Category: Elementary

By Erin Rebello

With all that’s going on in the world, it seems like concern for the environment has taken a backseat. As much as we would like to ignore it, the world is going to get more polluted and less habitable if we continue to damage it. Although this is a huge weight to put on the shoulders of children and teens, we too are responsible for the state of our planet! One of the major contributors to pollution and waste is the fast fashion industry.

As the name suggests, fast fashion is a sector of the fashion industry that promotes the sale of trendy pieces of clothing that are cheaply made and sold for low prices. Oftentimes, these garments are made by workers in third-world countries who are paid grossly unfair wages that trap them in a cycle of poverty. Besides the blatant ethical issues, fast fashion also creates excessive waste. Rather than buying a piece of quality-made clothing and wearing it for years, people are now purchasing clothing that’s “trendy” but falls apart quickly and cannot withstand wear and tear. Thus, the cycle of fast fashion has started, causing students to purchase poorly-made clothes, only to throw them out and buy new ones in a couple of months.

As a result, landfills are being filled with unusable textiles that will take years to disintegrate. Although some countries have implemented systems to recycle fabrics, there will always be piles and piles of fabric that will fill landfills. And this all occurs because of the fast-fashion industry and the switch to cheap and non-durable clothing.

So now that you’re educated about the issue, you are probably are wondering how you can help. Although you probably don’t have the power to shut down the fast-fashion industry, you can put your money where your heart is and invest your money into more sustainable clothing options. One thing that almost anyone can do is switch to buying secondhand. Although there has been a stigma about buying second-hand over the past decades, it’s time to put your preconceived notions aside for the sake of the planet!

Buying from a secondhand store or thrift shop has two major positive impacts. For starters, you are keeping a garment out of landfills, which is huge! As well, you are also preventing yourself from falling victim to the vicious cycle of the fast fashion industry by not supporting brands with your dollar. Although seemingly simple, this small task can make a huge impact, especially when many kids decide to do the same thing!

Not only is thrifting environmentally friendly, but it can also be a lot of fun. Instead of shopping at a store, which has a particular clothing aesthetic, thrift stores are a melting pot of various styles, fashions, and eras, exposing you to various clothing styles you may have never seen before. As a result, going thrifting can even help you develop a brand new and unique sense of style! Not to mention the rush of dopamine you feel when you find something that you absolutely love!

Overall, although the fast fashion industry and climate change are two major issues that Canadians face, by shopping at thrift stores you can do your part to help resolve these problems. Happy thrifting!

We love animals. From the pets in our homes to the wildlife in parks and forests, animals bring people a lot of joy. They play such a big role in our lives, ecosystems, and the planet, and so it is important that we learn as much as we can about them. By studying animals, you can learn more about yourself, your friends and family, and the world. They are far more than just cute creatures to look at or play with.

Ethology is the science of animal behaviour. It allows us to learn more about how they live and helps us in many different ways. Animals have wants, needs, and emotions like we do. Ethologists use different tests in order to figure out what they prefer and what motivates them. For preference tests, animals are placed in a maze with food or toys in different spots, in order to see where they go. For motivation tests, animals have to perform certain behaviours to get a reward. All of this helps us better understand them, as well as better understand how to treat them well and live alongside them. We learn to be more considerate of our pets and the animals we see outside, and can even learn more about our own preferences and motivations.

Learning about animals and how they interact with each other helps us better understand how we live and work alongside our friends and family. A lot of research has been done on how chimpanzees and monkeys cooperate and get along in groups. This research has been used to make more sense of aggressive and negative behaviours amongst humans. By looking at how animals express their emotions, we have been able to know more about how the people in our lives do the same. Scientists have used the development of monkeys and communication between birds to gain insight into how the babies and children in our lives develop. Humans evolved just like all the other animals on this planet, and gaining understanding of them means building a better understanding of us.

Studying animals makes the world a better place for all of us. With the assistance of animal scientists, farmers are able to improve breeding and nutrition, as well as ensure that farming has less of an impact on the environment. Learning more about animals also provides better understanding of how diseases spread and what can be done about it. Humans have caused a lot of destruction and harm to the planet. Studying animals can change that. We can learn how to better live alongside nature and the other creatures we coexist with on this planet.

We are animals too. Humans are creatures that happened to evolve with big brains, but we share a lot in common with our pets and fellow creatures. It is important to learn about animals to ensure they live better lives. It also leads to us having a better understanding of ourselves, of the people around us, and the planet on which we live. Studying animals is an exciting and powerful way to lead to better lives for all living things.

Sources:

AnimalSmart.org. “Why is animal science important?” https://animalsmart.org/animal-science/why-is-animal-science-important-

Logan, Melissa. “Why should we try to understand animal behaviour?” Every Living Thing. https://everylivingthing.ca/why-should-we-try-to-understand-animal-behaviour/

Snowdon, Charles T. “Significance of Animal Behavior Research.” California State University, Northridge. https://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/valueofa.htm

It’s everywhere despite trying to avoid it. It has caused the world to change at a rapid pace, and also continues to be the elephant in the room at the same time. Do you ever notice people flinch when you are in a position that forces you to be close to each other? It’s talked about on the news almost constantly, and impacts your life in all kinds of ways. Simply put, it’s here, it’s everywhere, and there’s not much we can do about it… unless, you are being kind and considerate to others.

Has this pandemic made us any more kind or considerate to others? I always try to amplify the positives, because there are always helpers, who are more silent supporters, because they don’t want the publicity for doing the right thing. The front-line workers, from healthcare workers to truckers to work trades to grocery store employees.  Firefighters, paramedics, the people who pick up the garbage we leave at the curb.

There are people making masks, donating either money or items to several different organizations (look to see what they are in demand of first before you donate), as well as their time through volunteer efforts, or even being considerate of others by staying home as much as possible. There are always several different ways you can help, so don’t feel like you aren’t doing as much as others. Sometimes it can be as simple as checking in on a friend, delivering groceries to your parents, or even making masks in your spare time.

But the main question to ask is: has this pandemic made us more polite? I’m not entirely sure, since we Canadians do have the strong stereotype (we’re really polite) for a reason. Several companies are volunteering their efforts to help those in need, particularly food banks helping first time users and whose demands have skyrocketed due to the lack of income affecting families. There are children and adults who are helping create personal protective equipment – from 3D-printing plastic masks to sewing gowns for the front-line supporters. These efforts are being showcased a lot, and with good reason: they are helping their community in a time of great need, and that’s what helps us to get through something as disruptive as a virus keeping us locked into one place for a long period of time.

There have unfortunately been some ugly stories: ridiculous speeding on the nearly-empty (or incredibly light) roads, increasing violence in some high-crime areas (but has really decreased in other places), and there are an awful lot of scams out in the wild targeting those who are in serious financial stress.

I think we should focus on a positive perspective- to BE the good we see in the world, to encourage more positivity, more kindness, all so that we can support each other. Times are tough, tougher for many people, and comparisons are never a good thing because everybody evaluates stress differently. A helping hand does the same thing for all of us: it makes the world just that little bit brighter, especially now when we really need it to be.

Talking on the phone can be fun, but it can also be useful. If you enjoy helping people and are comfortable with phones and computers, you might want to consider working as a contact centre customer service agent. With the right skills for the job or a willingness to learn, it could be an ideal job, especially in times when many other jobs disappear. It could work as a full time or part time position- which ever you want.

Working as a contact centre customer service agent is basically about answering questions and helping people through problems that they have with products or services. People in this job might work at telephone companies, government offices, and large corporations. Traditionally, these jobs were in large offices, but many contact centre customer service agents can now work from home as long as they have a computer and telephone that they can use.

Generally, contact centre customer service agents work with questions that customers have about products or services that a company or other agency offers. In government departments, contact centre customer service agents might answer questions about programs such as Old Age Security or Employment Insurance benefits.

When people apply for these programs, the call centre agents might take the information over the phone or possibly through a text or e-mail. In businesses, contact centre customer service agents answer questions about products or services, take note of complaints, and find information or contact another person to help.

Suppose that a customer calls about a dishwasher that is not working. The contact centre customer service agent would take down the information and possibly suggest a few easy solutions. For bigger problems, it might be necessary to make an appointment for someone to repair the machine.

Training programs for working as a contact centre customer service agent are available at places like Centennial College, but most positions in this field require a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Wages start at about $12 per hour or slightly over $25,000 per year and can rise to $19 per hour or $46,000 per year. The job is not physically demanding, although people must be able to sit for many hours.

Mental strain can be the most difficult part of the job. Contact centre customer service agents always need to be friendly and professional, even when customers are rude. They need to know as much as possible about the product or service so that they can answer many of the questions without looking them up. They should be able to work with other people. Having a quick typing speed is useful for entering information into a computer, but accuracy is more important than speed.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the job of a contact centre customer service agent could become more important than ever. Larger towns and cities are more likely than small places to have work for contact centre customer service agents, but jobs in this area are likely to increase, especially for people who can work entirely from home.

If you enjoy talking on the phone and you want to help people, working as a contact centre customer service agent could be the right choice for you.

Bibliography:

Centennial College. “Contact Centre Operations.” https://www.centennialcollege.ca/programs-courses/full-time/contact-centre-operations/.

College Grad.com. “Customer Service Representatives.” https://collegegrad.com/careers/customer-service-representatives.

Day Job.com. “Call Centre Training.” https://www.dayjob.com/call-centre-training-1189/.

Indeed.com. “Call Centre Agent.” https://ca.indeed.com/Call-Centre-Agent-Customer-Service-jobs?advn=1533551386143070&vjk=c03e5df6dacdf574.

Payscale Canada. “Call Centre Agent.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Call_Center_Agent/Hourly_Rate.

Before the global storm of COVID-19, which has now staggeringly affected 4.7M individuals worldwide, with 315K deaths as of May 17, we Canadians were busy making springtime and summertime plans. After all, we were almost at the tail-end of winter when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus as a pandemic on March 11, and it was only natural that we were dreaming of enjoying elaborate gardens, amusement parks, outdoor cinemas, food festivals, and carnivals.

Now almost three months after, our big spring and summer plans have been laid to rest even as some cities begin to ease on the restrictions on non-essential businesses and have started the process of reopening. Physical distancing will be a norm for the time being, which means that large gatherings won’t likely be part of our vocabulary until things get back to what they were.

Being confined to our homes shouldn’t be seen solely as a disadvantage. Now we can set aside time to gather our thoughts and perhaps prompt ourselves to write them down, via a journal.

In fact, journaling during these times is highly encouraged by the likes of Catherine O’Donnell, one of the co-founders of A Journal of The Plague Year: A COVID-19 Archive. Currently, O’Donnell is building a substantial archive of COVID-19-related materials, from invites to cancelled events to photos of empty grocery shelves.

Scribbling about your experience will not only help archivists and historians, it will benefit you in the mental health department, as Karen Blair,  an assistant professor of psychology at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S. says, “There’s a lot of research that shows us that writing about traumatic experiences is beneficial for us and that it helps us to process that stress while it’s actually happening.”

Whether you want to share your journals is up to you, but what matters is you remember these pointers on how to make journaling a fulfilling activity in these challenging times.

Select the medium that you feel most comfortable with.

Despite the name, journaling doesn’t have to be strictly limited to pen and paper. After all, we all have our own preferences when it comes to note-taking during classes. We can go for the old-fashioned scribbler and notebook, or we can go for journaling apps like Daylio Journal or Diary with Password. Websites like WordPress and Tumblr are good choices too. Whatever you’re most comfortable with, opt for that.

Don’t overthink, just think.

When writing papers for school, we always have to keep grammatical and spelling rules in mind, otherwise, your grades might be affected. But in journaling, remember to throw these rules out the window. Write whatever it is on your mind and don’t put restrictions on yourself. Start with a conjunction or end with a conjunction if you want to or do both.

Schedule a time to journal.

Your schedule must be more flexible now more than ever, but that doesn’t mean your daily tasks are less. You still have your commitments and deadlines so keep to a schedule for journaling as much as possible until it has become a routine. And if you’ve set a time and place, be sure to follow it as if someone is checking you do it.

Be creative and resourceful.

No one’s checking if you have the right spacing and font size when you’re journaling so there’s no reason not to be creative and resourceful. If you think you will better express yourself by including a lyric from a song or a verse from a poem, then do so. It’s important that you’re exploring creative avenues to jot your thoughts down and if you need more than words to do so, like a painting or a cartoon from a magazine, then include that in your journal as well.

These are uncertain times, and keeping a journal may be the last thing on your mind. But journaling can help you acquire a different perspective. In the process, you may be able to better cope with the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

SOURCES:

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-april-23-2020-1.5542275/we-want-it-all-keeping-a-covid-19-diary-it-could-help-future-historians-and-your-mental-health-1.5542907

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/community/covid-diaries-1.5539864

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/22/how-to-start-journal-writing-drawing

There may be times when you feel frustrated and you no longer want to be socially isolated in your home. You may feel as if you’re not being productive. It is good to remember that you are doing this for a good cause. You are minimizing the chance of catching the virus, and even unknowingly spreading it to others. Staying at home will help flatten the curve. This means that you are helping prevent the number of sick people in hospitals from rising. A quick rise in COVID-19 patients can lead to hospitals and health care workers becoming overwhelmed and unable to treat all the patients equally. Reminding yourself that you are socially isolating to save lives should help you get through this difficult moment!

Quarantine Can Affect Your Mental Health

Social distancing and quarantine can be stressful and it is normal to feel upset. You may feel lonely, sad, anxious, and angry. The thought that you have no control over the situation can also occupy your mind.

Here is a list of emotions that could be experienced while in social isolation:

• Sadness
• Confusion
• Anger
• Stress
• Irritability

The following is a list of symptoms of poor mental health. Keep an eye out for them!

• Changes in eating patterns
• Difficulty sleeping and concentrating
• Worsening in chronic health and mental health conditions
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

How to Care For Your Mental Health

Everyone copes with difficulties differently. These are some factors can play a role:

• Your current mental health
• How you deal with stress
• Your personality
• The amount of time you have been in quarantine
• Keeping yourself busy is a good way to keep your mind healthy. There are several fun things you could do! Here are a few:
• Create a routine – make a list of everything you would like to achieve that day. It will help you feel like you are being productive.
• Communicate – if you are in quarantine with other people, have a good conversation with them. Strengthen your relationship! Another option is to call, text, or video chat with others.
• Exercise – follow free workout videos online. You could also go for a run or walk around your neighbourhood
• Find a new hobby – try something new such as cooking, sewing, learning a new language, journaling, and more!
• Eat healthy meals – you could go online and find healthy and easy recipes for you to follow. If you’re not in the mood to cook, you could always support your local restaurants!

You matter during this tough period of time! Remember that you are protecting lots of people by staying indoors. If you or anyone you know are in need of professional help, please do not hesitate to seek help! Stay safe and wash your hands!

Resources:

https://www.verywellmind.com/protect-your-mental-health-during-quarantine-4799766

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/coronavirus-tips-for-protecting-your-mental-health-during-quarantine.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html

By Erin Rebello

As you all probably know, we’re in the middle of a global pandemic due to the COVID-19 virus. This is a new and scary time for everyone, but there are some very effective practices we can implement to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. As an ordinary citizen, the best thing you can do to stop the spread is to practice proper social distancing. According to the government of Canada, effective social distancing means “making changes in your everyday routines in order to minimize close contact with others”. While that makes sense in theory, it’s important that we know how to actually practice proper social, or physical distancing. Look no further than this article which will hopefully help you understand a few of the do’s and don’ts of social/physical distancing!

DO stay 2 metres away from anyone you meet in public. According to the Canadian government, 2m away is the minimum distance you should stay away from a stranger in public during the pandemic. This includes on walks, at the supermarket, and even at work. Some grocery stores will even have little markers on the floors to indicate how to properly social distance while in line for the checkout.

DON’T gather in crowded areas. Although many city parks and trails are closed, there are still numerous people who are ignoring government regulations and visiting these areas. Jungle gyms and public playsets are especially dangerous, as they are often used by many kids at the same time. Even if a child uses a playset when no one else is there, the virus can still stay on the playset for hours, making it a danger to other children.

DO wash your hands frequently and effectively. Due to the coronavirus, it’s best to wash your hands whenever you believe that you may have come into contact with a contaminated surface. This includes after coming home from work, after being in a meeting, and after going to the grocery store. If you’re not sure, it’s best to err on the side of caution and wash your hands anyway. Also, make sure that you’re washing your hands properly! A good rule of thumb is to scrub with soap under warm water for at least 30 seconds, making sure to get between fingers and on top of your hands. If you’re not sure if you’re doing it right, there are a bunch of Youtube videos that can help! If you don’t have access to soap and water, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser is a good substitute (but hand washing is always best!).

DON’T visit your friends and family. Not only does social distancing mean that you have to stay out of public areas, it also means that you must limit contact with EVERYONE except the people you live with. Although it may not seem like much to visit a friend, you could easily give them the virus without knowing. This is especially true for vulnerable populations such as those who are older or have pre-existing health problems. Although you may not have any symptoms of the virus, if a vulnerable person catches it, they could very well end up fighting for their lives. Even if your friends are perfectly healthy, think about the spread of the virus. Are their parents nurses, doctors, or essential workers? What if they were to pass it on to their patients or customers? While staying home may not be very fun, it is crucial to keeping everyone safe. Hang in there- all of us are in the same, giant boat.

Source:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/social-distancing.html

This novel 2019 coronavirus has truly established how important it is to maintain good hygiene and keep to ideal eating habits- something we all should keep in mind even when things get back to normal. In the long run, these two things will benefit us immensely and we will be able to protect ourselves better over illnesses or ailments that threaten our health.

However, one thing we probably would do away with is quarantine. As the season in Canada was transitioning from winter to spring before the pandemic hit, we certainly can’t be blamed if we wanted to immerse ourselves in the lovely spring weather. However, as the number of cases continues to surge even well into spring, we should think of ways to enjoy yourselves while being safe and healthy within the four corners of our homes. Thankfully, these fun and quirky indoor games will allow us to do that.

Go Bananas

The title alone should be enough to get you excited. In this game, players must build their mini-crossword by using the letter tiles from the banana bag. The player who uses up all of their letters is the winner. While it’s similar to Scrabble because you’re forming words and a logophile will have the advantage, in Go Bananas, the winner gets to yell out “Bananas!” And that’s more fun than a Triple Word Score, isn’t it?

Honey Bee Tree Board Game

Don’t worry, there are no real bees involved in this game nor is Winnie the Pooh (which is bad news for those who are fans of the well-love literary character), but you can treat yourself to honey candies if you have them ready. The way this game works is that players get to choose their flower trays (which are numbered so the players have their designated flower tray) and then pull leaves out of the honey tree while making sure that the bees won’t tumble out. The game is over when all the leaves have been taken out, and the player with the least number of bees in their flower tray is the winner.

Mouse Trap Game

No real mouse in this game, so again, no worries! So put down those mouse traps and refrain from dialing the exterminator. It does help to think like a mouse when you play this game because the objective is to collect cheese and steal chess from the other players while making sure you don’t get trapped! Yes, this game comes with a working multi-part machine where you can hone your construction skills. Have a bowl of cheese snacks ready and you’ll surely enjoy this game more.

Around the World in 80 Days

Since we can’t go any farther than our homes these days, we have to fight the urge to get the travel bug. Good thing though this game will give us a good idea where to go when we are free to travel again (or explore what’s beyond our house, at least). The purpose of the game is to explore as many countries as you can and if you can go around the world the fastest then you’re the winner! For sure, it’s something we are all raring to do once the travel ban is lifted.

Wooden Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles sales experienced a spike because of quarantine orders, and one company takes it to another level by offering wooden puzzles that come in a variety of designs, from animals and nature to seasonal. Yes, puzzles are cool again. If you’re really up for a challenge though, then you can go for their uniquely themed puzzles such as Shelf Life and The Collector’s Cupboard. And just a heads up, if you can’t tell by the titles, they’re definitely not for jigsaw puzzle beginners, so get ready!

This time of COVID-19 doesn’t have to be joyless and lifeless. You can bring an energetic flair to your quarantined life by playing the quirky games suggested above. Enjoy!

SOURCES

https://wentworthwoodenpuzzles.com

https://mastermindtoys.com

https://indigo.ca