Biodegradable means 'degraded by natural bacteria'. This means that when a product is biodegradable it is eaten by natural bacteria faster than regular products.
Important!!!
Just because a product has biodegradable written on it does not mean that the product will degrade quickly. A brick is biodegradable but it will take years before it is fully broken down.
To make sure a product is really biodegradable look for the words 'readily biodegradable' on the product. These words give a guarantee that 70% or more of the product will biodegrade within 28 days.
Many of the cleaning products used in schools, homes, and local businesses are full of toxic chemicals and are not 'readily biodegradable'. These chemicals are bad for our waterways as they help feed algae which steals oxygen from our marine life. To help keep our waterways healthy ask your teacher to help you make your own cleaning products for your classroom. They are easy and cheap to make.
Ingredients:
White vinegar
Baking Soda
Borax (Buy at Bunnings)
Liquid Soap
Two spray bottles
All-Purpose Cleaner:
Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 2 liters water. Store and keep. Use this to clean bench tops, desks, and boards etc.
Dish-washing Soap:
A detergent substitution is to use liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs.
Window Cleaner:
Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 litre of warm water. Use newspaper or paper towel to clean. Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. Be sure to follow the recipe, because using too strong a solution of vinegar will etch the glass and eventually cloud it.
Important: Once you have finished making your home made cleaning products don't forget to label what is in the bottle. To make your finished product look more professional try designing your own label using your computer. Ask your teacher for help.
Suggestion:- Paint Brush Cleaner:
Non-toxic, citrus oil based solvents are now available commercially under several brand names. Citra-Solve is one brand. This works well for cleaning brushes of oil-based paints. Paint brushes and rollers used for an on-going project can be saved overnight, or even up to a week, without cleaning at all. Simply wrap the brush or roller snugly in a plastic bag, such as a used bread or produce bag. Squeeze out air pockets and store away from light. The paint won't dry because air can't get to it. Simply unwrap the brush or roller the next day and continue with the job. Fresh paint odors can be reduced by placing a small dish of white vinegar in the room.
For more great recipes like the ones above go to the following web site:
pH refers to how much acid is in water. This is important as too much acid in our waterways can have a negative impact on us and our wildlife. pH is measured on a scale between 0-14.
0- Means that the water is very high in acid and is not safe for the fish or safe for us to drink
7 - Means the water is neutral and is really safe for us to drink and to go swimming in
14 - Means that the water has no acid and is safe to drink and swim in. However, the water tastes really bitter, yuck!
Ask your teacher if you can test the pH levels of your local water ways to make sure that they are safe.
To do this you will need to buy pH testing strips from your local pool or hardware store. Dip the test strip into the water and compare the colour of the strip to the back of the bottle. You can even compare this to the water you drink out of the tap.
Take a close look at the artworks below, research the artist John Dahlsen and then answer the questions below
1. What does John Dahlsen use to make his artwork?
2. Where does he find these materials?
3. Why do you think he makes these artworks? What do you think he is trying to say through his art?
4. What type of art would you use to make a statement and why?
5. Brainstorm with a partner some ideas for an artwork that makes a statement about water pollution.
