Be a Planet Steward: Your Civic and Environmental Duties

You are part of a community, and you have special jobs called duties. A duty is something you are responsible for doing to help others and your planet. When you follow rules, recycle, and care for nature, you are being a good steward of the Earth.

You can learn more about Community Rules to understand how rules help everyone live safely together.

You have rights things you are allowed to have and do. In Canada, all children have the right to go to school and learn. You also have the right to feel safe every day at school and at home.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is Canada's important document that protects the rights of all people. You can explore Children's Legal Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to learn even more about your rights.

You can help the planet in many small ways every day! Here are some important actions you can take:

• Recycle: Put paper, cans, and plastic in the blue bin. Recycling reduces waste and helps the Earth.
• Save water: Turn off the tap when you are not using it. This protects our important water resources.
• Pick up litter: When you pick up litter and put it in a trash bin, you keep parks clean for everyone.
• Plant trees: Trees clean the air and give homes to birds. Planting trees is a great way to be a planet steward.
• Walk or ride a bike: This keeps the air cleaner because no fuel is burned.

Learn more about Caring for Our Surroundings to discover even more ways to help.

Your community has leaders who make rules to keep everyone safe and fair. The mayor leads your city or town and works with councillors to make decisions. The Prime Minister leads all of Canada's national government.

You can explore Basic Government Functions and Functions and Services of Local Government to learn more about how leaders help your community.

First Nations peoples in Canada have long traditions of respecting and caring for the land. The Inuit are Indigenous peoples who have lived in Canada's Arctic for thousands of years. The Métis are an Indigenous people with a unique heritage blending First Nations and European roots. You can learn from their example of being good stewards of the Earth.

Steward: A steward is someone who takes care of something, like our planet Earth. When you recycle or pick up litter, you are being a steward.

Composter: A composter is a community helper who turns food scraps into rich soil. This helps reduce waste and feeds the Earth.

Conservationist: A conservationist is a person who protects animals and wild places. They work hard to keep nature safe and healthy.

Water Warden: A water warden is a community helper who makes sure clean water is not wasted. They help protect this important resource.

Civic Duty: A civic duty is a job or responsibility you have as a member of your community. Following rules and picking up litter are civic duties.

Blue Bin: The blue bin is where you put items like paper and cans for recycling in most Canadian communities.

Charter of Rights and Freedoms: This is Canada's important document that protects the rights of all people who live in Canada.

Mayor: A mayor is the leader elected to run a city or town in Canada. The mayor leads the city council.

Prime Minister: The Prime Minister is the leader of Canada's national government and leads the whole country.

Inuit: The Inuit are Indigenous peoples who have traditionally lived in Canada's cold Arctic regions for thousands of years.

Métis: The Métis are an Indigenous people in Canada with a unique heritage that blends First Nations and European roots.

Province: A province is one of the main parts of Canada. Canada is divided into provinces and territories.

You can practice your civic and environmental duties every day! Try turning off lights when you leave a room to save energy. You can also sort your recycling into the blue bin and remind your family to turn off the tap.

Explore Community Helpers to learn about people in your community who help take care of the planet and each other. You can also visit Shared Resources to understand why it is important to share and protect things like parks and water.

You have already learned about Community Rules and why rules help keep everyone safe. You also know about Community Helpers and Shared Resources. These ideas help you understand your civic and environmental duties even better.

This topic connects to many other important ideas you will explore:

• Balancing Individual Rights Against Public Interest You will learn how your rights and duties work together for everyone's good.
• Caring for Our Surroundings You will discover more ways to keep your neighbourhood clean and beautiful.
• Decision Makers and the Impact of Their Choices You will see how leaders' choices affect your community and planet.
• Water and Sewage Treatment Infrastructure Impact You will learn how clean water gets to your home.
• Natural Resource Industries Mining Forestry and Energy Production You will explore how people use Earth's resources.
• Population Growth and Community Development You will see how communities grow and change over time.
• Laws and Safety You will learn how laws protect you and your community.
• Roles in Different Settings You will discover the different roles people play in various places.
• Roles of Community Workers You will meet the helpers who keep your community running.
• Essential Community Services You will learn about the important services your community provides.
• Functions and Services of Local Government You will explore what your local government does for you.
• Basic Government Functions You will understand how government works to help everyone.
• Community Resources You will discover the resources your community shares.

This topic also prepares you for exciting future learning, including Caring for Our World, Community Environmental Protection Values, Human Effects on Nature, Individual Environmental Responsibility, Protecting Our World, Making Good Choices, Sharing Earth's Resources, Using Earth's Resources, Recreational Environmental Impact Outdoor Activities and Ecosystem Effects, and Small vs Large Communities Environmental Impact Analysis.