Every year for earth day: talk to son's class about recycling

[langyork]

Give me ideas.

I have read the lorax, had them actually recycle my stuff, talk about where our trash goes.

This is my biggest passion and I recycle everything I can.

[TinyBabyBean]

We just went and got some free pamphlets at our recycling drop off center today that my daughter's are going to pass out.

Also, our school does not recycle so my 3 daughters are going to start keeping a bin in the classroom for all recyclables and even encourage classmates who's families do not recycle to bring in recyclables from home. We will then empty the bins as needed and bring them back the next day.

Also, for my daughter who is in 5th grade she told her teacher about the movie at http://www.thestoryofstuff.com and her teacher is going to show the class the video on earth day! I am really excited about this because I think it gets to the heart of the problem that runs much deeper than recycling can ever get to.

My daughter in fourth grade already did a show and tell one day about recycling. She brought in some of our reusable shopping bags and examples of all types of things you can recycle in our area.

Those are just a few things we have done. In the schools here recycling is a part of the curriculum but the school does not as of yet recycle and they serve lunch on styrofoam trays that get tossed everyday. It is pretty horrific. My kids have commented, in their own words and noticing on their own that it is so hypocritical how they have all these recycling posters, have them color pages on recycling, and pass out papers about recycling then toss everything in the garbage. The amount of paper thrown out is staggering so I hope this changes soon.

My kids bring their lunch to school using wrap-n-mats and reusuable containers along with a klean kanteen bottle for water and a cloth napkin so no waste every single day. They have shown their classmates who think it is really cool. One daughter even gave her friend one of our wrap-n-mats to use.

I hope this can give you some ideas.

[blizzard_babe]

I've done a "garbage dissection" with junior high students. Basically, we kept the contents of our garbage can from the day before and listed, sorted, and otherwise examined the contents of the can (we all wore gloves and aprons, but it was mostly classroom trash so it wasn't too bad ). What was really necessary trash? What could have been re-used or recycled? What could have been totally eliminated by using a different, non-disposable product? Let me tell you this... junior high boys find the idea of digging through trash FASCINATING.

Now that I'm working with younger kids, we make recycled paper. I'm sure they'd LOVE the idea of a garbage dissection, but I'm not sure my blood pressure could handle it . We save up our used paper from the year, sort it into colors, and bust out the blenders, frames, and screens. We usually then use the paper to make Mother's Day cards.

Wow, both of my "What I do for Earth Day" activities are horribly messy. Wonder what that says about me as a teacher.

[langyork]

oh, great ideas. I am going to look in to the story of stuff.

I have done the garbage dissection and asked what can and cannot be recycled. I just didn't know what to call it.

I get the parents complaining: my son wants to compost this carrot and I don't want to start doing that. OR, not everyone has a compost bin. My thing is, why not? it's so easy. it keeps the garbage cleaner.

Yes, it is hypocritical that the schools have something for recycling, but they don't recycle at my son's school either.

I recycle everything of my own.

[blizzard_babe]

Originally Posted by langyork

I get the parents complaining: my son wants to compost this carrot and I don't want to start doing that. OR, not everyone has a compost bin. My thing is, why not? it's so easy. it keeps the garbage cleaner.

One of my coworkers started composting for her classroom, and there was the added side bonus that there was WAY too much for their limited second-grade needs, so she got some sweet compost. They only composted veggies left over from lunch at school (and coffee grounds from the teachers' workroom, etc.), though, and she had a good location in which to compost, so it might not be great in most schools.

One thing I like to stress, especially to little kids who have less control over big stuff but with older students as well, is that they can choose to do LITTLE things independently, with or without anyone else's help. I like to plant seeds of bigger stuff, because kids CAN be catalysts for change, but I don't want them to feel hopeless if their parents won't recycle or compost or whatever. We brainstormed ideas and they came up with good ones... like if you're at a party and there's only paper or plastic cups, you can ask for a marker to write your name on one so you don't keep having to get another one, or asking to pack your own lunch (I'm sure mom and dad would like a break from that chore anyway), and putting chips, crackers, sandwiches, etc., in little tupperware containers rather than baggies, etc. I was impressed with their sneakiness.

[langyork]

thank you blizzard babe. it's great to think of ways to give kids control in their lives in general anyway.

great great ideas.