I remember being fascinated by the Earth and its creatures in sixth grade science glass. It's where I dissected my first frog (traumatizing!) and where I fell in love with the ocean, which then ignited my passion to save the manatees that swam in it. And then… I grew up. And forgot.
If this also sounds like a 12-year-old you (or your 12-year-old!), then you'll love the children's adaptation of Prince Charles' Harmony (read an excerpt from the grown-up edition here). In it, His Royal Highness talks to our kids about current global issues and how we can reverse the damage that's already been done by "living in harmony with nature." Reading it instantly brought back fond memories of my one-time love for science (I certainly never found it again after grade school) and it also reminded me of how much the world has changed since. We no longer have to teach our kids how to save the manatees, we have to teach them to how to save the manatees and the oceans they swim in.
Check out excerpts from the children's edition of Harmony below, and also catch the Harmony documentary airing Nov. 19 at 10 p.m. E.T. on NBC. And if that's too late for your science-loving son or daughter, hey, that's what the DVR is for.
"The Earth is a wonderfully magical place. This beautiful planet, which we call home, is full of life -- from the tiniest insect to the largest whale, from the simplest flower to the most majestic rainforest. The Earth is billions of years old, and millions of people, animals, and plants live here, together. Because there are so many of us, we all need to live together in harmony. But, unfortunately, humans sometimes forget about the other creatures and plants and damage this necessary balance. In this book, I want to show you how we can achieve greater harmony among all living creatures.
When we feel ill, our bodies show signs, or symptoms, of our illness, like a runny nose or a fever. In just the same way, the Earth is beginning to show signs of disease. The ice is melting at both ends of the planet. Animals and plants are disappearing. There is more dust in the atmosphere. You may even have noticed fewer birds in the fields. These are all signs that something is wrong. So, what went wrong? There is no simple answer to this question, and different people will give you different answers. What I would say is this: Throughout history, we humans have been brilliant at coming up with new inventions and ideas to make a better life for ourselves. We invented the wheel so we could move things more easily. We built buildings for shelter, work, worship, and learning. We invented medicines to make us better. We created trains, cars, and planes so that we could travel farther and more quickly, and machines to help us provide food, clean water, and electricity for millions of people. These are all amazing creations, and we all benefit from them. But, while we were making life better for ourselves, we forgot about Nature: the other animals and plants on this Earth where we all live."
Do you teach your child about how we should treat the environment? Chime in below!
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/harmony-childrens-excerpt/1-a-299997
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