CYCLES - THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

We must work together to create a thriving planet where we can live and thrive. That is why, in 2015, world leaders did something unique. They drew up a list of 17 goals for a better world. All countries will now work together to achieve the Global Goals by 2030. We want to achieve these goals so that, among other things, we can accomplish the following four amazing things:

• That extreme poverty be eliminated. 
• Reduced inequality and injustice in the world. 
• More work toward peace and justice for all.
• A solution to the climate crisis.

Nu är det dags att börja lära dig om allt annat också. 

Have you heard of the cycle of life?

A cycle can, for example, begin in a meadow. A hare munchs on a dandelion in a meadow. Suddenly, a fox creeps up and eats the hare. When the fox dies, it decomposes and turns into soil. After a while, a new dandelion sprouts from the soil. Then one day, a hare hops along—and the whole cycle starts all over again.

The Engine of the Cycle

There are both large and small cycles in nature. The sun acts as the engine of these cycles and keeps everything turning, first by providing plants with nutrients through a process called photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants create their own food from sunlight, air, and water in the soil. The plants are eaten by small animals, which in turn become food for larger animals. As we know, humans eat both plants and animals.

Worms, ants, millipedes, and woodlice are a few examples of animals known as decomposers. They take care of everything that dies in nature. They break down dead plants and animals so that they decompose and turn into new soil. The new soil, in turn, provides nutrients for new plants.

Humans have the greatest impact

Animals and plants live together and keep the cycle running as it should. Animals don’t make gadgets, and plants don’t throw away trash. It is we humans who affect the cycle.

Every time we make something, buy something, use it, and eventually throw it away, we affect nature. Sometimes so much so that certain animals and plants are at risk of disappearing entirely. So what happens if an animal or plant disappears and the cycle of life can’t complete a full cycle? Will anyone go without food? What happens in nature? These are the kinds of things we need to think about in order to live in harmony with nature.

The sun is our driving force

If the cycle of life is a wheel, then the sun is the engine that makes the wheel turn. Everything on Earth exists thanks to the sun, which consists of a hot, bubbling gas. The sun, which existed long before our planet Earth came into being, provides us with heat and energy.

The Earth is very small compared to the Sun. Did you know that it takes about 8 minutes for the Sun's rays to reach our planet, Earth?

Everyone wins when we recycle

A good way to help the environment is to recycle what we use. When we’ve finished reading a newspaper, we should put it in the paper recycling bin. The old newspaper is turned into paper, which is then used to print new newspapers. 

Help the environment by recycling

Batteries are convenient to use. We don't have to deal with cords and can take our gadgets with us everywhere. But did you know that batteries can also be dangerous? That's because batteries contain substances that are toxic.

Varje år samlar vi i Sverige in cirka 3000 ton batterier. Ungefär hälften av allt det materialet går det att smälta ner och göra nya saker av. Till exempel nya batterier.

If we throw batteries in the trash, the toxins can spread and harm animals, nature, and us humans. Besides, it’s better to melt down the metals and make new products out of them. Instead, put old batteries in the red battery bin at the recycling center.

That way, you'll be doing two good things:

1. You protect all of us from those dangerous toxins. 
2. You help conserve the Earth's resources—the metal from melted-down batteries is used in new products.

Did you know that...

År 2025 pantades över 2,8 miljarder burkar och PET-flaskor i Sverige. Det motsvarar i genomsnitt cirka 271 pantade förpackningar per person. Genom att panta bidrar vi till att spara energi, minska nedskräpningen och återvinna värdefulla material om och om igen.

Uppgift: återanvänd!

Reuse old stuff. Use your imagination and come up with new ways to use these things.

The various components of nature's cycle

The Green
Nature’s cycle begins with plants—more specifically, with green plants that can “make their own food.” This refers to plants that derive their nourishment from the sun, the air, and water from the soil. There are plants that are not green, such as black algae in the ocean.

Animals
Plants serve as food for animals, which in turn serve as food for other animals. Humans eat both plants and animals.

Nedbrytarna
För att kretsloppet ska fungera måste alla delar fungera. Allt som dör måste försvinna någonstans, annars skulle skogarna vara fulla med stora högar av döda djur och växter.

De som tar hand om allt som dött lever i marken och kallas för nedbrytare. De bryter ned döda djur och växter i småbitar som blir jord som i sin tur ger näring åt växterna.

Uppgift: dela in orden!

Skriv in orden som du ser här nedanför i rätt ruta!
Gräs - kotte - räv - blomma - daggmask - gråsugga - löv - skalbagge - träd - kanin - lodjur - orm - svamp - bakterie

Did you know that...

Coffee grounds are what’s left over after brewing coffee. If you mix the grounds with potting soil, you’ll get a lighter, humus-rich soil that flowers thrive in. Eggshells contain calcium and minerals. Roses, beans, and carrots, for example, really benefit from this. Crush the eggshells into a fine powder and sprinkle it over your flower bed or vegetable garden.

Worms That Munch

Earthworms turn our food scraps into new soil. They thrive in our compost bins, where they munch on old leaves and other things they find in the soil. Sometimes they drag leaves down into their secret tunnels deep in the soil. Maybe they just want to eat their dinner in peace?

The earthworm has no mouth, just a hole at one end of its intestine that runs through its entire body. It breathes through its skin. If its skin dries out, it dies. The earthworm can neither see nor hear, but it can sense when something is moving on the ground. It’s also good at sniffing out food.

Daggmasken har muskler som kan dra ihop kroppen så att den blir kort och tjock, eller dra ut den så att den blir lång och smal. Det är så masken slingrar sig ur fiendens grepp och gräver sig ner i jorden. På maskens utsida finns borst, ett slags strävt hår.

Det använder masken när den kryper. Om du låter en mask krypa över ett papper så kan du höra hur det skrapar från borsten!

Dead animals become someone's home and food

När en mus dör, är det lukten som lockar dit flugor och andra insekter. De lägger sina ägg i den döda musens kropp. Efter ett tag dyker dödgrävarna upp. Det är svarta och rödoranga skalbaggar som gräver i jorden under musen så att musens kropp till slut sjunker ned i marken. Efter det äter skalbaggarna av den döda musen. När de är mätta kör honan iväg de andra skalbaggarna. Hon ska lägga sina ägg i musens kropp. När äggen kläcks äter larverna det som är kvar av musen.

1. What is a life cycle?

1. A.
   The circumference of a circle.
2. B.
   A running race.
3. C.
   That means everything in nature is part of a cycle.

2. What does it mean when we say that green plants can make their own food?

1. A.
   They take whatever they find in the forest and cook it.
2. B.
   They draw their nourishment from the sun, air, and water in the soil.
3. C.
   Their food is rainwater.

3. What are decomposers?

1. A.
   A machine that crushes rock into gravel.
2. B.
   This means that it starts to rain, also known as precipitation.
3. C.
   Small animals in nature that eat dead plants and animals.

For this assignment, you'll need your parents' help. Ask them to answer the questions. Then add up the points next to each option. You'll see the result—which type they are—further down.

Where do you dispose of old batteries?

1. A.
   Throw them away?! My collection consists of 428 pieces. Your parent's answer is worth 3 points.
2. B.
   In a battery drop-off bin, if there is one near my home. Your parent's answer is worth 2 points.
3. C.
   You plan to take them to a recycling center, but get tired of it and throw them in the trash. Your parent's answer is worth 1 point.
4. D.
   Always in a battery compartment! Your parent's answer is worth 4 points!

What do you do with the newspaper after you've read it?

1. A.
   Throw it in the trash. Your parent's answer is worth 1 point.
2. B.
   Put it in the recycling bin! Your parent's answer is worth 4 points!
3. C.
   Of course it saves it! Maybe someone will want to read about what it was like in Sweden in 2020. Your parent's answer is worth 3 points.
4. D.
   Sometimes I throw it away, and sometimes I take it to the recycling center. Your parent's answer is worth 2 points.

What do you do with your empty plastic bottle?

1. A.
   Wind instruments, cord organizers, shock absorbers, watering cans, or a sandbox. Your parent's answer is worth 3 points.
2. B.
   Throw the bottle in the trash. Your parent's answer is worth 1 point.
3. C.
   Sometimes they return it for a refund, sometimes they throw it away. Your parent's answer is worth 2 points.
4. D.
   I'll take that! Your parent's answer is worth 4 points!

How do you dispose of cardboard boxes?

1. A.
   I squeeze them together so they take up less space in the trash bag. Your parent's answer is worth 2 points.
2. B.
   I'll throw them in the recycling bin for paper packaging. Your parent's answer is worth 4 points!
3. C.
   They make excellent gift boxes. Your parent's answer is worth 3 points.
4. D.
   I toss them into the trash room when no one is looking. Your parent's answer is worth 1 point.

What do you do with tin cans and other metal?

1. A.
   Throw it in the trash. Your parent's answer is worth 1 point.
2. B.
   Rinse it out and take it to the recycling center! Your parent's answer is worth 4 points!
3. C.
   I stack them on top of each other along the wall until they reach the ceiling. Your parent's answer is worth 3 points.
4. D.
   I'll take it to the recycling center if I have the energy. Your parent's answer is worth 2 points.

Where do your empty glass bottles end up?

1. A.
   Sometimes I return bottles for a refund, sometimes I throw them away. Your parent's answer is worth 2 points.
2. B.
   I'm throwing it all away; I can't be bothered to think about it. Your parent's answer is worth 1 point.
3. C.
   Hopefully on the other side of the Baltic Sea, send a message in a bottle to your cousins. Your parent's reply is worth 3 points.
4. D.
   I return the bottles that are eligible for a deposit, and I take the rest to the glass recycling center! Your parent's answer is worth 4 points!

What do you do with old electrical gadgets, toasters, and things like that?

1. A.
   Just throw them away—they're so cheap. Your parent's answer is worth 1 point.
2. B.
   I'll give them away if anyone wants them; otherwise, I'll throw them away. Your parent's answer is worth 2 points.
3. C.
   Squeeze them into the storage room if you can. It's actually a little crowded in there. Your parent's answer is worth 3 points.
4. D.
   Take it to a recycling center, a flea market, or a charity. Your parent's answer is worth 4 points!

RESULTS BY SORT TYPE

7 -11 poäng: "Skräpis"

Oh no, nothing gets sorted here! Everything ends up in the same bag—food scraps, tin cans, and glass bottles. Even batteries and PET bottles can end up in the trash bag! We need to do better here! Imagine that everything you don’t sort ends up in your drinking water—that should give you some inspiration!

12-15 poäng: "Lill-sorteraren"

Well, at least you're trying. You usually avoid throwing toxic items in the trash, and you've actually taken newspapers to the recycling bin a few times. Make it a habit, and the trees in the forest will thank you!  

16-21 poäng: "Samlaren"

Okay, you don’t throw anything away unnecessarily, which is great from an environmental perspective, but do you even have enough space in your home? You’re not supposed to be wading through 20-year-old newspapers... Sort your trash and recycle it, and your home will suddenly feel twice as big!

22-28 poäng "Sorterarmästaren"

That's great! You really care about nature! You sort metal and plastic separately, take newspapers to the paper recycling bin, and return PET bottles to the recycling machine. You sort metal and plastic faster than anyone can say "circular economy." It feels good to know that you're helping the environment!