Credit Unions date back to community-based, co-operative banking that arose in Germany in the nineteenth century. In Canada, the first adherents gathered in Quebec; the caisses populaires were begun by Alphonse Desjardins in 1900. At a recent congress of the World Council of Credit Unions, in Vancouver, B.C. over 2,000 delegates from 85 countries represented 36,000 credit unions with 90 million members and $380 billion (US) is assets. As this book shows, growth has not always been easy; credit unions around the world took hold in a variety of social, political and cultural systems.
NASA Astrobiologist and renowned scientist Dr. David Grinspoon brings readers an optimistic message about humanity's future in the face of climate change. For the first time in Earth's history, our planet is experiencing a confluence of rapidly accelerating changes prompted by one species: humans. Climate change is only the most visible of the modifications we've made--up until this point, inadvertently--to the planet. And our current behavior threatens not only our own future but that of countless other creatures. By comparing Earth's story to those of other planets, astrobiologist David Grinspoon shows what a strange and novel development it is for a species to evolve to build machines, and ultimately, global societies with world-shaping influence. Without minimizing the challenges of the next century, Grinspoon suggests that our present moment is not only one of peril, but also great potential, especially when viewed from a 10,000-year perspective. Our species has surmounted the threat of extinction before, thanks to our innate ingenuity and ability to adapt, and there's every reason to believe we can do so again. Our challenge now is to awaken to our role as a force of planetary change, and to grow into this task. We must become graceful planetary engineers, conscious shapers of our environment and caretakers of Earth's biosphere. This is a perspective that begs us to ask not just what future do we want to avoid, but what do we seek to build? What kind of world do we want? Are humans the worst thing or the best thing to ever happen to our planet? Today we stand at a pivotal juncture, and the answer will depend on the choices we make.
Children of all ages are invited to a bright and colorful multicultural celebration with We've Got the Whole World in Our Hands! Award-winning illustrator Rafael Lopez brings new life with his adaptation of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," saluting the lives of all young people. The rhythmic verse and repetitive emphasis on "we" and "our" encourages inclusive communities and the celebration of unity and diverse friendships all around the world."We've got you and you got me in our hands.We have the whole world in our hands."Come and read along and sing along as we celebrate the magic of unity. From the rivers to the mountains to the oceans and to the sea -- we've got the whole world in our hands. As an added bonus the sheet music is included in the back of the book for piano, guitar, and recorder for classroom, library, and home sing-alongs.
The inspiring true story of demonstrators standing up for the love of a library, from a New York Times bestselling illustrator In January 2011, in a moment that captured the hearts of people all over the world, thousands of Egypt's students, library workers, and demonstrators surrounded the great Library of Alexandria and joined hands, forming a human chain to protect the building. They chanted "We love you, Egypt!" as they stood together for the freedom the library represented. Illustrated with Susan L. Roth's stunning collages, this amazing true story demonstrates how the love of books and libraries can unite a country, even in the midst of turmoil.
**This is the chapter slice "Humans and the Environment Gr. 1-5" from the full lesson plan "Hands-On - Earth & Space Science"** Inspire your students to gain a deep understanding of our planet earth and beyond with our Hands-On Earth & Space Science resource for grades 1-5. Combining Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, this resource aligns to the STEAM initiatives and Next Generation Science Standards. Make your own weather forecast as a group. Find out how much rain has fallen by building your own rain gauge. Get a glimpse at how wind works by creating your own sand dunes. Tell a story by drawing your own rock layer. Get into groups to make your own solar cell, windmill, or water wheel. Track the movement of the Moon with your own Lunar Calendar. Each concept is paired with hands-on experiments and comprehension activities to ensure your students are engaged and fully understand the concepts. Reading passages, graphic organizers, before you read and assessment activities are included.
**This is the chapter slice "Rocks and Minerals Gr. 1-5" from the full lesson plan "Hands-On - Earth & Space Science"** Inspire your students to gain a deep understanding of our planet earth and beyond with our Hands-On Earth & Space Science resource for grades 1-5. Combining Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, this resource aligns to the STEAM initiatives and Next Generation Science Standards. Make your own weather forecast as a group. Find out how much rain has fallen by building your own rain gauge. Get a glimpse at how wind works by creating your own sand dunes. Tell a story by drawing your own rock layer. Get into groups to make your own solar cell, windmill, or water wheel. Track the movement of the Moon with your own Lunar Calendar. Each concept is paired with hands-on experiments and comprehension activities to ensure your students are engaged and fully understand the concepts. Reading passages, graphic organizers, before you read and assessment activities are included.
This innovative book makes it easy for teachers to communicate to parents about what their children are learning and engage them in the learning process. Offering a complete plan for every meeting, Partnering With Parents takes the worry out of parent-teacher communication, with meeting plans for all curriculum areas, helpful tips and strategies, and easy ways to make the connection between home and school.
