What's Your Footprint?
Reduce My Footprint
. Produced for Conservation Tales: Manatees. (2018)

Inquiry Activity

On this page, you will do an inquiry activity to get and use data about your carbon footprint. This inquiry has two stages.

Stage 1: Calculate your family's carbon footprint.
Stage 2: Discuss ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

Stage 1: Calculate your family's carbon footprint
Use one of the online tools below to calculate your carbon footprint!

• Kid's Carbon Calculator - This site, produced in Australia, is a simple way for younger learners to find their carbon footprint. You may need to do some planning to calculate distances in kilometers and other metric conversions. To help you, here is a link to a metric conversion site, too!
• Carbon Footprint Calculator - This site is for older students, and will require students to find out how much their families pay in monthly utility bills. Estimates will work, but this activity may take 2-3 class periods. Also includes data about how conservation actions may impact budget and carbon footprint. This site is produce by the EPA!

Stage 2: Reducing your footprint
How can you reduce your carbon footprint?

Understanding your impact on the environment is a start. But now you can use what you know to take action! Discuss with your classmates or your family ways in which you can reduce your carbon footprint.

• Start by looking at the last part of the EPA's Carbon Footprint Calculator above. This will help you find data about how making changes will affect your family's costs and the carbon emissions.
• Next discuss with your class or family a plan for things YOU can do to make difference. Include topics like...
  • ​Recycling - Trash you put in the landfill gives off carbon dioxide as it decomposes. What items can you recycle that you are not recycling now? Think about this for yourself, your family and your school.
  • Reducing fuel use - Can you cut down on the amount of fuel you use? This may involve using less gasoline or less electricity made by burning coal, oil, or natural gas.
  • Choosing "greener" energy sources - Find out if your local utility companies use solar, wind, geothermal, or hydroelectric to generate power for your home.
  • Other strategies for reducing your carbon footprint that may not be included here.​