Environmental Best Practices
Best Ideas for Environmental Education from Council and State Reports
Note: The Georgia PTA website also has information on Environmental Education: http://www.georgiapta.org/resources-student-env-ed.html
2008-09
Paper Usage
In 2008, East Side Elementary created a distribution list whereby each family (versus each student) would receive a copy of the school newsletter. Other program announcements and flyers that could not be effectively communicated via the weekly electronic newsletter were also sent home on a per-family basis. This literally saved thousands of pieces of paper throughout the school year. Additionally, families were offered the opportunity to receive a paperless copy of the newsletter. Approximately 150 families elected this delivery method, again, saving copying costs, carbon emission and paper. As a bonus, these families received a copy of the newsletter a day early.
Waste-Free Lunch Day
Did you know that each student creates approximately 67 pounds of cafeteria waste per school year? Select a date to educate parents on the waste of non-reusable lunch packaging items – Ziploc bags, juice boxes, individually-wrapped items. Visit www.wastefreelunches.org for program information and www.happy-sacks.com or www.wrap-n-mat.com for products. (East Side Elementary)
2007-08
2007-08
Hot Water Waiters
Encourage students to study and communicate water usage and waste. Students came up with an idea called “Hot Water Waiters”. The purpose is to collect water from the faucet while you are waiting for warm water. The water is then used to water your plants, fill your pet’s bowl or poured into the back of toilets. Students contacted Harry’s Wholesale and collected empty water and milk jugs. They rinsed out the jugs, cut off the tops and put a label on the outside explaining its use. The waiters were then given to the Marietta Housing Authority and used to educate others on how to conserve water. (Marietta Center for Advance Academics)
Scarecrow Project
To kick off the fall planting season, Addison Elementary held a Scarecrow Contest. The goal was to introduce original classroom creations into the garden using recycled materials. The entire school was involved in preparing, organizing and judging the competition. Students brainstormed and voted on a design for their scarecrow using recycled materials such as old clothes, soda cans, water bottles or plastic grocery bags. Additional activities included learning about recycling and reading books about scarecrows. As a result, the fall garden was filled with creative and cheerful scarecrows. The scarecrows were stuffed with pine straw which was later used on the school grounds.
Mr. McGregor’s Garden
Combining literature with science, the McGregor Garden project was for kindergarten students along with parent volunteers to plant a winter garden. On the morning of the project, teachers read the story of Peter Rabbit. Then the children went out and planted a winter vegetable, bulb or flower. There was a live rabbit in a hutch and children learned about rabbits and their diet. The purpose was not only to watch the garden grow, but also to understand that plants were food for wild creatures that share our environment. The children were able to see the garden at maturity and also observe the disappearance of the plants as they were nibbled by wildlife. (Kincaid Elementary)
Better Air School
Better Air School
Kincaid Elementary PTA participated in the “Better Air School” program sponsored by the Clean Air Campaign. This program teaches parents and students how they can positively change the air in their community. The Clean Air Campaign provides nearly all of the necessary resources needed to execute this program.
Worm Composting
Fifth graders at Sope Creek Elementary participated in a vermin-composting project that teaches natural recycling and conservation. Through worms, the students learn about conserving our land. After gathering, weighing and documenting the vegetarian scraps from the cafeteria, the students feed the worms located in nearby bins. Students will recycle close to 1,000 pounds of lunch leftovers during the course of the school year. The rich soil produced is used on campus to fertilize flowerbeds, science projects and other plantings.
HEROES
Helping the Environment Recover on Earth’s Surface Club – is the name of the PTSA student group at Dickerson Middle School led by elected student leaders with support from faculty and parent advisors to plan activities on environmental awareness and creative problem-solving regarding environmental issues. Some of the programs include Adopt-a-Mile weekends, campus beautification days and zero-scape landscaping. Conservation and recycling programs include paper, aluminum cans, printer cartridges, holiday cards, foam cafeteria trays and tennis shoes. The various programs have been recognized by Keep Cobb Beautiful, Keep Georgia Beautiful the Marietta Daily Journal and Nike Reuse-A-Shoe.
Holiday Trash to Treasure Contest
Students created winter-themed treasures and ornaments from clean, discarded materials that otherwise would have ended up in the landfill. (Tritt Elementary)
2006-07
Go Green Initiative School
In order to achieve status as a Level II Georgia PTA Go Green Initiative School, Shallowford Falls PTA planned a week of activities to coincide with Earth Day including an activity packet, themed mascot (PENNY the Polar Bear – “Protect and Explore Nature Near You”), art and reading activities, visual displays and a wrap-up Earth Day Fun Run and Health Fair.
More Historical Ideas
Hands-On Experience for Every Child
The focus at Sope Creek was hands-on experiences at each grade level to introduce every child to the Earth’s environment by increasing knowledge and awareness. The studies were tailor-made for each grade level. Kindergarten classrooms studied an indoor butterfly garden, learning about the life cycle and witnessing the transformation from larvae to butterflies. First Grade pond study focused on habitats, food chains and animal classifications while emphasizing the impact of pollution and conservation. Second Grade participated in a Log Study in the school’s Wildlife Habitat where children explored the different characteristics of a dead tree versus a healthy tree, why trees fall, what creatures inhabit logs and various examples of decomposition. A lecturer sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources presented “Hawk Talk” to the Third Grade classes. The presentation included owls and a red-tailed hawk as well as raptor rehabilitation, anatomy and physiology and the role of raptors in the food chain. Fourth Grade students followed the Bluebird Trail” and each class monitored and maintained bluebird houses strategically placed around campus. Students counted numbers of eggs, observed the young and recorded fledglings leaving the nests. Lastly, the Fifth Grade learned about conservation through worm composting. (See above)
