 |
Taking
Eco-ideas beyond Earth Day 2000
adapted from 'Eco
Education Guide 2000', Earth Day Network Worldwide. |
Introduction
The collection of eco-ideas on this page have first appeared in a
publication of the worldwide Earth Day Network
to
encourage
environmental education groups to participate in Earth Day 2000. Earth
Day was celebrated on 22 April 2000 by over 500 million members
of the network and is
evidence that an internationally coordinated EE event is not impossible.
The
Eco Education Guide 2000 available from the
network describes over 20 outstanding
international EE projects in ways that will inspire your group to start
similar initiatives in your area.
INforEEP has adapted Chapter 3 of
the guide which contains a list of practical ideas for
projects.
After all, our
ultimate quest is to promote these ideas well beyond Earth Day 2000 !
|
Classroom and school activities |
|
The classroom: in many still the centre for learning.
|
Organize a school recycling program if you don't already
have one. Organize an essay competition with an environmental theme,
such as what the environment could be like on Earth Day. Have students write letters to a local official asking
them to support a specific project. Organize a competition: poster, essay, poetry, T-shirt
design, photography, music or art, with a clean energy or
other environmental theme. You will need a central location
and a contact person for collecting entries. You can have
the awards at a culminating event and invite local
businesses or individuals to donate prizes for different age
groups.
|
|
|
Schoolyard activities |
|
The outdoor classroom brings
new opportunities for hands-on learning. |
Grow trees from seeds. Set up an organic garden at
your school, complete with a compost pile. Survey how many different
kinds of plants, animals and insects live in and around the
school yard. Draw pictures of them and learn about their
habitats, behaviors and lifestyles. Start an indigenous garden
at your school. Watch as more creatures come and visit the
school grounds as a result. Replace lawn with an
indigenous garden. Plant shade trees to keep
rooms cool without using air conditioning.
|
|
|
Artistically-speaking
... |
|
Thinking artistically ...
|
Make a paper tree on the
classroom wall with each leaf containing the individual
promises of students to improve the environment. Host a reading by local
naturalist writers. Paint an environmental
mural. Have a parade ! Consider an
Energy Parade, an Earth Parade, or a Children's Earth
Parade.
|
|
|
Field trips
|
|
Learning from field
trips.
|
Visit a landfill and
recycling centre to learn about the different ways to deal
with waste. Adopt a local park, stream
or beach, and clean it up. Go on an urban hike. Explore
local waterways, parklands or beaches. Identify local bird and
wildlife species. Form a nature club.
|
|
|
Working with others |
|
Caution:
Environmental architects at work !
|
Invite speakers to come and
talk about environmental issues. Write essays and frame
projects around the talk. Do an environmental audit of
your school. Look to see much and what type of waste is
generated, how much water is consumed, and how much and type
of paper, cleaners, food and energy are used daily. Work out
ways to improve the school's use of resources and production
of waste. Develop an environmental
policy for the school. Have students and teachers help
design it and then have the principle officially launch it
on a day such as Earth Day. Create a community green map
highlighting all the environmental assets in your community
(such as parks, recycling centres, farmers' markets etc.)
|
- Help establish a green belt around your school or community.
Help set up an Earth Day exhibit at your local library, religious
meeting or supermarket. Organize a Walk-A-Thon or running event. Try to design the route
around a local environmental feature, park or issue.
|
|
