intelligence

Activity 1

Activity 2

Activity 3

Activity 4

naturalistic

research

community project

Roots & Shoots

discover the meaning of

‘7-generations’

design-build

using the principles of permaculture

Activity 1

In the story of How Paper and Ink Came Together and Survived to Sing About It in chapter 6, Black Ink who had been sentenced to hard labour inside an ink pen, was visited by Mama Earth and Daddy Sky. Mama Earth was furious and she growled and began to tremble. In our world today there are signs that the Earth is changing and struggling to maintain its balance. The effects of Global Warming are causing climate changes and extreme weather patterns. Great White Paper’s empire had to change so what will we all need to change to ease the impact of Global Warming? Children can research, using the Internet, the affects Global Warming has had upon their local area. By contacting local bureaus of meteorology and environmental groups they can discover ways people in their community can change what they do in order to combat Global Warming. Children could create presentations to share beyond their school community.

Activity 2

The story of How Paper and Ink Came Together and Survived to Sing About It highlights the importance of everyone working together to attend to the problems facing our world. The Roots&Shoots programme is about making positive change happen for our communities, for animals and for the environment. This youth-driven network fosters a fun, flexible and supportive environment in which young people and adults alike come together to share ideas and inspiration, implement successful community service projects. Roots&Shoots provides young people with a framework for organising and achieving meaningful projects that connect their minds, hearts and hands as they promote care and concern for animals, people and the planet. Youth empowerment is crucial for youth to develop a constructive, participatory and hopeful world view. Children might choose to begin their own Roots&Shoots group.

Activity 3

Indigenous cultures understand the need for harmony and balance with the environment. It sustains us. It was the Iroquois who taught that in every deliberation we should consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations. But what does this mean? Children could explore, using the Internet, the impact this statement has already had upon decision making especially in the United States. Which environmentalist first brought attention to this statement and is it an important one to consider? Children could present their findings and debate the significance of this in relation to our present world situation.

Activity 4

The story of How Paper and Ink Came Together and Survived to Sing About It delivers many interesting themes but one that is significant relates to the concept of Permaculture and our ability to develop sustainable living. Permaculture is the art and science that applies patterns found in nature to the design and construction of human and natural environments. All Permaculture design is based on three ethics: Care of the earth (because all living things have intrinsic worth); care of the people; and reinvest all surplus, whether it be information, money, or labour, to support the first two ethics. Children can research Permaculture Principles and construct a model of a futuristic community that attends to applying these principles.