Dalton’s Youngest Students Explore Sustainability and the World Around Them

Each year, our youngest students explore sustainability and the environment, actively and creatively, and learn how they can promote a greener world. Guided by House Advisors and through the First Program’s robust service-learning program, students in Grades K-3 develop empathy, increased awareness, and a sense of shared responsibility.

To celebrate Earth Day, first graders hand-deliver reusable grocery bags, purchased with funds raised from a Walk-A-Thon, to a local grocery store. Last year, after learning about best practices for keeping the community and environment clean, students included “green” tip sheets with the grocery bags with ideas on ways to protect our planet.

Second graders are the First Program’s “Sustainability Superheroes.” Each fall, after learning how their daily choices impact the world, second graders teach fellow students about the importance of reducing waste. Each November, students launch the Green Challenge to track classroom recycling efforts using bins for garbage, paper, and plastic. If the correct items are in each bin, the class receives 3 points. Classes with a perfect weekly score get a shout-out on the Green Tip — announced every Friday morning over the PA system. On Earth Day in April, second graders lead a House 91 Assembly to celebrate the earth and explain how everyone can support sustainability. In addition, each House learns about a type of pollution (e.g., land, water, air, noise, and light) and works together, usually by making a video or acting out a skit, to explain steps to take to reduce pollution.

Third graders head further afield to Clearpool’s Outdoor Education Center in Carmel, New York. Founded in 1901, the Clearpool campus spans 264 acres of privately-owned forestland. Students explore the Center’s ecological resources and extensive wildlife including its protected woodlands, conservation site, forest trails, lake, marsh, and stream system. The students also enjoy a sensory nature walk for an immersive nature experience.

Last spring, one 3rd grade House visited the Beczak Environmental Center. This was a happy return to an excursion (paused during Covid restrictions) — the entire grade usually goes in the fall. The Center is known for its impressive seining (i.e., fishing with a huge net) program, and students enjoy wading into the river to catch and release fish using a large net. After seining, the class returns to the classroom to record their data and analyze the different species they collected. The students also embark on a scavenger hunt to see how many Hudson River treasures they can find, encountering Spartina (i.e., marsh grass), driftwood, and seashells along the way.

First Program students enjoy partnering with the High School Wildlife Club which presents to the entire FP community at the House 91 Assembly. At the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) last spring, Kindergarteners saw the ocean animals and shark exhibit and then focused their research on a specific ocean animal. Afterward, High School Wildlife Club members met with the Kindergarteners to talk about their sea creatures and their habitats.

Whether in the classroom or on field trips, First Program students’ enthusiasm for learning about nature, the environment, and their commitment to finding solutions to address climate change is nothing short of inspiring.