Handprints

Since ecological footprints have a very negative connotation to them,[| Greg Norris] determined a positive way we can think about what we do for the environment called ecological handprints. Since people are more likely to participate in something that has a positive connotation rather than a negative connotation, people will be more likely to participate in creating a handprint, rather than reducing their footprint. "The concept is simple. Instead of focusing on the Footprint and the harm, the handprint focuses on the good, and calculates the benefits we can put into the environment. These range in scope, but could include things like boosting fuel efficiency by inflating tires to the correct pressure or saving paper by printing two-sided documents." (Ask the Experts, 2012). [[]]

Here is a video about handprints from the website [|handprinter.org] media type="custom" key="19286116" The concept of ecological handprints is something that can be introduced to students at any age or grade level.

The website [|www.beyondrecycling.ca] supplies teachers with a [|lesson plan], [|PowerPoint], and [|activity sheet] specifically for grades 4 - 7 (which can be adapted for younger or older grades). Elementary students can complete an [|activity sheet] by filling out what they are doing that positively impacts the environment. For example:
 * riding the bus or a bike instead of riding in a car,
 * recycling,
 * eating organic foods,
 * turning off the tap when brushing teeth, and
 * turning off the lights when they are not needed or they leave a room.

Once students get a little older (upper middle years and high school), the students or the class can create an account using the app on [|www.handprinter.org]. Through this website students can determine their ecological footprint, as well as their current ecological handprint. This website lists many actions people can take to build their handprints (some that cost no or low amounts of money and others that do cost a bit of money) and students can see the difference between what their handprint is compared to their footprint. Another thing student can do using [|www.handprinter.org] is create an action and suggest it to the handprinter.org organizers. This action can be of any form and of any cost, as long as it helps the environment in some way and members must be able to "describe the action, how to implement it, the benefits of the action, and other details.

In order to get students thinking in ecological friendly ways, they could want this short 17 minute TEDx video with [|Rocky Rohwedder] taken at the University of California, Irvine. Rocky Rohwedder talks about the current issues and tells some inspiring stories of how people around the world are contributing to their ecological handprint. media type="youtube" key="RB2ND8qkqTc" height="315" width="560"