For my inspiring family 

In the heart of West Virginia's enchanting forests, three stuffed animal friends—Penguin, Giraffe, and Bird—sat nestled among the trees. They were known as the Buddies, playing beneath the towering branches. One sunny day, as they enjoyed their woodland adventure with their friend Poppy, they noticed something odd—the air felt warmer, and the sun seemed unusually intense.

Poppy, a young child with a sense of wonder, owned the Buddies. She spent her days exploring the forest with her beloved stuffed companions, bringing them to life through her imagination and creating adventures for them to enjoy together.

Penguin waddled over to Giraffe with a puzzled expression. "Why is it so hot today?" he asked. Giraffe, with her long neck, admitted she wasn't sure, but something felt off. Bird mentioned maybe it was just the forest. 

Then Penguin realized that it might be because the Earth was heating up. Giraffe looked even more puzzled. "Heating up?" Penguin mentioned something he read in one of Poppy's ecosystem magazines.

The Giraffe and Bird listened intently, realizing that even their home in West Virginia was not immune to climate change's effects. They discovered that rising temperatures were disrupting ecosystems, altering weather patterns, and impacting the forest they called home.

Determined to take action, the Buddies set out to make a difference by learning about climate change. As they learned they wrote down their findings.

Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Our                                           Oceans

I learned today climate change is making the oceans really different. It's making them warmer and causing some crazy weather. This is making it hard for the animals and plants that live there to stay happy and healthy.

The ocean helps keep the Earth's temperature and air clean by soaking up extra heat and carbon dioxide. But because of climate change, the ocean is having a hard time doing this job properly. This makes climate change even worse, which then makes it even harder for the ocean to do its job. It's like a never-ending loop that hurts our planet's biggest ecosystem.

- Giraffe

The power of the tides and understanding tidal                                             energy

Tidal energy sounds like magic power from the ocean's waves. It's super clean and doesn't hurt our planet. But sometimes, it's tricky to use because of climate change.

You see, climate change is making the ocean act differently. It's getting warmer, and ice is melting, which messes up how the tides move. 

Tidal energy projects need the tides to be just right to make lots of energy. But with climate change, the tides can be all over the place, making it harder to use tidal energy. Which would really affect Penguin's surfing. 

-Bird

                         Rising of Tsunami's

Tsunamis are like giant waves that can cause big trouble. They happen when something big, like an earthquake or volcano, shakes the ocean floor. But did you know that climate change can make tsunamis even scarier? Climate change can make the Earth's temperature warmer, which melts ice in places like the Arctic. When ice melts, it adds more water to the ocean, making it higher. So, when a big wave like a tsunami comes along, it can be even taller and reach farther onto land because the

 ocean is higher than before.

-Penguin 

              Colorful Crisis what is a Red Tide?

Today I learned about red tides may sound pretty, but they're not good news for our oceans. These tides happen when tiny plants in the water grow out of control, turning the ocean red and making it hard for fish and other sea creatures to breathe.

Climate change makes red tides even worse. Warmer temperatures and changes in the ocean's chemistry can make it easier for these tiny plants to grow too much, creating bigger and more harmful red tides. So, while red tides may seem like a colorful sight, they're a sign that something's not right in our oceans.

-Giraffe

                    Colorful Coral in Trouble

Ohh did you know coral reefs are like underwater cities full of colorful homes for fish and other sea creatures. But sometimes, when the water gets too warm, the corals get sad and turn white. This is called coral bleaching.

Climate change is like a big problem for coral reefs because it makes the water too warm. When corals get too hot, they lose their colorful homes, and the fish and other animals that live there lose their homes too.

-Bird

         Trouble in the Water What is a dead zone?

Dead zones are like underwater ghost towns where fish and other sea creatures can't live. They happen when there's not enough oxygen in the water for them to breathe.Climate change makes dead zones worse. Warmer temperatures can make the water hold less oxygen, which means even less air for the fish. Plus, climate change can make more pollution go into the water, feeding the tiny plants that take away even more oxygen. 

So, while dead zones may sound spooky,

 they're a serious problem caused by climate change.

-Penguin 

                         Shifting Shores

Today I learned what a coast is it is where the land meets the ocean, and it's a super cool place full of sandy beaches and crashing waves. But climate change is causing big problems for the coast.

First, it's making the sea level rise, which means the water is getting higher and higher. This can make the beaches disappear and flood the land where people live. Climate change also makes storms stronger, which can be really scary for people who live on the coast. Big waves and heavy rain can cause 

a lot of damage to houses and buildings. So, while the coast is a 

fun place to play and explore, it's important to know that climate 

change is making it change in ways that aren't always good

-Giraffe

                           Trash Trouble

Garbage is all the stuff we don't need anymore, like plastic bottles, old toys, and food wrappers. But did you know that climate change can make our garbage problem even worse? When the Earth gets warmer because of climate change, it can make more garbage. People use more energy to stay cool, and that makes more pollution, like plastic bags and bottles. Plus, when it rains a lot because of climate change, it can wash garbage into rivers and oceans, hurting animals and making a big mess.

So, while garbage might seem like just a little problem, climate change can make it a big problem.

-Bird

                                Sour Sea's

Check this out the ocean is like a giant bathtub full of water, and it's super important for all the animals and plants that live there. But something called climate change is making the ocean get sour, just like when you add too much lemon to your drink!

Here's how it happens: When people burn things like gasoline and coal, it makes the air dirty. Then, when it rains, the dirt gets washed into the ocean, making it sourer. This sour water can hurt the animals and plants that live in the ocean, like coral reefs and fish. They need the water to be just right to stay healthy, but climate change is making it too sour for them to survive.

-Penguin

                   Oil and Our Changing Climate

Today I found out that Oil is like a powerful fuel that makes our machines go zoom and our homes warm and cozy. But there's a problem when we use too much of it. It's called climate change, and it's like the Earth feeling too hot under a thick blanket.

When we burn oil to make energy, like when we drive cars or use machines, it sends something called carbon dioxide into the air. This carbon dioxide acts like a thick blanket around our Earth, making it warmer and warmer.

Now, when Earth gets too warm, it's not happy. It starts to melt ice in cold places like the North and South Poles, and that's not good for polar bears and penguins who call those places home. Plus, it makes storms stronger and weather crazier, like a big rollercoaster ride. But that's not all! Sometimes, when we use oil, accidents happen, like big spills in the ocean. These spills make fish and turtles sad because their homes get all messy.

-Giraffe

         The Big Problem with Too Much Fishing

Imagine the ocean being like a container of snacks well if you keep eating without getting more snacks you'll run out. But Here's the problem with the ocean: too many people are catching too many fish, and it's called overfishing. Now, imagine another problem joining in, like a big, dark cloud called climate change. When our Earth gets warmer because of climate change, it affects the ocean too. It's like the ocean getting too hot and not feeling well. This makes it harder for fish to find their favorite places to live and food to eat. So, when there's already too much fishing, and then climate change makes it even tougher for fish to survive. Not giving them time to grow and make more fish babies. 

-Penguin

                                Strange Visitors

Learning about balance of nature, picture the forest or a beautiful garden filled with all sorts of plants and animals, like a big family. But sometimes, new plants and animals come from far away, and they don't always fit in well with the others. Unlike the buddies these are called exotic or invasive species. Now, imagine another change happening: the weather getting warmer and weirder because of climate change. This makes it easier for these strange 

visitors to survive and even take over places where they don't belong. 

They can push out the local plants and animals, like the bullies at 

school taking over the playground. This isn't good because

 it messes up the balance of nature.

-Giraffe 

               Rising waters time for a submarine

The ocean as a giant bathtub, and the land as the edges of the tub. Now, imagine if someone poured more water into the bathtub, making it higher and higher. That's what's happening with our oceans because of climate change. When the Earth gets warmer, it melts ice from places like Antarctica and Greenland, and that extra water goes into the ocean. It's like adding more water to the bathtub. This makes the sea levels rise, which means the water goes further and further onto the land. 

So, beaches might disappear, and some homes near the coast might get wet feet! But don't worry, we can help by using less energy that makes the Earth too hot and by planting trees to soak up carbon dioxide.

-Bird