Monday, April 29, 2019

Global Warming

Hi Everyone,

Please read over the information on this website on the Causes of Global Warming.

Then answer the questions on the handout. (You don't have to read the entire website in order to get the key information, but you will have to analyze several pie charts.)

Your Thoughts Create Your Future

Hello LINC 7 Students,

In our discussion about health and wellness, it's always interesting to look at the connection between mind and body -- and how our thoughts affect the kind of day we're experiencing.

In this video, Dr. Joe Dispenza, who does research in the area of neuroscience, talks about about we can create our future by actively "rewiring" our brain.

Take a look and then answer the questions on the handout!

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Reduce Reuse Recycle

Hello LINC 7 Students,

Here's a useful summary of the 3 R's: REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE (from the government of the city of Sudbury in Ontario)...

The three R’s are the foundations of environmental stewardship. These simple concepts are a good place to start when teaching environmental issues to young children. Practicing the three R’s helps with conservation of energy and resources as well as landfill diversion. Let’s take a look at each in more detail.

Reduce 

Being environmentally conscious eventually leads to the next step—being proactive in daily life. When buying products at the store, it helps to think about what kind of effect the product is having on the environment. Sometimes we purchase items that we don’t really need. Other times we purchase items that have more packaging than is necessary. When we make decisions with these issues in mind, we’re using our power as consumers to be proactive in helping the environment.

Simply put, reducing means producing less waste, consuming less and consciously avoiding products with unnecessary packaging. Reducing is the most effective of the three R’s.
 
Tips to help you reduce your waste:

• Avoid items that are excessively and needlessly packaged.
• Buy reusable coffee filters and cloth napkins. Avoid paper/foam plates and cups.
• Avoid plastic bags. Carry reusable bags for your shopping trips.

Reuse 

The second most effective strategy for environmental stewardship is to reuse. Before throwing something in the garbage, it helps to think about how that item might be reused. It might be reused for the same purpose or it might be used in a different way. For example, newspaper can be used as wrapping paper or cushioning for packaged items. 

“Can this be reused?” This is a great question to ask before throwing something in the garbage or the recycling bin. What’s old to you might be new to someone else. On the same note, you might be able to find something you need at a second hand store. When we reuse each other’s goods we save them from going to the landfill and we save energy and resources that would otherwise go to making new products. 

Tips to help you reuse items:

• Save and reuse scrap paper for writing notes and always try to write on both sides of paper.
• Use refillable containers (like Tupperware or reusable mugs) and rechargeable batteries.
• Wash and reuse plastic food storage bags and heavy aluminum.
• Donate unwanted clothing to charities or second-hand clothing stores. 

Recycle 

The last resort is to recycle. Ask yourself if the unwanted item is recyclable or compostable? These days we are recycling more materials than ever—approximately 50 percent of household waste can be recycled.

When we recycle, we give material a new life and save it from going to the landfill. Materials like glass, plastic, aluminum, and paper can be mass collected, broken or melted down, and made into entirely new products.

Tips to help you recycle items:

• Donate clothing, furniture, appliances, and electronics to not-for-profit organizations.
• Hold a yard sale to recycle unwanted items. One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure.
• Place all recyclable items in the blue box for weekly collection.

Before you throw anything in the garbage make sure to try the 3R’s first. The garbage should be your last resort after you’ve tried the 3 R’s and there is no other option. It is estimated that Canadians produce a total of more than 31 million tones of household waste each year. It is important for everyone to make an effort in reducing the amount of garbage we send to the landfill. The central landfill in Greater Sudbury is expected to reach its capacity in the year 2025; where will the next landfill go? It’s not easy to find a new location for a landfill but if we all practice the three R’s we can reduce the need for new landfills and extend the life of current ones.
 
Always remember: Don’t trash it until you’ve tried the 3 R’s.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Alberta Election

Hello LINC 7 Students,

Here's a link to a CBC news story about the Alberta Election.

The election is being fought between the NDP (New Democratic Party, also in power in BC) and the new United Conservative Party (UCP).

If the UCP wins a majority today, it shows Albertans have decided to embrace the party's economic message and ignore allegations of fraud surrounding UCP leader Jason Kenney's successful 2017 leadership campaign, and the racist and homophobic views of some UCP candidates.
A UCP victory would also put an end to Alberta's first NDP government, which in 2015 broke 44 years of government by the Progressive Conservatives in Alberta.

Jason Kenney's campaign has focused on jobs, the economy and pipelines.

Monday, April 15, 2019

Phrasal Verbs

Hi Everyone,

Shahin has recommended this wonderful series of 3 lessons on phrasal verbs. They are each 10-15 minutes long. Perfect length to get into some good details, but not too long and intimidating! :)

The first lesson in this series (Lesson #17) covers the basics as well as distinguishing a "phrasal verb" from a verb that just happens to have a preposition near it. This is sometimes tricky and hard to figure out, but this presenter does a fine job. There are lots of practical examples from daily life situations,

Lesson #18 gets into transitive vs. intransitive type verbs, while Lesson #19 teaches you about the pronunciation of phrasal verbs.

Please check out this valuable resource, and thank you Shahin for telling us about it! In fact, this whole series of videos looks like it's worth a look!

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Health & Wellness


Hello LINC 7 Students,

Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth.

Why Wellness Matters

Maintaining an optimal level of wellness is absolutely crucial to live a higher quality life. Wellness matters. Wellness matters because everything we do and every emotion we feel relates to our well-being. In turn, our well-being directly affects our actions and emotions. It’s an ongoing circle. Therefore, it is important for everyone to achieve optimal wellness in order to subdue stress, reduce the risk of illness and ensure positive interactions.

Some definitions:

    "...a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

    - The World Health Organization

    "a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential."

    - The National Wellness Institute

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Goal Ball

Welcome LINC 7 Students,

Check out this short video that shows Goal Ball. Amazing!