Wednesday, April 23, 2003

Earth Day 2003 Brings Water into Focus

Save the Date! Earth Day 2003 is Tuesday, April 22. Begun in 1969 by Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day is a nationwide holiday to celebrate the Earth and bring attention to the environmental challenges and perils facing the world today. Though initially a grassroots effort, Earth Day has become an icon in mainstream culture, with millions of people around the world participating in events and activities designed to raise awareness about the current and future plight of planet Earth.

According to the Earth Day Network, the focus of Earth Day 2003 is the Water for Life campaign, an international effort by students, families, and community groups to test the quality of local water resources. The health of the world's water supply is affected by a number of factors, not the least of which is pollution created by human activities. Earth Day 2003 provides an excellent opportunity for classroom discussion about the state of the water supply as well as changes that might be made to improve it.

Try using PeachStar's video streaming resources to supplement your discussion of Earth Day and world water quality. Visit the website, click on video streaming, and search by keyword, grade level, or subject area to find video clips to illustrate the complex scientific concepts you are sharing with your class.