earthcare
connections
| At school |
| students |
By practicing environmentally responsible habits, today’s
students can set a good example for all of us to do our share to save
this planet.
• Practice the 3 R’s of Environmental Action: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The fourth “R” is actually Recover, which takes beneficial products from waste. An example of this is to make compost from kitchen and yard vegetable waste.
• Participate actively in environmental fairs, government environment department tours, and poster, essay, song or play contests about the environment.
• Organize or participate in neighbourhood or school clean-up campaigns or rehabilitation projects, such as rehabilitating a local stream or wetland.
• Many students are creating wildlife habitats at school. The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) encourages these projects through HABITAT 2000. Find out more by contacting them.
• As a school project, build some nesting boxes for birds. Once the birds have occupied them, monitor the birds and learn about their habits and lifestyles.
• Organize special paper, glass, plastic or metal recycling projects. They can also serve as fundraisers.
• Sign up environmental projects for the annual science fairs held in your area.
• Instead of buying new things, share or trade toys, clothes, tapes and other things with your friends.
• Instead of a paper bag, use a lunch box or reusable cloth bag for your school lunch. Use reusable, washable containers for sandwiches and snacks, rather than plastic wrap.
• Take fresh fruit or home-made cookies for dessert instead of overpackaged, overprocessed snack foods.
• When planning a birthday party, or any other party, say no to disposable dishes, napkins, glasses, decorations and even balloons.
• Don’t let helium-filled balloons go outdoors. When they land they cause litter. If a bird or animal eats one, it can die.
• Make your own cards and wrap a gift in coloured newspaper, left-over wall paper or decorative, reusable bag.
• Take care of your school supplies throughout the year. Keep them in a special place over the summer so you can reuse them.
• Share magazine subscriptions with a friend or relation. Take used magazines to the children’s ward of the hospital or to your school’s kindergarten class.
• Avoid buying toys and electronic items that need batteries. If you really need batteries, buy rechargeable batteries and a recharger.
• Never throw old clothes in the garbage. Trade them with friends or give them to the Saskatchewan Institute on Community Living, Salvation Army, or another community based organization.
| teachers |
Today’s teachers have the exciting opportunity to nurture an environmental
conscience in tomorrow’s adults and help them learn environmentally-sound
lifestyles.
• Use the special teaching kits that the Canadian Wildlife Federation sends to schools every year for Wildlife Week in early April.
• Organize a tree-planting event for National Forest Week (first full week in May).
• Plan events and activities to take place during Canadian Environment Week (the first week in June).
• Organize and lead special school yard and neighbourhood litter clean-up campaigns.
• Arrange for your students to tour bird sanctuaries, national parks and other wildlife areas.
• Look for learning experiences outdoors in local parks, on a farm or in other green spaces.
• Organize annual environmental fairs at your school.
• Organize poster, essay, song or play contests with environmental topics and themes.
• Encourage your school to purchase recycled and/or unbleached paper.
• Discourage the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in your school yard. Organize a student weed-pulling bee.
| © 2005 Earthcare Connections |