Why should kids care about global warming? How will global warming affect us? How does what we do affect global warming? And how do we fix it?
Over the past 200 years, the earth has been getting warmer because of pollution. Greenhouse gases have caused the temperature near the surface of the earth to increase.
“As the earth warms, more of the ocean’s water goes into the atmosphere and disrupts the normal weather patterns,” says Tracy Zhu, a former environmental fellow at the San Francisco Foundation and an analyst at the Public Utilities Commission. “Places that normally experience rain storms would get more severe storms, or perhaps get no storms at all. Places that are normally dry may get even drier…The balance of the earth is thrown off with climate change.”
Global warming is bad for the earth. When the earth gets warmer, it starts making severe weather on land and the sea. As global warming gets worse, the polar ice caps melt more and more with each passing day. The melting of the polar ice caps affects life in the poles, which could eventually mean no more penguins, polar bears, and walruses. This month, scientists discovered that a crack in the Antarctic ice shelf grew by seventeen miles in two months. Antarctica holds nearly ninety percent of the word’s ice mass.
But how does it affect people? According to the National Oceanic and Aeronautic Association, about ninety-seven percent of the earth’s water is saltwater. The other three percent is stored in lakes and rivers underground—and in our glaciers, which are disappearing. We can try removing the salt from the ocean water, but according to the Texas Water Development Board, desalination costs “approximately 658 million dollars to build a seawater desalination plant.” It’s not worth it!
How do humans contribute to global warming? All the gases and fumes from processing plants and vehicles get stuck in the atmosphere. The sun rays go through the earth’s atmosphere but not out, and that heats up the earth. Cows also make the earth heat up. In fact, according to the United Nations, raising cattle puts more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than cars—almost eighteen percent of global releases.
So how do we fix it? According to Zhu, the damage done so far is irreversible. But we can make changes for the future. “Changes we make now, such as burning fewer fossil fuels, will have impacts thirty to forty years from now,” Zhu says. To do your part, the Environmental Protection Agency suggests you can use your water more efficiently, conserve power, be green in your yards, and reduce, reuse, and recycle.
by Mady, 826 Valencia
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A writer's fake news article about a miracle drug that can cure anything.
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by Daphne, 826 Valencia
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A poem about spring!
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by Yanni, 826NYC
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by Juna, 826michigan
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This poem celebrates a special person in the writer's life.
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Food justice advocacy is reimagined by this student as an epic battle rages between Nutriman, Captain Nutritional, and Junkster in a school cafeteria!
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This poem uses repetition to give advice for when you're feeling unsure of yourself.
by Najah, Grade 6, 826 MSP
A student appreciates and reflects on her mother's kindness over the years.
by Kyle I., Grade 6, Kansas City, MO
A gender-fluid student's call to action to the next U.S. president to protect LGBTQIA+ rights.
by Charlotte, 826CHI
A collection of haikus spanning sushi to surviving the sixth grade.
by Smila H., Age 10, 826LA
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Because sometimes you just need to tune out the world.
by Chelsea, 826NYC
A creative field guide to Daddy Longlegs.
by Jesús, 826 Valencia
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Jerieliz Garcia & Jaiden Vinti, 826NYC
Two poets braid together their reflections on where they come from.
by Kathryn, 826NYC
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by Renee, 826NYC
A poem that explores all that a tree can stand for.
by Nicky, Grade 6, Salt Lake City, UT
The pen is mightier than the sword!
by Emmanuel, 826DC
A personal narrative about a tender first sighting between brothers on a family trip to El Salvador.
by Mabel Murray-Rudegeair, Grade 6, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Sizwe H., Age 13, 826michigan
A poet appreciates their loyal riding partner.
by Marisa, 826NYC
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When playing video games one night turned into a nightmare.
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A witty set of foolproof pickup lines.
by Madison, 826 New Orleans
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by Christian, 826michigan
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by Juliana Anderson, Grade 6, 826 MSP
This action-packed sci-fi story will keep you on the edge of your seat!
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by Uma Cantone, 826NYC
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by Ayana A., Grade 6, 826NYC
A student describes their fuzzy imaginary friend.
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A mischievous recipe calling for 3 tablespoons of candy, 10 gallons of not laughing, and 100 gallons of mother.
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A short but powerful poem about the circular nature of history.
by Janelle Suazo, age 12, 826 Valencia
A school dare gone horribly wrong!
by Alondra, 826CHI
An epic story of a princess who seeks acceptance among the stars.
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In this poem, a student contrasts conflicting perspectives on the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
by Jacob P., age 11, 826 LA
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A poet explores their love for writing with their friend.
by Angelina Do, Grade 6, 826 Valencia
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by Armaan, 826CHI
This author recounts the beginning of a family tradition: the best homemade sandwich ever!
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An ode to being unapologetically yourself!
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A student describes a scrumptious five-course meal—everything except the vegetables, that is!
by Athena, 826NYC
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by Valary K., Grade 6, 826 MSP
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by the Class of 640 at M.S. 88, 826NYC
This bilingual poem shares an excellent recipe for how to survive middle school.
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In the Realm of Virtues, a search for attention and significance teaches these characters an important lesson about what it means to be human!

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