Cool Things Your Kids Do! - Page 6

Griff · 02-26-2008, 03:48 PM

Ah, he's in a Oliver Wood situation.

Aliantha · 02-26-2008, 04:48 PM

Who is Oliver Wood?

Griff · 03-08-2008, 07:09 AM

Harry Potter's team captain.

monster · 03-23-2008, 09:22 PM

Our 10yo 5th grader wrote this for an essay competition: How Can Recycling Help Stop Global Warming? (500-750 words)

I thought it was pretty cool, even when I read it as if it was written by someone else's offspring

So I thought I'd share (Author asked for anonymity due to shyness, so no author name).

Essays become the property of Recycle Ann Arbor when submitted, but it hasn't been submitted yet, so I don't believe my posting it here breaks any rules or laws. Of course, I will ask for it to be removed if they object once it's theirs...

How Can Recycling Help Stop Global Warming?

Global warming is caused by excess heat getting trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere. Usually, most of the sun’s rays are reflected off the Earth and back into space. However, in the past few decades, harmful gases have been building up in the atmosphere. These gases act as a shield, preventing the rays from leaving the atmosphere. The heat is bounced back to the surface of the Earth, and as more heat gets trapped, the Earth grows warmer. This is called the Greenhouse Effect, because the gases work like the glass roof in a greenhouse.

The gas that causes the most trouble in the atmosphere is carbon dioxide. One of the main causes of the extra carbon dioxide is the emissions from vehicles. Also high on the list are factories, which produce a lot of carbon dioxide.

Another reason that we have extra carbon dioxide is that many trees are being cut down. Unlike humans, trees breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. (Humans breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.) With less trees around to absorb it, there is more carbon dioxide than ever.

It’s obvious that if we don’t do something, global warming will get out of hand. It’s also apparent that we can’t stop cutting down trees altogether, because we need paper. We also can’t shut down factories, because we need food and clothes and everything else that factories make. So what do we do? The answer is simple: recycle. By recycling, we can reuse the same raw materials over and over again. Factories will not have to produce so many products, and fewer trees will have to be chopped down.

There are two main ways to recycle. You can reuse an item again for the same purpose, or you can break it up and use the material to make something else. For example, if you have a used piece of paper, you could do two things; you could turn it over and use the other side for something else, or you could put it in the paper-recycling tote to be made into a new piece of paper. By doing either of these options, the piece of paper is recycled, saving trees.

Reusing is better than remanufacturing because it doesn’t use any energy at all, but things aren’t always reusable. The best option of all is to reuse an item until it can’t be reused anymore, and then send it to be remanufactured. Remanufacturing does not contribute nearly as much to global warming as regular manufacturing does. For example, if you recycle aluminum, it will take energy to melt it into a different shape. However, to make something from scratch, the aluminum has to be mined (using energy), transported by trucks to the factory (producing emissions), and then melted down and turned into something new.

To conclude, recycling -reusing and remanufacturing- can help stop global warming by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases that we emit into the atmosphere. However, recycling only has a chance of working to stop global warming if more people do it.

binky · 04-09-2008, 09:11 PM

Wow. I was going to say that my 12 year old daughter just started riding a dirt bike, but it pales in comparison to that

monster · 04-10-2008, 11:02 AM

She didn't even get a runner up place. Not sure what the judging criteria was...perhaps they just thought it was too good

Sundae · 04-10-2008, 11:35 AM

It was well written, followed a logical pattern and was well expressed.
All I can assume is that they felt there were better essays re content, ie less about what global warming was and more about how recycling could help.

I'd be interested in seeing the winners though, because that blew me away, especially for a 10 year old. You should see some of the workshop evaluation forms we received in for the same age group!

What part of the activity did you enjoy the least?
The stappling becousse you prik
[next line]
you finnger

Clodfobble · 04-10-2008, 11:40 AM

I've always found in essay contests like that, they're really looking for sappy, Readers' Digest kind of crap. Like, "Recycling is important because my dad died in Iraq."

Sundae · 04-10-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Recycling is important because my dad died in Iraq.

I think you mean 9/11

Flint · 04-10-2008, 12:13 PM

My sister was killed in the WTC on 9/11, while writing an essay about why recycling is important because our dad died in Iraq,

you insensitive bastards.

classicman · 04-10-2008, 03:23 PM

sorry Flint - no "bold" allowed in essay contests.

FAIL

monster · 04-10-2008, 07:51 PM

You gits! My mother was accidentally recycled on 9/11.

Here are the winning essays if you are truly interested, SG. http://www.recycleannarbor.org/ It's hard to judge stuff like this at this age because they're all so far from "perfect".

I like to think that the fact that I took them to task over one of the rules being US citizenship has nothing to do with the results

Seriously, though, she didn't enter to win, she entered mostly because we both thought it was unfair she was excluded on grounds of nationailty, so they changed the rules to allow her to enter

Also the practice she got helped her score a perfect 25 in her report on Benjamin Franklin last month, and she's already all revised for the Science olympiad pentathlon questions which are based on An Inconvenient Truth. So it's win win. And it's an awesome essay and I'm proud of her.

Sundae · 04-11-2008, 04:19 AM

Monster that's rubbish. That essay needs to be recycled.

I don't care if the kid's 10, he uses far too many exclamation marks for a serious essay. His style is too effusive for journalism - what was this - future writers of the National Enquirer Essay Competition? Also he can't tell the difference between to and too. And he spelled aluminium wrong

She was robbed.

monster · 04-12-2008, 03:21 PM

thanks. I mean Thanks! There's a reason! A reason Lol Cats! Have so many exclamation marks !!!!111!11!!

binky · 04-26-2008, 06:02 PM

My 6th grader (first year music student) just played a solo on her euphonium(sort of a slightly smaller tuba) and was judged by 3 judges from the Southern California School band and Orchestra Association and was awarded a Superior, the highest rank they can award!!

02-26-2008, 03:48 PM	#76
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Ah, he's in a Oliver Wood situation. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

02-26-2008, 04:48 PM	#77
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Who is Oliver Wood? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

03-08-2008, 07:09 AM	#78
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Harry Potter's team captain. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

03-23-2008, 09:22 PM	#79
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Essay Competition Our 10yo 5th grader wrote this for an essay competition: How Can Recycling Help Stop Global Warming? (500-750 words) I thought it was pretty cool, even when I read it as if it was written by someone else's offspring So I thought I'd share (Author asked for anonymity due to shyness, so no author name). Essays become the property of Recycle Ann Arbor when submitted, but it hasn't been submitted yet, so I don't believe my posting it here breaks any rules or laws. Of course, I will ask for it to be removed if they object once it's theirs... How Can Recycling Help Stop Global Warming? Global warming is caused by excess heat getting trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere. Usually, most of the sun’s rays are reflected off the Earth and back into space. However, in the past few decades, harmful gases have been building up in the atmosphere. These gases act as a shield, preventing the rays from leaving the atmosphere. The heat is bounced back to the surface of the Earth, and as more heat gets trapped, the Earth grows warmer. This is called the Greenhouse Effect, because the gases work like the glass roof in a greenhouse. The gas that causes the most trouble in the atmosphere is carbon dioxide. One of the main causes of the extra carbon dioxide is the emissions from vehicles. Also high on the list are factories, which produce a lot of carbon dioxide. Another reason that we have extra carbon dioxide is that many trees are being cut down. Unlike humans, trees breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. (Humans breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.) With less trees around to absorb it, there is more carbon dioxide than ever. It’s obvious that if we don’t do something, global warming will get out of hand. It’s also apparent that we can’t stop cutting down trees altogether, because we need paper. We also can’t shut down factories, because we need food and clothes and everything else that factories make. So what do we do? The answer is simple: recycle. By recycling, we can reuse the same raw materials over and over again. Factories will not have to produce so many products, and fewer trees will have to be chopped down. There are two main ways to recycle. You can reuse an item again for the same purpose, or you can break it up and use the material to make something else. For example, if you have a used piece of paper, you could do two things; you could turn it over and use the other side for something else, or you could put it in the paper-recycling tote to be made into a new piece of paper. By doing either of these options, the piece of paper is recycled, saving trees. Reusing is better than remanufacturing because it doesn’t use any energy at all, but things aren’t always reusable. The best option of all is to reuse an item until it can’t be reused anymore, and then send it to be remanufactured. Remanufacturing does not contribute nearly as much to global warming as regular manufacturing does. For example, if you recycle aluminum, it will take energy to melt it into a different shape. However, to make something from scratch, the aluminum has to be mined (using energy), transported by trucks to the factory (producing emissions), and then melted down and turned into something new. To conclude, recycling -reusing and remanufacturing- can help stop global warming by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases that we emit into the atmosphere. However, recycling only has a chance of working to stop global warming if more people do it. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

04-09-2008, 09:11 PM	#80
binky all hollowed out Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ridgecrest, CA Posts: 982	Wow. I was going to say that my 12 year old daughter just started riding a dirt bike, but it pales in comparison to that __________________ The meanest Mom EVER!!!! Last edited by binky; 04-09-2008 at 09:36 PM.

04-10-2008, 11:02 AM	#81
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	She didn't even get a runner up place. Not sure what the judging criteria was...perhaps they just thought it was too good __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

04-10-2008, 11:35 AM	#82
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	It was well written, followed a logical pattern and was well expressed. All I can assume is that they felt there were better essays re content, ie less about what global warming was and more about how recycling could help. I'd be interested in seeing the winners though, because that blew me away, especially for a 10 year old. You should see some of the workshop evaluation forms we received in for the same age group! What part of the activity did you enjoy the least? The stappling becousse you prik [next line] you finnger __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac Last edited by Sundae; 04-10-2008 at 11:43 AM.

04-10-2008, 11:40 AM	#83
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I've always found in essay contests like that, they're really looking for sappy, Readers' Digest kind of crap. Like, "Recycling is important because my dad died in Iraq."

04-10-2008, 12:13 PM	#85
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	My sister was killed in the WTC on 9/11, while writing an essay about why recycling is important because our dad died in Iraq, you insensitive bastards. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

04-10-2008, 03:23 PM	#86
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	sorry Flint - no "bold" allowed in essay contests. FAIL __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

04-10-2008, 07:51 PM	#87
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	You gits! My mother was accidentally recycled on 9/11. Here are the winning essays if you are truly interested, SG. http://www.recycleannarbor.org/ It's hard to judge stuff like this at this age because they're all so far from "perfect". I like to think that the fact that I took them to task over one of the rules being US citizenship has nothing to do with the results Seriously, though, she didn't enter to win, she entered mostly because we both thought it was unfair she was excluded on grounds of nationailty, so they changed the rules to allow her to enter Also the practice she got helped her score a perfect 25 in her report on Benjamin Franklin last month, and she's already all revised for the Science olympiad pentathlon questions which are based on An Inconvenient Truth. So it's win win. And it's an awesome essay and I'm proud of her. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

04-11-2008, 04:19 AM	#88
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Monster that's rubbish. That essay needs to be recycled. I don't care if the kid's 10, he uses far too many exclamation marks for a serious essay. His style is too effusive for journalism - what was this - future writers of the National Enquirer Essay Competition? Also he can't tell the difference between to and too. And he spelled aluminium wrong She was robbed. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

04-12-2008, 03:21 PM	#89
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	thanks. I mean Thanks! There's a reason! A reason Lol Cats! Have so many exclamation marks !!!!111!11!! __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

04-26-2008, 06:02 PM	#90
binky all hollowed out Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ridgecrest, CA Posts: 982	My 6th grader (first year music student) just played a solo on her euphonium(sort of a slightly smaller tuba) and was judged by 3 judges from the Southern California School band and Orchestra Association and was awarded a Superior, the highest rank they can award!! __________________ The meanest Mom EVER!!!!

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