Vertical Forests

Wind Power!

Wind is an inexhaustible energy resource. We have been looking at the pros and cons of wind farms and how wind turbines work. We created our own pinwheels. Then, we looked at what variables we could change to see what how the pinwheel worked best. Some of the variables we changed were blade size, materials and wind strength. Also, we are lucky enough to have an actual turbine with a small, visible generator in our classroom that generates enough power to light up a small bulb. This really helped us to see and understand how wind turbines work!

Wind Energy!

Fossil Fuels

Room 3 children have been learning about renewable and non-renewable resources. Everyone was given a chocolate chip biscuit to represent the earth with the chocolate chips representing the fossil fuels such as coal. We were also given a paper clip to begin 'mining' the natural resources.

Each of us had to dig carefully to protect the land because that is where humans, plants and animals live however after we had removed the 'coal', the land looked like "it was all broken", "obliterated", "a pile of dust", "all broken up" and "basically nothing".

We realised that once we had removed the 'coal' (chips) that they would not come back because fossil fuels take millions of years to form.

Take a look at the pictures of us 'mining' below.

Ecological Footprints

How many planets does it take to support your lifestyle?

Find out...

HERE

Earthship Design

This house is called an Earthship house. It is made from fully recycled materials - mostly tyres filled with earth, which then provides the heating and insulation. There's recycled wood, glass bottles as features and recycled insulation made from car windscreens and plastic bottles. It was made by hand with volunteers. There is a weed garden to clean the water from the toilet, a composting toilet, vege gardens, solar electricity and rain water tanks. 

Non-renewable energy

Yesterday afternoon Travis, a Geologist from the University of Canterbury came to talk to the children of Room 3.

He did a simple experiment using water. We filled a bottle of water. We took 2 cups out. After we had taken them out, we put 1 cup back into the bottle. We continued to do this. Eventually the water ran out. This demonstrated that humans are using coal at too fast a rate for it to regenerate (form) and could eventually run out.

We talked about how coal is formed. 

Coal is formed by wood being compressed and fossilised in the ground over millions of years. (Jack)

This is largely why coal is not renewable; it takes millions of years to form. 

We talked about how coal is used for heat. 

Some country's electricity plants burn coal which heats up water. The steam from the hot water, spins a turbine which powers an electricity generator. (Philip)