifts for nature-lovers. It's also an excellent aid in your classroom, home or library. Publisher: Penguin Random House

Did you know? There are around 21 million children (0-18) living in South Africa.

December 1 World AIDS Day

2 International Day for Abolition of Slavery 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities 5 World Soil Day 10 Human Rights Day 11 International Mountain Day

January 1 Global Family Day 4 World Braille Day

Did you know?

16 Day of Reconciliation 20 Human Solidarity Day

Rock Day is when Geologists and rock enthusiasts show their appreciation of all things fossilised.

Glow-in-the-dark Inflatable Globe This inflatable globe from MapStudio is essential for every household and classroom. It’s brightly coloured, and defines every country easily while also showing you the capital cities. It includes oth- er features such as the lines of longitude and lati- tude, international time zones, elevation, physical features, oceans and seas. Best of all, it shines in the dark, so it can also be used as a bedside light. Publisher: MapStudio

A Huddle of Hippos and Other Cool Collective Nouns for Animals Some collective nouns are hilarious, others are ingenius. Here's a book that celebrates both kinds, with vibrant images that tell the rest. Join a young boy named Sam on a safari, and learn how to identify groups of animals, while enjoying some fun facts along the way. Author: Julia Richman

What’s that Tree? If you're crazy about trees, this book is a must-have. With a comprehensive list of trees found in South Africa, along with beautiful pictures and interesting facts, you'll be a tree-know-it-all in no time. This book is simple but authoritative, and is suit- able for amateurs and seasoned tree-lovers. Author: Eugene Moll Publisher: Penguin Random House

7 Old Rock Day 20 Penguin Awareness Day 24 Compliment Day 31 Street Children Day

Did you know?

1 Tablespoon of soil has more organisms in it than there are people on earth.

WIN a hamper of all these items. To enter, email envirokids@wessa.co.za and tell us in one or two sentences what you love about our Earth. Good luck! Competition ends 31 December, 2018. WESSA staff and their immediate families are not permitted to enter. The winner will be announced in the next issue of EnviroKids, and is chosen at the sole discretion of WESSA.

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Our Beautiful Earth Earth is the third “rock” from the Sun (one of four rocky planets in our solar system), and is the only known planet with life. Scientists estimate Earth to be about 4.5 billion years old. But how does Earth work? Read below and find out more about our beautiful planet.

A Slice of Our Planet

Quick Facts How many countries are there on Earth? 195

The Earth has three main layers: the crust, the mantle and the core . The crust forms the surface and is covered by either soil or water. It is the thin- nest layer (about 30km thick), consisting mainly of solid rock. The mantle is about 2900km thick, while the outer core is about 2254km thick and the inner core is about 1288km thick. The crust is made of rock, soil and

Earth’s Rotation on its Axis Rotation refers the movement the Earth makes on its own axis. This is the imaginary line through the cen- tre of a planet. Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5 degrees. It spins in a clock- wise direction if you look at it di- rectly from the South Pole. It takes our planet 24 hours to rotate, cre- ating one full day for life on Earth.

How many oceans are on Earth? 5

seabed. It is divided into continental plates that drift a few centimeters each year. The mantle makes up 84% of the total weight of the Earth’s mass, and is made up of hard rock, molten rock and solid rock. The outer core is responsi- ble for Earth’s magnetic field, and is made up of molten lava. At the centre of Earth is the inner core. The inner core is hotter than the surface of the Sun.

How many seas are on Earth? 7

What is Earth's atmosphere made of? 78% nitrogen, 21% ox- ygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.03% carbon dioxide with very small per- centages of other ele- ments. A combination of water, oxygen and minerals makes Earth a favourable place for life to grow and evolve. Soil covers much of the land area and provides an anchor for trees, a source of food for plants, and a home for many animals. Water covers about 70% of Earth’s surface, which is why it is called the Blue Planet. About 3% of the water is fresh and the rest is salted.

Earth’s Revolution Around the Sun Every planet revolves (orbits) around the Sun. When Earth orbits around the Sun once, it completes one rev- olution, which is equal to one year (365¼ days). Every four years, these quarters add up to make an extra day which we include as the 29 of February. So how long do the other planets take to revolve around the Sun (in Earth time)? Mercury = 88 days. Venus = 225 days. Mars = 687 days. Jupiter = 12 years. Saturn = 29,5 years. Uranus = 84 years. Nep- tune = 165 years.

What is Earth's radius? 6 371 km

We Used To Be Close... All the continents on Earth used to be joined together, and this “super-continent” was called Pangea. Pangea only started breaking apart around 200-million years ago, to form the separate continents and countries we know today.

What is the population on Earth? 7,6 Billion

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Sun, Our Star The Brightest Star in Our Sky

Moon

Our

To the

and Back

The Sun is the star at the centre of our Solar System. It is about 110 times bigger than Earth. Around three quarters of the Sun is made of hydrogen, while the rest is mostly helium. Without the Sun, we could not survive, and it is the most important source of energy for life on Earth.

Meet Earth’s Satel lite The Moon orbits the Earth and is our only natural satellite. It is thought to be around 4.51 billion years old, making it only slightly younger than the Earth. Scientists theorise that the Moon was created from the leftover debris when Earth and another planet-like body called Theia collided.

The Sun is about 150 million kilometres away from the Moon.

Photo what? Photo means light, and synthesis means mixing.

Photosynthesis is the way in which plants use energy from the Sun as well as water, and carbon dioxide to create oxy- gen and grow. Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction that takes place within a plant, creating glucose. This glucose gives the plant energy to grow and sur- vive, and to produce oxygen for animals and humans on Earth.

What is a Moon? Moons are rocky bodies that orbit planets and are also called satellites. Some planets have no moons, like Mercury and Venus, while others have many, like Jupiter (64 moons). Our Moon is about 384 000km from Earth, making it the biggest object we can see in our night sky.

Did you know? 12 astronauts have walked on the Moon since 1969.

Once in a Blue Moon A blue Moon occurs in rare conditions, such as if volcanic eruptions or fires leave particles in Earth’s atmosphere, causing the Moon to appear blue.

Spinning in Space Have you ever wondered why we only see one side of the Moon? Just like the Earth, the Moon has an axis around which it rotates. This rotation takes 28 days. The Moon also orbits around the Earth, which takes 28 days. The speed of the rotation is the same speed of the Moon’s orbit, which is why we only ever see one side of it.

From East to West From Earth it seems as if the Sun moves from one side to another during sunrise and sunset, but it is in fact Earth that moves around the Sun. It takes Earth one year to travel around the Sun, but while it does so, it is also rotating on its own axis. These two movements are what cause seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter). These two movements are also what cause night and day. At certain times of the year, Earth is further or closer to the sun. When Earth is clos- er to the Sun it is warmer, and when it is further away, it is cooler.

Did you know? • Our Moon does not produce its own light. Instead, it reflects light from the Sun. • The craters we see on the moon were formed by asteroids and other objects crashing into it. • The Moon has no atmosphere and gravity, which is why astronauts float about on its surface. • The Moon has its own shakes! Just like earthquakes, our satellite experiences moonquakes, which are less intense than the ones on Earth and are thought to be caused by tidal stresses from the varying distance between the Earth and Moon.

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New7Wonders of Nature New7Wonders of Nature is an initiati ve that started in 2007 to create a list of seven natural wonders chosen by people through a global poll.

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Jeju Island Location: South Korea

Komodo Island Location: Indonesia

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Fast Facts: Jeju Island is the largest island in South Korea. It is home to almost 950 species of insects, 198 types of birds, 17 mammal species, and 8 reptile species.

Fast Facts: Komodo Island is estimated to have formed around 1 million years ago, and is one of the 17,508 islands that comprise In- donesia. The island is famous for the largest lizard on Earth (the Komodo Dragon).

Amazon rainforest and ri ver Location: South America Fast Facts: The Amazon comprises over half of the planet's remaining rainforests and has the largest and most biodiverse tropical rainforest in the world. Here there are around 390 billion individual trees that form part of 16,000 species.

Table Mountain Location: South Africa

Fast Facts: At over 260 million years old, Table Mountain is home to a rich bounty of fauna and flora including the Table Mountain Ghost Frog, an animal that cannot be found any- where else in the world. There are about 2,200 species of plants and 1,470 floral species found here. The flat top peak of the mountain reaches 1,086m above sea level and in 1998, Nelson Mandela proclaimed Table Mountain, “a gift to the Earth”. Table Mountain is also the only terrestrial structure in the world to have a con- stellation named after it.

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Ha Long Bay Location: Vietnam

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Fast Facts: Ha Long Bay has an area of about 1,553 km. The bay has rich bio- diversity and is home to around 14 en- demic floral species and 60 endemic fauna species. The area is also home to artefacts used by prehistoric human beings who were in this area tens of thousands years ago.

Puerto Princesa Ri ver Location: Philippines

Fast Facts: The Puerto Princesa Underground River is 8.2km long. It flows into the sea, after passing through some of the most beautiful rock formations in the world.

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Iguazu Falls Location: Argentina + Brazil

Fast Facts: The word Iguazu roughly means ‘big water’. It is the largest water- fall system in the world and was formed as the result of a volcanic eruption. It sits between Argentina and Brazil, and the rainforest surrounding the falls boasts 2,000 species of plants.

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World-class Facility in South Africa

Astronomy

Astronomy is the type of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical uni verse. Many astronomers have contributed to our modern understanding of space. Galileo Galilei is called the "father of obser- vational astronomy” because of his many observations about space. He invented the thermoscope and various compasses. He also discovered and explored (through a telescope) the phases of Venus, Jupiter’s satellites, Saturn’s rings, and sun spots. Nicolaus Copernicus was a mathematician and astronomer who first assumed that the Sun (not the Earth), is at the centre of the universe. Nicolaus was a polyglot (knowing or using several languages) and a polymath (a person of wide knowledge or learning), and he also had a doctorate in canon law. Sir Isaac Newton was an English mathe- matician, astronomer, theologian, author and physicist, and is recognised as one of the most influential scientists of all time. He created the Laws of Motion and Uni- versal Gravitation. Newton built the first reflecting telescope and developed a theo- ry of colour based on the observation that a prism separates white light into what we see on the colour spectrum. He also made the first theoretical calculation of the speed of sound, and contributed greatly to the field of mathematics. Johannes Kepler was a German mathe- matician, astronomer, and astrologer. He is most known for his Laws of Planetary Motion, which served as the foundation for Sir Isaac Newton’s theory of Universal Gravitation. He also invented an improved version of the refracting telescope.

The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) operates under the Department of Science and Technology. The main telescopes are used for research and are located at the SAAO observation station 15km from Sutherland in the Northern Cape. SAAO's primary function is to conduct research in astronomy and astrophysics and does so by providing a world-class facility to scientists.

Tech in Space

From floating objects, to robots on Mars, our technology is starting to take over in space.

A Rocket is a spacecraft that obtains thrust from a rocket engine. Rockets weigh hundreds of tonnes at lift-off, most of which is fuel. Rockets need an immense amount of fuel to overcome Earth’s gravity. Only when they reach a speed of 28 000 km/h are they travel- ling fast enough to enter orbit. Most rockets are made up of a few stages. When a stage has used up all of its fuel, it is separated to get rid of the dead weight.

The Mars Rover is a self-propelling vehicle used to explore the surface of Mars in temperatures and conditions that humans cannot survive. Rovers examine new territories via remote control. There have been four successful robotically operated Mars rovers. In January 2016, NASA reported that the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers will be searching for evidence of ancient life on Mars, including biospheres as well as remnants of water, to assess whether Mars was ever habitable.

A Satellite is an object that orbits a planet, and the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth was Sput- nik 1, which was the size of a beach ball. Satellites are used for various reasons, including for GPS purpos- es (Global Positioning System), telecommunications, weather monitoring, and scientific research. Satellites are made of various light-weight components that allow it to work in the harsh climates of space. One such component is the ‘wings’, which are made of so- lar panels that power the satellite using energy from the Sun.

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Digging Up The Past...

Big Words for Big Jobs A person who studies dinosaurs is called a Palaeontologist . Palaeoanthropol- ogists study hominin (primate groups, which include our ancestors and our- selves) and evolution. Archaeology is the study of remains related to ancient

peoples, including cultural items (tools, orna- ments, art, etc) and their food (bones, shells and other preserved resources), which tell us about their behaviour. Palaeobotany is the branch of palaeontology that deals with the recovery and identification of plants. Archae- ozoology studies remains related to ancient people including items left behind when an animal dies, including bones and shells.

Local Discoveries

A new species of human relative named Homo naledi was discovered in 2015. The expedition team found more than 1550 identi- fied fossil elements (the single larg- est fossil hominin find made on the continent of Africa).

Our oldest fossils are the remains of ancient plants and animals that lived millions of years ago, preserved in layers of rock. They are important because they provide us with a picture of what life was like in the past.

What's it like to be an Archaeozoologist? Dr Graham Avery was introduced to archaeolo- gy by his Grade 7 teach- er, who brought artefacts into a lesson. “He men- tored me and I collected stone tools, which was al- lowed in those days.” The inspiration stuck, and Dr Avery obtained his Mas- ter of Arts and PhD at the University of Cape Town. “Excavations were usually

What are Fossils?

There are two main types of fossils. They are body fos- sils and trace fossils. Body fossils are the preserved body parts of an organism such as bones, shells, leaves, stems and seeds. Body fossils tell us a lot about what the animal or plant looked like. We can also work out what kind of food it ate from its jaw structure, what senses it used most, the size of its brain, its defense mechanisms, and much more. Trace fossils are the signs of life that have been preserved. They give evidence that organisms once lived on Earth but are not made up of parts of the organism itself. Examples include footprints, droppings or leaf impressions. Fossils vary in their degree of mineralisation and pet- rification. An example of ancient petrified fossils can be found in the hard rocks of the Karoo formations. In more recent re- mains, normal bone composition is replaced by minerals such as iron and phosphate, for example in the West Coast Fossil Park, Elandsfontein and the Vaal Gravels.

Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape

Where can fossils be found?

over two to three weeks , but could be up to two months long. Then the time-consuming work of processing the material started. A day might include all or some of the following: iden- tification of categories of cultural items and/or food species, labelling and recording items in collection databases, counting the results before statistical analysis, interpretation and write up for publication in scientific journals or articles for the pub- lic.” Dr Avery worked in a museum, so there was also some ad- ministration, writing funding proposals, assisting students and researchers, answering queries from members of the public and involvement in the Museum’s exhibition, school education and other public programmes. "Being able to do what I enjoyed was a constant high- light of my research career. I shifted my focus from stone tools to the role of shellfish, birds and mammals in the diets and be- haviour of past humans (archaeozoology) and was able to be- come competent in biological disciplines I’d previously had no training in. In retirement, my research continues and I mentor younger archaeological and palaeontological colleagues and assist scientists and post-graduate students in identifying the prey of raptors and carnivores they are studying.

Most fossils are found in sedimentary rock. This rock is formed when layers of erod- ed earth are deposited on top of each other. The process by which sedimentary rocks are formed is delicate enough that fossils can be preserved within them. How were fossils formed? Fossils were made when living things died and got buried quickly before the hardest parts of the animal had a chance to decay. Over thousands of years, more and more layers of sand and mud settled on top of the animal. All these layers caused pressure which made the skeleton harden into rock. Over time, the rock surrounding the fossilised skeleton is eroded by wind and water.

Photo credit: National Geographic

Coelacanths (pictured below) were thought to have become extinct in the Late Cretaceous period (around 66 million years ago) but were rediscovered in 1938 off the coast of South Africa.

Did you know? The human skull is made of 22 bones.

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Status Key • Extinct (EX)

ENDANGERED Cheetah – Critically Endangered

Natural Resources Animals

• Extinct in the Wild (EW) • Critically Endangered (CR) • Endangered (EN) • Vulnerable (VU) • Near Threatened (NT) • Conservation Dependant (CD) • Least Concern (LC)

"It took 4 million years of evolution for the cheetah to become the exceptional animal it is today and only 100 years for man to place it on the endangered list."- Cheetah Outreach. Loss of habitat, decline in prey, poaching, persecution by livestock farmers, and competition with other large predators threaten the survival of the cheetah.

African Wild Dog – Critically Endangered The African wild dog is Endangered due to habitat loss caused by human over- population, poaching, diseases like rabies and threats from other predators such as lions and hyenas.

Pickergill’s Reed Frog – Critically Endangered This frog is listed as Critically Endangered due to its extremely small habitat (about 9km2). There are a number of threats to the species including urban development, the use of the insecticide, and drain- age for agricultural purposes.

Black Rhino – Critically Endangered Wildlife crime such as poaching and black- market trafficking of rhi- no horn is the dominant reason this creature is Critically Endangered.

As the name suggests, natural resources come from nature, and include air, water, oil, gas, coal, the Sun, wind, animals, trees, plants, mineral resources and land. Sadly, many of our natural resources are threat- ened mainly due to human interference. South Africa is home to some of the world’s most amazing animals, but for various reasons, these crea- tures are threatened and may become extinct in the near future unless we all play our part in conserva- tion. • Overgrazing and soil erosion • Fires (natural and unnatural) • Habitat destruction (building, deforestation) • Farming activities • Road deaths • Natural disasters such as floods • Competition with other animals for food and shelter • Hunting • Natural predators These are the top reasons animals and insects become endangered:

Riverine Rabbit – Critically Endangered The main threat is habitat destruction through cultivation and extensive livestock grazing. Other threats include predators such as domestic dogs, road kills, and inbreeding due to low population numbers.

Other threatened species in South Africa include: African Elephant – Vulnerable African Lion – Vulnerable African Leopard – Vulnerable Geometric Tortoise – Critically Endangered Blue Crane – Vulnerable Pangolin – Vulnerable

Spread the Word! If you see or hear of any suspicious animal abuse/trading etc, report it to authorities. Do not buy animal products such fur coats or snake skin bags or shoes. Thousands of animals die every year for the sake of “fashion”. Don’t use make-up or homecare products that are tested on animals. Products that are not tested are clearly marked with a cruelty-free label, and are just as good, if not better.

Animals are killed illegally for various reasons. Some Eastern cultures believe that rhino horn and lion bones for example, contain medicinal properties – despite the fact that there is no scientific evidence of this. Oth- ers hunt animals for recreational purposes, which is wrong. It is up to all South Africans to protect our natu- ral heritage so that our precious animals aren’t extinct when our children are grown up.

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Water

Let’s Respect Our Natural Resources By Zwakele Ngwenya and Cindy-Lee Cloete

ing the diversity of insects present in the water. The learners carefully collect these insects and organisms and put them in a bucket of water for identification. Learners then calculate the total score based on the amount of organisms they found. The total score de- termines the quality of the water in the river and this starts a discussion about pollution, as well as possi- ble solutions to improve the quality of water. Schools also participate in ongoing water audits to monitor consumption at school with the aim of reducing wa- ter wastage. Teachers include water-saving practices in the classroom as part of the curriculum, and the Eco-Schools programme enhances learning in the classroom through hands-on activities.

Water is arguably our most important natural re- source. It sustains life for animals, people and plants. It is also used as a means of transportation, and to generate hydro-electro power, which is a sustainable source of energy. Although 70% of the

Earth is covered by water, only about 1% of it is accessible and drinkable. Despite this, many people still waste water or mistreat it by allowing pollution to flow into our rivers and oceans. Human interfer- ence also negatively affects our marine life.

Bokantsho Primary School is an Eco-School situated in Sasolburg, Free State. One of their selected themes is water, and as part of their action project they had a field excursion to a nearby stream where they moni- tored the quality of the water in the river. Under the guidance of the WESSA Eco-Schools coordinator, Zwakele Ngwenya, and the school educator, Mrs Masi- lo, the learners were introduced to the miniSASS tool- kit. miniSASS is a water monitoring system that schools can use to analyse the health of a river by investigat-

A Bad Catch Only about 6 shark incidents hap- pen a year, yet fear has caused humans to place shark nets in our oceans, which are responsible for thousands of marine animal deaths. Sharkangels.org says that shark nets placed off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal have been re- sponsible for the deaths of over 33,000 sharks over the past 30 years . Of these, 25,000 harmless sharks were killed. These same nets have also seen the deaths of about 2,211 turtles, 8,448 sting rays, and 2,310 dolphins.

Plastic vs Penguins A journal published by BirdLife says seabirds are amongst the world’s most threatened group of birds . This is mainly due to the expansion of com- mercial fisheries, as well as the impact of rats and cats that prey on nesting colonies. Plastic pol- lution also poses a major threat to marine life, as many seabirds ingest plastic thinking it is food. Eventually, the plastic kills them.

According to fishcount.org. uk, each year billions of fish are caught from the wild, of which about 100 billion fish are used to make fishmeal and fish oil. Another 120 bil- lion farmed fish are killed for food. Choose your fish wise- ly, and don't waste any food!

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Thank Our Trees

We use paper every day for learning , creati ve exercises, and work purposes. But have you ever wondered how paper is made?

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Trees prevent soil erosion and provide habitats for birds, insects and other animals . Human beings rely on trees for oxygen and shade . Trees also protect our homes from wind and rain , and are often used at farms as natural walls. Besides their major importance to our existence, trees are also beautiful and bring a piece of na- ture into our cities and suburban areas. Sadly, deforestation is destroying thousands of acres of forest each day.

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Trees are grown to maturity in large forests. Some of these forests are created specifically to grow paper, while others are illegally cut down.

These logs are trans- ported by truck to processing factories known as paper mills.

Look at all the trees! Did you know? Johannesburg is the Largest Man-Made Forest in the world and has over 10 million trees.

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Trees are cut into logs by tree fellers.

(Pictured is the suburb of Kensington, Johannesburg).

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Printing factories and shops produce books and paper products that are ready for use.

At the paper mill, machines grind the

wooden logs into pulp, which is bleached, then sprayed and run through rollers that compress the pulp into one continuous roll of paper.

The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest covering an area of 5,5 million km², and is shared by nine countries (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana).

These products are sold in shops and are used at home, school and work.

The paper rolls are cut to size and pack- aged for shipping to other facilities.

You can prevent further deforestation! Recycling paper saves wood, which means that fewer trees need to be cut down.

Celebrating Arbor Week 2018 GLENCORE, in partnership with WESSA, registered 17 schools to be a part of the Eco-Schools programme. As part of celebrating Man- dela’s 100 birthday in July, WESSA and GLENCORE planted 100 trees at 10 of the schools. The focus of the project is sustainable and wa- ter-wise vegetable gardens. WESSA and GLENCORE aim to teach schools how to start and maintain gardens, address food security, and help learners to come up with solutions to everyday challeng- es. September was a month where individuals and groups were encouraged to plant trees. 5 trees were planted at each of the 7 remaining schools to celebrate Arbor week.

Have you heard about LEAF? Learning about Forests (LEAF) is an international programme run by WESSA in South Afri- ca, that aims to engage students with their natural surroundings. LEAF encourages envi- ronmental education among learners, teachers and communities to increase knowledge about the key role forests play in enabling sustainable life on our planet, including the cultural, ecologic, economic and social functions and benefits. LEAF schools can work on a variety of action projects through the five LEAF themes: Forests & Biodiversity; Forests & Water; Forests & Products; Forests & Climate; and Forests & Community. Register your school today by emailing cindy.cloete@wessa.co.za.

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Local Literacy

WessaOneMillionYouth gi ves South African youth a platform to share their insights on important environmental and social topics. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and share the stories that matter most! Stand a chance to win awesome prizes, and engage with other Youth Caring For The Earth. @WessaOneMillionYouth Have your voice heard with WESSA On eMillionYouth

There are 11 official languages in South Africa. Each term, you can learn to say 7 words in 5 of our languages!

English

Zulu Afrikaans

Phoofolo Tlhaho Leoatle Sotho

Xhosa

Animal Nature Ocean Moon Tree Soil Water

Dier Natuur Oseaan Maan Boom Grond Water

Isilwane Imvelo Olwandle Inyanga Isihlahla Inhlabathi Amanzi

isiLwanyana Uhlobo Elwandle Inyanga Umthi Umhlaba Amanzi

Khoeli Sefate Mobu Metsi

Only We Understand South African's use a number of unique phrases that only we can understand. Do you know them all?

EISH! a term used to express surprise or shock.

EINA! a term used to express hurt.

HOWZIT! means "hello, how are you?"

LAAITJIE! what we commonly call a young boy.

AIKONA! a term used to express strong negation or disbelief.

NOW NOW!

... could mean anytime from right now, to tomorrow.

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Fun Zone

Cut out Mrs Ples and put her back together again using string or glue!

Spot the 4 differences!

Thando discovered 50 fossils in South Africa. 20% of the fossils were found in Johannesburg. How many were found in Johannesburg?

Can you uncover these secret words?

You start to get an allowance. In September, you get R2, in October you get R4, in November you get R6, and in December, you get R8. If you keep following this pattern, how much money will you have in 12 months?

T r e e

1.

P h o t o s y n t h

2.

A r c h a o z o o l g i s t

3.

P a n g e a m z o

4.

You and your friends throw a party. There are 7 pizzas (8 slices each). At the end of the party, 41 slices were eaten. How many slices are lef t?

F o s i l

6.

n e w t o n

5.

m a n t l e

8.

C h e e t a

7.

e s i s

CLUES 1. We depend on this for oxygen and shade. 2. The chemical process that happens inside a plant, thanks to the Sun. 3. Remember what Dr Graham Avery does for a living? (check back to the fossil page).

m o n 10.

4. When all the continents were joined together. 5. He invented the concept of gravity (surname). 6. What we dig up in soil (from the past). 7. This big cat is Critically Endangered. 8. The layer of Earth before the core. 9. When we find something new, we call it a... 10. Earth's satellite is more commonly called the...

D i c o v r y

9.

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Investing in the Future.

GLENCORE in partnership with WESSA have registered 17 schools to be a part of the Eco-Schools programme. During this project, the schools participate in the following: • Year 1 (2018) – Food garden • Year 2 – Water saving • Year 3 – Wildlife conservation (Rhinos) The food garden development and maintenance project uses the Eco-Schools structure and the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) guidelines to enable the development of sustain- able food gardens at schools that will supplement learner nutrition with fresh vegetables, and teach learners how to grow food at home while also earning an Eco-Award in the theme Health and Well-being. Learners and educators gain a deep- er understanding of food security and sustainable food gardening through the experiential process

of action learning projects. This project also supports 15 women in the Emalahleni commu- nity that grow their vegetable crops at Johannes Kananda Primary School. GLENCORE and WESSA have been involved in various activities includ- ing celebrating Mandela’s 100 birthday by do- nating seedlings and planting 100 indigenous trees at various schools. In celebration of ar- bor week this year, GLENCORE partnered with WESSA to plant 35 indigenous trees at 7 Eco- Schools in the Emalahleni region. This project promotes schools to participate in relevant ac- tion projects, which improves access to careers in the food sector. In years to come, schools will be introduced to efficient water use under the themes of climate change, and natural heritage (rhinos and our roles as conservation stewards).