Earth Day

Hello Geographers!

Monday 22nd April was Earth Day, an annual event that highlights environmental issues, asks people to think about their impact on the planet and make a pledge to make a positive environmental change in their lives.

I have been in lower school assemblies this week focusing on the issue of micro-plastics, an environmental issue that we are close to losing any control over and one which is the focus of Earth Day 2024 (check out the website at Earthday.org).

Microplastics are pieces of plastic under 5mm in diameter but given the properties of the plastic, they can go on to break down into smaller and smaller pieces. Oceanographers have detected microplastics in the oceans of diameters around 2 micrometres; that’s the thickness of spider silk!

These plastics are ingested by creatures in the oceans and enter the food chain, often with us at the top. We are still unclear on the impacts this has on human health, but certain microplastics have been detected in the bodies of many humans.

We can ALL play a part in reducing the amount of microplastics entering the natural environment and that is why I am asking if students will make a pledge to mark Earth Day and to do something to help tackle the microplastics issue. In Geography lessons next week, all lower school students will be given a pledge document and hopefully, they will commit to making at least one change in their lives, big or small, to reduce the amount of microplastics that they are responsible for.

I would love to see some of your efforts. Email me photos, a video or a description of what you have done. 

Mr Bowles

Curriculum Leader for Geography

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