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What Is A Carbon Footprint — Reading Comprehension

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A carbon footprint is the measure of the total amount of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), released by human activities. This reading passage, aligned with the NGSS disciplinary core idea of Earth and Human Activity (ESS), defines key terms and explains how daily actions contribute to our environmental impact. It explores the main sources of a carbon footprint, such as burning fossil fuels for energy and transportation, and provides practical ways for individuals to reduce their footprint through sustainable practices like recycling, conserving water, and using renewable energy. The passage is designed to help students understand the connection between their actions and global warming and climate change. With its simple language and clear definitions, this resource makes the complex concept of a carbon footprint accessible to students, encouraging them to think critically about their role in protecting the environment. The content is also audio-integrated, offering a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.

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Footprint with a small tree to symbolize the impact of human activity on the environment. — Carbon footprint and its effect on the environment.

What Is a Carbon Footprint?

Every time you ride in a car, turn on a light, or eat food from a store, you are using energy. Most of this energy comes from burning fuels like coal, oil, or gas. When we burn these fuels, they release a gas called carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the air. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere and can cause the planet to get warmer.

The total amount of carbon dioxide that goes into the air because of your actions is called your carbon footprint. It is called a "footprint" because, just like footprints in sand show where you have walked, your carbon footprint shows the invisible mark your activities leave on the environment. You can’t see it, but it’s there!

Different activities make different sizes of carbon footprints. For example, riding in a car to school uses gasoline and makes a bigger carbon footprint than walking or riding a bike. Playing video games uses electricity, which also adds to your carbon footprint. Eating apples grown nearby makes a smaller footprint than eating apples shipped from another country because less fuel is used to transport them. Buying new toys made in factories uses energy and creates a larger footprint than reusing toys or sharing with friends.

Making your carbon footprint smaller helps the environment. Kids can help by turning off lights when not using them, walking or biking instead of riding in cars, recycling, reusing things, and eating local foods. Even small changes can make a big difference when many people do them together. Your carbon footprint is like an invisible trail of gas puffs you leave behind—the smaller the trail, the better for Earth!

Interesting Fact: If every American family replaced just one regular light bulb with an energy-saving bulb, it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year!

What is a carbon footprint?

The carbon dioxide made by your actionsFootprints left in sandA type of shoeA weather pattern

Which gas is a greenhouse gas?

Carbon dioxideOxygenNitrogenHelium

What uses more energy?

Riding in a carWalkingBikingSitting

How can kids help the environment?

Recycle and reuseUse more electricityFly airplanesBuy new toys every week

What happens if many people make small changes?

It helps the planetNothing changesIt makes a bigger footprintIt hurts the environment

What does eating local food do?

Makes a smaller footprintMakes a bigger footprintNo changeUses more energy