I'm starting the Environmental club at my school, and I want to know if anyone out there has any suggestions on activities we can have. I already have a few in mind, but I'd love to here from others. Thanks a bunch.
By keiry from Miami, FL
Picking up litter is always good when you want to make a difference in the environment. If you live in the city any litter that gets into the drainage systems goes directly into a creek or river. Keeping it off the streets will help to keep the lakes, steams, rivers and even the ocean clean. It's a good start.
I work with many schools in our district about activities for their environmental clubs (and I make numerous presentations). Consider a "trash-free" lunch (kids bring their foods in Tupperware, use real silverware, etc.), buy treats in large bags and give out on cloth napkins (showing kids the difference between numerous bags and paper napkins), play games to show the value and beauty of the environment, have a contest each month to come up with environmental slogans (ask your school to include the winners in weekly announcements), show videos on the pros and cons of plastic bags, bring a barrel full of items and ask kids to identify if they can be recycled or only put in the trash, take field trips to a recycling center and landfill, and so much more!
How about a toy swap, if your at that age. Instead of throwing them out see if someone else can use them. Also: a clothing swap for different ages. The grade ones could bring in clothing for the kindergarten, the grade twos for the grade ones etc. Have a collection to donate to your local charity shop. An older class could make their own cloth bags. There are lots of patterns on line, using fabrics they have around already so you're recycling as well as saving the planet from plastic bags. Have discussions about what a certain product does to the environment: i.e.: a plastic bubble from a small product or a store bought meal in a box instead of a home made one, etc.
This is an addition to the great response from caseye...Walmart sells plastic cutlery, that is supposed to be tossable, but it is very heavy grade plastic and comes in animal shapes. The kids love it and it washes just like silverware, but is lighter and shorter, and shaped for little hands.
Good for you! There are TONS of things you can do & if off-site activities are a possibility, being in Miami should be a good way to incorporate beach, ocean, etc. check out the Environmental Protection Agency website & the info for kids/teens/schools, etc at www.epa.gov/kids
I did a quick google search using a few key words (miami, ocean, environmental, education) and a few really cool things came up. You could try working with your club advisor/env. science teachers & contact a local organization that could help you - whether setting you up with already existing projects, stuff to start in your school, or even having someone come in to talk to the club, classes, etc.
Good luck!
Thanks for thinking of this! A couple of suggestions:
You may have seen this site - the EPA has a list of student projects
www.epa.gov/
also you might want to check with a local enviro group for ideas and help - a grassroots group like Sierra Club can inform you on local issues and suggest ideas that could help locally. The Miami group's website is at
florida.sierraclub.org/
Thanks! I am in the same boat :) All the way in New Zealand! Lots of great ideas to get us started! Yay
great
