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Six "Going Green" Activities for Back to School 

It is important to teach students environmental awareness and the benefits of "going green." Start at the beginning of the school year so that good practices will continue to develop throughout the year. With both indoor and outdoor activities, teachers can demonstrate the importance of protecting our planet.

Here are six "Going Green" activities to try at back-to-school time:

  1. Carbon Footprint:  During the first week of school, have students calculate their "footprint" and discuss the results. What can they do to reduce it? How can the class find ways to reduce and reuse throughout the year? 
  2. Create a Class Garden: Take students outside and with the school's permission, start a class garden. Gardening is a great outside activity that will give students a sense of community, purpose and pride in their work. Teach students the benefits of growing organic fruits and vegetables. Later in the year, have a picnic and let students taste what they helped grow. 
  3. Recycling Station: Set up a a compost bin and a recycling station for paper, bottles and other items. This will teach students about what can be recycled, and they can bring this practice home. A fun twist would be to make a contest of how many items students recycle or bring from home to be recycled. The winner could wear a crown made from recycled newspaper. Also try these recycling activities.
  4. Park/Playground Pickup: Bring the classroom to a local park or the school playground for a "pickup party." This will teach students about how littering can ruin an ecosystem and animal habitats. Incorporate math by graphing the number and types of items picked up.
  5. Bring Nature Indoors: During the cold months, grow plants, flowers or herbs indoors. Assign students the task of watering and caring for the plants each day. Spend time with the class observing and documenting growth. 
  6. Green Classroom Library: Dedicate a section of the classroom library to books about the environment. During free time, students can look at the books and learn about how to be more environmentally friendly. 


Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor
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