Lesson 4: The Environment
Protecting Our Natural World
The world around us—the air, the water, the land, and the forests—is our environment. Keeping our environment clean and healthy is one of the most important topics in the world today. This lesson will teach you the basic vocabulary to understand and talk about environmental issues.
Word Bank
Environmental Problems
-
Environment
The natural world of land, water, and air.
-
pollution
Making air, water, or land dirty and unsafe.
Example: "Smoke from factories causes air pollution." -
trash / rubbish
Things that you throw away.
Example: "Please don't leave your trash in the park." -
climate change
The change in the world's weather patterns.
Example: "Climate change is making the weather hotter." -
deforestation
The action of cutting down all the trees in an area.
Example: "Deforestation destroys animal habitats."
Environmental Solutions (Verbs)
-
to protect
To keep something safe from harm.
Example: "We must protect our forests and rivers." -
to reduce
To make something smaller or less in amount.
Example: "We should reduce the amount of plastic we use." -
to reuse
To use something again.
Example: "I reuse my water bottle every day." -
to recycle
To convert waste material into new objects.
Example: "We can recycle plastic bottles and paper."
Usage Note: The Three R's
To help protect the environment, people often talk about the "Three R's". They are an easy way to remember the most important actions, in order of importance.
- Reduce: Use less. This is the best solution.
- Reuse: Use things again and again.
- Recycle: Turn old materials into new things.
In Conversation
Srey and Bora are walking by the river in Siem Reap.
Srey: Look at all this trash on the side of the river. It makes me sad.
Bora: Me too. This kind of pollution is bad for our health and for the fish.
Srey: What can we do to protect our environment?
Bora: Well, we can start with the Three R's. First, we need to reduce the number of plastic bags we use from the market.
Srey: That's a good idea. And we can reuse our water bottles instead of buying new ones.
Bora: Exactly! And finally, we should try to recycle our plastic and paper at home.
Srey: These small actions can help with bigger problems like climate change.
Check Your Understanding
- What is the name for the problem of cutting down all the trees in an area?
- a) Pollution
- b) Deforestation
- c) Climate Change
Answer: b) Deforestation
- Using your water bottle every day instead of buying a new one is an example of...
- a) reducing.
- b) reusing.
- c) recycling.
Answer: b) reusing.
- Smoke from factories and motos causes air ______.
- a) trash
- b) protection
- c) pollution
Answer: c) pollution
Your Mission
- My Actions: Think about the "Three R's". Write one sentence for each 'R' about something you can do. (e.g., "I can reduce electricity use. I can reuse shopping bags.")
- Local Environment: Write one sentence about an environmental issue you see in your town or country. (e.g., "There is a lot of plastic trash on the street.")
- Speak: Your mission is to talk to a friend about one way to help protect the environment. (e.g., "We should reduce the plastic we use.")