Green Blog

The calendar is such a routine, everyday thing, but how much do you actually know about the operation of it. Why is it like that?

A DAY: The Earth turns at a reasonably steady speed about the imaginary line running between the North and South Poles named the Earth’s Axis. The time it takes to spin once is called a ‘rotation’ and this takes just under twenty-four hours. Nevertheless, because the Earth is constantly travelling around the Sun, the precise time from noon one day to noon the next is 3 minutes 56 seconds longer and this makes a day almost precisely twenty-four hours in length.

The actual time from noon to noon differs depending where the Earth is on its celestial course around the Sun, but if you average the days in a year out, it comes to exactly twenty-four hours.

A YEAR: All nine planets in our solar system move around the Sun in approximately perfectly circular routes called orbits. Each trip around the Sun is called a revolution and all the planets orbit around the Sun in the same direction. The course the Earth takes can be verified by noting its location against the background stars.

Since you cannot see the Sun and the stars at the same time, it is obligatory to note the location of the Sun in the morning and the see which stars appear there in the night. You will see that the Sun appears to pass through the twelve constellations of the zodiac during a year.

Earth’s trip around the Sun, which seems like the Sun traveling through the zodiac takes about 365.25 days. This is different from year to year, so astronomers add or delete a second in some years to keep their time correct with the Earth’s motion.

THE SEASONS: The seasons indicate the change in the pattern of daylight over the span of a year. Because the Earth is tilted off centre, different parts of it get different amounts of sunlight on different stages of its path around the Sun, a path that we call a year. So, between approximately the 21st September and late March, the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, which produces Autumn and Winter, giving less than twelve hours of daylight per day.

From April to the 20th September, the Northern Hemisphere enjoys more than twelve hours of daylight a day, producing Spring and Summer. The exact opposite occurs in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Equinoxes take place at the points in the year when there is exactly twelve hours of sunlight and darkness in the day. So, the vernal or Spring equinox is on or around the 21st March and the autumnal equinox is on or around the 21st September. Summer officially commences on the day with the greatest amount of daylight, the 21st June or summer solstice.

The winter solstice occurs on the shortest day, the 21st December. ‘Solstice’ is a combination of two words meaning ’sun standing still’ and the days are so called because they are the days when the ostensible movement of the Sun reaches its extremes and reverses direction again.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with researching Franklin planner pages. If you have an interest in calendars, organizers or promotional calendars, please go over to our website now at Promotional Desk Calendars

The information was supplied by EE IN WISCONSIN, A guide to Wisconsin’s environmental education organizations, programs, materials, and professionals

The Wisconsin No Child Left Inside Coalition is working to develop an Environmental Literacy Plan for Wisconsin that will address the environmental education needs of Wisconsin’s pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade schools and will pay special attention to creating more opportunities to get kids outside. The Plan will recommend a comprehensive strategy to ensure every child graduates with the environmental skills and knowledge needed to contribute to a sustainable future.

Wisconsin has a strong environmental education foundation already established, with active schools, supporting organizations, and abundant opportunities to get outside in rural and urban settings. The Environmental Literacy Plan will build upon these strengths, and suggest priorities for present and future attention. It will lay out the next steps towards fulfilling on our State’s commitment to ensure all people in Wisconsin are environmentally literate.

State Superintendent Evers has formally asked the Coalition to develop the Environmental Literacy Plan for Wisconsin. A Steering Committee meets each month to draft the Plan. The Wisconsin No Child Left Inside Coalition Steering Committee is made up of representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education, Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation, Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Environmental Science Teachers Network, Milwaukee Public Schools, the Green Charter School Network, and the US EPA’s Environmental Education and Training Partnership. The broader Coalition is kept updated on progress, provides input and feedback to guide the plan development, and ultimately, will play a key role in implementing and evaluating Wisconsin’s Environmental Literacy Plan.

Wisconsin’s Environmental Literacy Plan will be compliant with the pending national No Child Left Inside (NCLI) legislation. The No Child Left Inside Act requires States develop, implement, and evaluate a State Environmental Literacy Plan in order to be eligible to receive funding associated with the Act. Currently, the bill suggests an appropriation of $100 million to support the State Environmental Literacy Plans. You can learn more about the national NCLI Act and its various provisions and requirements here: www.cbf.org/Page.aspx?pid=948.

For more information about Wisconsin’s NCLI Coalition, contact Jesse Haney (Jesse.Haney@uwsp.edu).

Nature Summer Camps provide a excellent place for kids to get outside and enjoy nature.

Want to find out more about Science Summer Camps, then visit lonni’s site on how to choose the best Overnight Camp for your needs.

Getting your children to become interested in science is often a difficult task. With the use of kid friendly science lab equipment and some easy projects the kids will be begging to do more science oriented projects. And will soon be searching ideas of their own unique ways to implement science into fun.

Parents have difficulty with science sometimes as much as their children do. They have the idea that it takes rocket science degrees to become science oriented. The following projects are super easy and fun. They will get your kids not only having fun with science but eager to do more.

This first project is great for teaching things such as how stuff grows, the process involved and the end results with a lot of indiscreet learning in between. As you complete each step explain the process in kid friendly terms and encourage them to ask questions. Both projects are only four easy steps but packed with information.

For step one, purchase some science lab equipment like inexpensive sponges. The sea sponges that are used for crafts and painting work great because you can give explanations about where they come from. Use a microscope to let them view what the sponge looks like dry and wet. If using cellos sponges the kids can cut shapes from the square sponge. Use this as an opportunity to learn geometry.

Step two teaches why water is needed for growing food and plants. Soak the sponge and place in a baggies that has been filled with seeds of your choice. Roll the sponge around in the bag until it is covered with seeds.

Step three: tie a piece of string around the sponge or if preferred feed string through a hole in the sponge. Hang the seed covered sponge in an area that will provide lots of sunlight. In a week or less there will sprouts forming on the sponge.

Step four will teach them how to care for the plant and the result of caring for them. When sprouts have begun, remove string and place in a clay pot that has been half filled with potting soil. Sprinkle soil over the sponge and put in a sunny area until fully grown.

Parents and kids of any age love to do this next project which is a lava lamp of sorts without the light. To start fill a jar with two cups of water and few drops of food coloring. Stir will and set aside. This will teach your children how to use measurement and mixing.

Step two is adding the oil. Measure a half of cup of vegetable and pour into the jar of colored water. Allow to sit for a few minutes so the oil will separate from the water.

In the third step kids learn about weight and gravity. Without shifting the jar pour a teaspoon of salt directly in the jar. When the salt lands on the oil it will form some clumps. The clumps will begin to sink due to the weight.

Step four encourages the learning of movement, gravity and separation. After the clumps reach the bottom the salt will start dissolve and cause the oil to float back to the top. Each time you want to sink the oil, just add salt.

Science is fun for parents and children. It encourages children to ask questions and look up the answers with their parents. The more gadgets kids have the more interest they have in using them. For gifts opt for microscopes and other science lab equipment to encourage learning science.

Since 1970, the premier retailer for science lab equipment offers a wide variety of resources to young aspiring scientists. Children can learn about alternative energy with educational science toys, or about solar power with high-quality energy equipment.

When a builder or contractor follows the strict requirements for designing and building an energy efficient building or home, they can qualify for many tax benefits and incentives when the building is inspected by a LEED Green Associate. This individual has been tested and certified to qualify as the 3rd party inspector required by the US Green Building Council and rate the building for energy efficiency.

When the Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) was created it quickly became a global entity. Throughout the world, governments have taken the need to design and build building that are energy efficient and environmentally sound. When the LEED was formed, a series of ratings were created that are used as the calculators for the benefits and incentives that are received by builders and companies whose buildings become LEED certified.

The Associate must meet strict requirements to qualify for testing by LEED. The test is in depth and addresses all aspects of green technology. To qualify for testing the individual must demonstration green building expertise in non-technical fields.

There are many requirements to meet when an individual wishes to become an associate. They must have attestations from employers on the LEED registered projects that they have worked. In addition, they must have a history of working in a sustainable industry and education that is focused on green building principles.

The education programs required for testing are provided by LEED as well as other educational institutions. These courses are available in classrooms or on-line for individuals pursuing certification. After a person has become certified as a Green Associate, they must take regular classes to maintain their certification.

When a building or residence has been inspected, the Associate completes a report that include the LEED rating. This report addresses each of the energy and environmental factors that are listed on the certification list. The report is then submitted to the US Green Building Council and the building is provided a rating certification number that is used to calculate the full benefit they will receive.

There are many different types of green jobs that allow a person to meet the eligibility requirements for the LEED Associate certification examination. Courses are provided to prepare for the lengthy examination and an person will find many resources available that can provide the necessary education and training to become an effective Associate.

The demand for certified Associates is growing as green technology is being incorporated into more construction and retro-fitting around the globe. Individual who meet the requirements are finding that they can become an inspector for LEED or work in a private setting. Many associates provide consultative services to companies to assure that they are meeting the requirements for a high rating by LEED.

After receiving the Green Association LEED certification, an individual may choose to partner with private industry and help them to meet the green requirements for LEED ratings. These associates work very closing with businesses and builders to make sure that all of the requirements for a high rating have been met. By taking advantage of the training programs available, an individual can enter a field that is growing rapidly.

Starting a new career as a Green Associate is easy! Courses and training are available to prepare for LEED Green Associate certification that will empower you with the advantage you need to succeed!