INTRODUCTION
The scorching heat, the dreadful droughts as well as the furious fires and floods are the Earth’s way of telling us that she’s not alright. We, a group of schools from all over Europe, felt that we had the responsibility to help our planet, the only one we’ve got, somehow.
This little book is our attempt to change the direction we are heading, our attempt to make a difference, and we decided that the best way to do so is to change the attitudes of the grown-ups of tomorrow, our students.
We hope that you will join us in our mission and see the difference a little drop can make, as we strongly believe that little things do matter. And just think how strong we can be, if we do those little things together! We would like these tiny ideas to inspire and empower you, and also bring hope and the feeling of unity; you are not alone.
Grab the book and browse it. Choose an idea and feel free to modify it in any way you like. There is no right order nor right way to do these things. The requirement is that you start somewhere, start to think and start to make your students think. Plant the little green seeds here and there, be consistent, and the magic will start to happen.
On the behalf of true green believers, the great Green Crossroads gang,
Sanna the co-ordinator
MAKE GOOD GROW
FINAL PRODUCT: Pots
SUBJECT: Fine Arts (reuse) gardening
DURATION: 6 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: Any
POTS FOR PLANTS
GOAL: Pots for plants
MATERIAL: Plastic bottles, used glass jars, markers, scissors, a basil to start from
Description of the activity
Select a good stem from the basil and cut it so that it is about 6-10 cm long. Remove the leaves close to the cut, fill the plastic bottle with water and place the stem in the bottle to start to root. Make sure that the root of the stem is in the water. It takes about two weeks for the stem to grow good roots. Make sure that the stem has enough water all the time.
Wash and dry the glass jars well. Paint them colourful with proper markers. Put compost and soil mixture in the glass jar, dig a hole in the soil, place the basil plant in it and cover the roots with soil. The plant needs daylight to grow, so find a good place for it. And remember to water the plant.
SEED BANK
GOAL: Biodiversity
MATERIAL: Paper and plywood, seeds, solori
Description of the activity
Build the plywood house, search for seeds, make bags to contain the seeds of vegetables, flowers and trees.
FINAL PRODUCT:
Creation of a seed collection bank to contribute to the protection of biodiversity
SUBJECT: Science, Arts, Social studies
DURATION: 6-10 hours
BIRD HOUSE
GOAL: Ecological sensitivity, recycling materials, biodiversity
MATERIAL: Cardboard, wood, natural materials, net
YOU NEED: Glue, colours, scissors, nails, tools
Description of the activity
Cut cardboard or wood for the structure, make a good size hole, assemble the parts with glue or nails, add other materials in the slots, colour.
FINAL PRODUCT: Bird houses
SUBJECT: Science, Technology
DURATION: 2-5 hours
RECOMMENDED
AGE: 5-14 years
SHOE PLANTER
Description of the activity
In the month of March, wives and mothers have a special holiday. Shops and stalls offer mountains of different gifts, and we meet again with a pile of discarded packaging. A gift that students make themselves for their mothers is always of special value. We have been practicing for several years now to use old shoes that we no longer need. Let’s turn them into unique flower stands and save some old shoes that would end up in the trash. Using tempera paints, students paint old shoes and give
them a completely new look. At home, they find a small pot and plant a flower for their mother in it. The newly formed base is completed with a flower and the gift is ready. At home, some students encourage family members to recycle old shoes in a similar way and decorate the home in their own way. The idea developed further. The students decorated old, used shoes by drawing on them and wearing them to school again.
FINAL PRODUCT:
Stand for flowers
SUBJECT: Arts
DURATION: 2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 6-10 years
BIRD FOOD CONTAINERS
GOAL: Animal welfare
MATERIAL: Detergent bottles
Description of the activity
Take an empty detergent bottle and wash it well. Then cut a large square it on its side. Paint or decorate it, if you like. Wrap wire or string around the handle and hang your feeder from a tree branch and fill it with birdseeds.
FINAL PRODUCT:
Bird food containers
SUBJECT: Fine Arts (reuse)
DURATION: 5 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-12 years
MY OWN OAK TREE
Description of the activity
In the beginning of the students’ school career, they will plant oak tree seeds and take care of their own tree, transplanting it at the beginning of each school year to a larger container.
When the trees are strong enough, they are planted to a specific place near the school and hopefully they will bring joy to the students and their families for a long period of time.
FINAL PRODUCT: Oak tree
MATERIAL: Toilet paper roll, empty milk carton, recycled plastic container
GO OUT!
TRASH TEST
GOAL: Ecological awareness, Taking care of the environment, Recycling
MATERIAL: Trash bags, gloves
Description of the activity
Students collect trash in little groups in certain areas near the school. The collected trash is analyzed, photographed, sorted and recycled. The test is repeated after a couple of weeks in order to see how much waste is thrown out to the environment.
FINAL PRODUCT: Trash test
SUBJECT: Environment
RECOMMENDED AGE: Any
LAND ART
GOAL: Ecological sensitivity, recycling materials, biodiversity, sense of beauty.
MATERIAL: Natural materials
Description of the activity
Land Art is creative and fun and can be done by anyone. It involves making art and sculptures using materials found in nature; such as leaves, fir cones, twigs, pebbles, rocks, sand and shells. You can realise your own design ideas or make animals, patterns, circles or spirals. The only limit is the imagination.
FINAL PRODUCT: Outdoor land art
SUBJECT: Art, Technology
DURATION: 1-2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 3-14 years
ARRANGEMENT OF THE TREE PARK AND FOREST LEARNING TRAIL
MATERIAL: Wooden circles for marking tree species
Description of the activity
The students created a picture from natural materials on wooden circles. They collected the natural material themselves in the forest (cones, pieces of wood, moss). They glued the collected material to wooden circles with wood glue and thus created pictures. They also added the name of the tree species. The product was varnished with wood varnish and attached to a suitable tree in the tree park next to the school.
SUBJECT: Arts, Environment
DURATION: 5 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-10 years
BUTTERFLY OASIS
Description of the activity
Butterfly gardening can be a wonderful way to experience wildlife with the students, encourage pollination and a great way to give back to your local ecosystem, as many natural habitats for butterflies and other pollinators have been destroyed by urban development and human interference.
First the students will carry out a research project about migratory species of butterflies and their diet. Then they will build a space in which to plant seeds so that the butterflies have a chance to visit and then continue their journey.
Choose an area that is protected by the wind, as butterflies are delicate and don’t want to fight strong breezes to feed. Incorporate different kinds of plants, flowers and herbs. Provide also a water source, such as a birdbath or a shallow bucket filled with water with sand in the bottom.
FINAL PRODUCT: Butterfly oasis
MATERIAL: Various seeds from flowering plants, small logs, a suitable space nearby the school
BUG PATH
Description of the activity
Start by introducing the fascinating world of bugs for the students, study different species and emphasize their importance in the ecosystem. Then collect suitable rocks for painting the bugs. The students may also bring the rocks from home. Wash them well and let them dry. Think about what bugs you would like to paint, e.g. ladybugs or bees. When the rocks are dry, start painting the bugs. They can also be varnished.
The bugs are hidden in the garden or on a trail, and the kids try to find them all. To make it even more interesting, you can take photos of the stones and create a bingo chart.
FINAL PRODUCT: Bug path
MATERIAL: Stones and rocks, paint
RECOMMENDED AGE: Any
TACTILE ART
GOAL: Ecological sensitivity, recycling materials, sense of beauty
MATERIAL: Natural materials, cardboard
Description
of the activity
Tactile art is supposed to be touched. It includes different layers and textures to represent different things and because you experience it by feeling it, it often doesn’t matter what it looks like.
Prepare the paper base and add the cardboard frame. Then attach the natural materials in an artistic manner.
FINAL PRODUCT:
Tactile art paintings
SUBJECT: Arts
DURATION: 1-2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 3-14 years
CHAMELEON NEST FOR BIRDS
Description of the activity
An excursion will be made to the nearby forest to collect remains of trees, reeds, dry tree bark or whatever natural materials can be found from there. With them nesting houses will be made for birds that will be placed in a space near the center or in the school yard itself. Afterwards the students will go bird watching at the nests they made and see if there are birds nesting in them.
FINAL PRODUCT: Nest for birds
MATERIAL: Dry branches, small trunks of trees, pine cones, bark, straw, moss, reeds
SCARECROW
GOAL: Ecological awareness, biodiversity
MATERIAL: Old clothes, wooden poles, straw, buttons, wool, cloth
YOU NEED: Glue, scissors, twine
Description of the activity
Build the cross frame, put on the clothes and fill them with straw. Then prepare the face and place the hat.
FINAL PRODUCT: Scarecrow for vegetable garden SUBJECT: Science, Arts, Social studies
DURATION: 3 hours
RECOMMENDED
AGE: 5-14 years
A COMPOST BIN
Description of the activity
With boards or trunks taken from trees or nearby carpentry shops, a 1 x 1 meter cube is made. The students investigate the layers that the compost bin should have. With the vegetable waste from the meals at home and the school cafeteria, they make different layers in the compost bin, thus reducing general waste, producing compost and learning how the compost bin works at the same time.
FINAL PRODUCT: Compost bin
MATERIAL: Wooden boards or logs, paper and cardboard, paper and cardboard, vegetable scraps, topsoil, worms
EXAMPLES OF LAND ART
GOAL: Learning about land art/ Earth art, using materials of the Earth.
MATERIAL: Materials of the Earth: rocks, flowers, wood.
Description of the activity
Make works of art using only materials of the Earth that could find outside the school building.
FINAL PRODUCT: Land art
SUBJECT: Art, Technology
DURATION: 2 hours RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-15 years
NO TRASH SHOULD BE WASTED
TRASH ROBOTS
Description of the activity
Start by asking the students to bring all sorts of recyclable materials from home. First the students can design the robots using paper and pencil or you can get straight to work when you have the materials. Let the students use their imagination and be creative. After the robots are made, they are named and presented.
FINAL PRODUCT: Trash robots
MATERIAL: All kinds of recyclable materials RECOMMENDED AGE: Any
BAGS
GOAL: Recycling materials, sense of beauty
MATERIAL: Waste PVC bags, baking paper. You tear the bags into pieces.
Description of the activity
Students learn about the reuse of PVC bags. Waste PVC bags are torn into smaller pieces. Place these pieces between two layers of waxed baking paper. Below is a layer of baking paper, then a layer of torn bags and again a layer of baking paper. Use a hot iron to iron the top layer of papaya. Under the heat of the iron, the pieces of PVC bags heat up, melt and form a hard layer of plastic. This plastic mass is then cut into the shape of a shopping bag with scissors. Sew the edges with a stronger thread. This is how we sew a useful bag for shopping or for school slippers.
FINAL PRODUCT: Bags
SUBJECT: Arts, Technology
DURATION: 4 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 10-15 years
THEMATIC BOARD GAME
GOAL: Reuse of discarded products.
MATERIAL: Cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, old newspapers, Styrofoam, plastic bottles caps.
YOU NEED: glue, scissors, markers.
Description of the activity
Make a board game based on the book or story you read. Design the game board, pawns and a dice from recycled materials and prepare the instructions for example on a paper you have made yourself.
FINAL PRODUCT: Thematic board game
SUBJECT: Literature, Languages
DURATION: 3 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 12-14 years.
PALETTE FOR PAINTING
Description of the activity
It often happens that in fine art, one of the students does not have a palette for mixing colors. With some encouragement, the students found a solution in class, how to make a pallet from a tetrapak of milk and different corks. We use the palette in painting.
FINAL PRODUCT: Palette for painting
SUBJECT: Arts, Environment
DURATION: 2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 6-10 years
ASSEMBLAGESPATIAL COLLAGES
GOAL: Reuse of discarded products.
MATERIAL: Discarded objects of everyday use.
Description of the activity
Gather different objects intended to be disposed. Join objects together and glue them to the flat, rigid surface. Make a spatial collage and decorate it using for example spray paint.
FINAL PRODUCT: Assemblage - spatial collages
SUBJECT: Arts
DURATION: 2-4 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 13-15 years
LET’S MAKE A RUMBLE
Description of the activity
How to incorporate environmental education into Music? It’s easy and extremely fun!
Here’s a list of ideas:
- yoghurt pot rattle
- paper plate tambourine
- mini tin can drum
- cardboard guitar
- PVC pipe xylophone
- paper straw panpipe
- lolly stick harmonica
- mini lid banjos
The list is endless and the imagination is again the only limit.
FINAL PRODUCT: Rattles
SUBJECT: Music, Arts
DURATION: 3 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 6-10 years
TRADITIONAL SLOVENE MASK
MATERIAL: Waste and natural materials such as: waste cardboard, newspaper, bottles, colored crepe paper, old buttons, leftover styrofoam, wooden sticks, straw...
Description of the activity
At school, the group of students made a plan or a sketch of what the Kurent mask would look like, and agreed on the material and which material each would bring. Then the individual students together with their parents and grandparents searched for the necessary materials at home, asked their parents and grandparents for additional ideas, and implemented the ideas when making the Kurent mask themselves during art, science and technology classes. In the case of the social studies, they learned about the cultural heritage of Kurent.
FINAL PRODUCT: Mask Kurent
SUBJECT: Science, Arts, Technology, Social studies
DURATION: 4 hour
RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-14 years
FABRIC SCRAPS
Fabric scraps as well as old clothes are a great source of material and inspiration to be used in the classroom. You can easily make all sorts of new and usable things from fabric scraps. The only limit is the imagination, and the kids usually love working with scraps.
Here are some easy ideas to the classroom
- scrunchies
- hairbows and headbands
- bookmarks
- coasters
- keyrings
- toys
- pillows
- small bags and pouches
- pin cushion
- gift wrap
- eye mask
- travel toothbrush case
- reusable sandwich wrap
- baby bibs
- teabags
- bowl cover
- place mat
- Advent calendars
- gift tag
- Christmas decorations
YOU CAN RECYCLE EVERYTHING ELSE EXCEPT OLD ATTITUDES
POT FOR PENS
GOAL: Making a pot for pens from waste materials
MATERIAL: Waste can, yarn, fabric, glue
Description of the activity
These pencil holders are a great way to use leftover yarn or scrap fabric. Start gluing the yarn from the top. If you find the yarn is a little difficult to attach to the tube, wait until the glue is tacky before wrapping the yarn around. The beginning is always the toughest part to start with for this project. After wrapping a few rounds, turn the tube upside down and continue wrapping. I found that working from bottom to top is much easier than working from top to bottom. You may change the color of the yarn or just keep to 1 color. You could also decorate the pencil holder with embellishment when the yarn is securely affixed to the tube. Wait until everything is dry, place the pencil holder on your desk to keep your stationery in it.
FINAL PRODUCT: Table container for pens
SUBJECT: Arts
DURATION: 2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-12 years
APRONS FROM JEANS
GOAL: Reusing waste textile
MATERIAL: Recycled jeans, pins, sewing machine
Description of the activity
Denim is a fabulous fabric to be reused. It is durable, stain-resistant and will last for years. Here’s a great idea to upcycle an old pair of jeans. These aprons are easy to make, and they require only basic sewing skills.
First the students are asked to bring a pair, or even two pairs, of old jeans to school. Then you can first make a template on an old newspaper, for example, or you can simply start to build the apron up from pieces of denim on the table and attach the pieces with a pin. Then start the sewing process. This apron doesn’t have to be perfect. The seams are good material for the neck strap and the waistband is suitable for a waist strap. And remember to use a needle that is strong enough in the sewing machines.
The back pockets and other fabric scraps can be used for decoration.
FINAL PRODUCT: Aprons from jeans
SUBJECT: Art, Technology
DURATION: 3 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 15 years
MODELS OF ECO-MONSTERS
GOAL: Reusing plastic bottles
MATERIAL: Plastic bottles, plastic bottle caps
YOU NEED: Glue, scissors, construction paper
Description of the activity
Design and create a toy “eco-monster” using plastic bottles, decorate it.
FINAL PRODUCT: Models of eco-monsters
SUBJECT: Art, Technology
DURATION: 2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-10 years
HATS FOR CARNIVAL
GOAL: Reuse of discarded products
MATERIAL: Papers, newspapers, pots, glue
YOU NEED: Glue, scissors, construction paper
Description of the activity
Hats are an essential part of party and carnival costumes, and again they are easy to make from recycled materials.
Collect all sorts of recycled material first; cardboard, used copy paper, newspaper, magazines, egg boxes, milk cartons, bottle caps etc. Then start by designing the hat on paper first or you can simply start assembling the hat straight away. Use your imagination and be creative. And have fun! In the end you can arrange a fashion show even for the whole school.
FINAL PRODUCT:
Hats for carnival
SUBJECT:
Fine arts, reuse
DURATION: 3 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 6-11 years
CARNIVAL DRESSES
GOAL: Recycling materials
MATERIAL: Plastic, cloth, paper and cardboard, bottles, buttons, paper napkins, rubbish bags
YOU NEED: Hot glue scissors, glue, string, stapler, needle and thread
Description of the activity
Making clothes from discarded materials such as plastic bottles means we can reuse plastic that would otherwise end up in landfills, or worse, the ocean. Just like the carnival hats, start by designing the dresses first on paper with the students or go with the flow and create the dress out of the blue. Use whatever material feels handy and suitable. Again use your imagination and be creative. And have fun! In the end you can arrange a fashion show even for the whole school.
FINAL PRODUCT: Carnival dresses for adults and children
SUBJECT: Art, Technology
DURATION: 3-9 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-14 years
3D SHAPES
Ecological awareness, paper recycling
Old postcards, photos, posters
Glue, scissors, nets of solid figures - patterns
FINAL PRODUCT: 3D shapes
SUBJECT: Mathematics
DURATION: 1 hour
RECOMMENDED AGE: 10-14 years
MODELS OF LIGHTHOUSES
GOAL: Reusing plastic bottles/containers
MATERIAL: Plastic bottles, plastic bottle caps, plastic containers
YOU NEED: Scissors, glue, construction paper
Description of the activity
Construct the lighthouses using plastic bottles and containers and decorate them.
FINAL PRODUCT: Models of lighthouses
SUBJECT: Art, Technology
DURATION: 2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-10 years
MASKS
GOAL: Recycling materials
MATERIAL: Natural and recycled materials, paper
YOU NEED: Glue, scissors
Description of the activity
A Halloween or a party costume doesn’t have to be bought from the shop. For example, making a mask is fun, economical and easy. Collect all kinds of materials from nature, and also use recycled materials such as paper, magazines, pieces of old clothing or cardboard. Used paper bags are also very handy. Start by choosing the base, cut the eyes and decorate.
FINAL PRODUCT: Carnival masks
SUBJECT: Art, Social studies
DURATION: 1-2 hours
RECOMMENDED
AGE: 3-14 years
KEYRINGS
GOAL: Recycling materials
MATERIAL: Cork, tempera colours
YOU NEED: Hooks, old keyring
Description of the activity
Start by attaching the hook on the cork. Then color and decorate the cork. Let it dry for a while. Attach the old keyring.
FINAL PRODUCT:
Father’s Day key rings
SUBJECT: Art
DURATION: 2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 5-10 years
GREEN ART
Description of the activity
Bring nature inside the school building intentionally and create artwork that is inspired by the environment and our beautiful planet; the animals, flowers, plants, forests, fields, mountains, hills, lakes, seas, rivers, the sky, the clouds, the sun and the moon. Use different techniques and colors. Let the kids be the designers and get inspired, too.
MOSAICS
GOAL: Learning about 3Rs-reduce, recycle, reuse
MATERIAL: Plastic bottle caps, fragments of fabrics, plastic bottles, flowers, paper
Description of the activity
Make works of art - mosaics (without glue) using different types of materials: plastic, metal, paper, fabrics, plants
The installations don’t have to be perfect nor permanent, and they can be altered and redesigned.
FINAL PRODUCT: Mosaics
SUBJECT: Arts, Technology
DURATION: 2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-15 years
LAMP
GOAL: Recycling materials
MATERIAL: Masks, skewers, lights
Description of the activity
Make the structure of the four walls with the battens (wooden sticks or straws, for example) and glue the templates. The walls are made of surgical masks that are straightened and ironed slightly. Then they are attached into the battenss with hot glue. Lastly, insert a eco-friendly light of your choice inside.
FINAL PRODUCT: A lamp
SUBJECT: Art, Social studies
DURATION: 1-2 hours
RECOMMENDED
AGE: 3-14 years
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MATTER THE MOST
MEMORIAL STONES
Description of the activity
As other important commemorations, we also celebrate the day of remembrance of the dead in the class. For years, we have been monitoring how much plastic is collected by lighting candles. The tradition of commemorating the dead is respectful, but in recent years it has been disastrous for nature. Many ideas have arisen to replace the classic plastic candle. Creating with natural materials is closest to children. We have observed that many children and adults have already decided to create commemorative stones, which is how we also tackled them. The students and I collected medium-sized, somewhat flat stones. We washed them and dried them. We shared some ideas with the students about what they wanted to write down and paint.
Once we had the ideas and materials ready, we started creating. We took the stones to the nearby monuments of fallen fighters. Some were taken home and placed in memory of their loved ones.
FINAL PRODUCT: Memorial stones
SUBJECT: Arts, Environment
RECOMMENDED AGE: 6-10 years
HANDMADE PAPER
GOAL: Paper recycling, learning paper properties.
MATERIAL: Waste paper (old newspapers, carton)
YOU NEED: Blender, bowl, kitchen cloth, paints/flowers (to decorate)
Description of the activity
Tear up paper materials into small pieces. Put the pieces into the bowl and pour warm water. Wait 15 minutes. Put the soaked paper into the blender and blend it. Pour the mixture on the kitchen cloth, you can add flowers. Drain the mixture using the kitchen cloth. Shape and even it. Wait until it dries.
FINAL PRODUCT: Handmade paper
SUBJECT: Art, Technology
DURATION: 3 hours + dry time
RECOMMENDED AGE: 11-14 years
MY VERY FIRST DIARY
Description of the activity
The paper mass can be used in many different ways. For the little students, who are learning to write, a very first diary, in which to write first written words and texts, could be a nice idea. The older ones could make a notebook, a calendar or a present card, for example.
The pages can be attached using all sorts of recycled materials; leftover yarn, handmade string, old shoelaces, fabric scraps, buttons etc.
FINAL PRODUCT: Diary
MATERIAL: Recycled magazines and newspapers, glue, buttons, shoelaces, paint
ENVELOPE
Description of the activity
Making envelope out of old newspaper.
1. Tear the newspaper into small pieces. One sheet should be enough for one envelope.
2. Mix the torn paper with water in a jar with a lid and shake well in order to get a liquid pulp.
3. Pour the pulp into a sieve. A square one would be the best one. There are even ones that are shaped like an open envelope.
4. Drain the sieve over water in a basin. Pour water into the basin to create a vacuum that sucks the water from the pulp.
5. Place the sieve with the pulp on a towel and cover it with a plastic sheet so that the pulp is between the sieve and the plastic sheet. The plastic sheet should be large enough to cover the pulp.
6. Then remove the sieve and let the paper dry on the plastic sheet for a few days.
7. Fold the dried paper over and use glue to attach the sides to form an envelope.
FINAL PRODUCT: Envelope
SUBJECT: Science
DURATION: 2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: Any
TREES AS WINTER DECORATION
Description of the activity
A DIY newspaper tree is a beautiful and ecological decoration for Christmas.
The project can be started by observing the trees in the Winter time. The trees obviously don’t have any leaves, only a trunk and bare branches.
The students can start to work individually or in small groups, and first sketch their trees on a paper. In order to make the actual models of trees, the students collect old magazines and bring them to school. Then the waste paper sleeves are squeezed, pressed and modelled into the shape of a tree. The composition is covered once more with newspaper and put together with selfmade flour glue. After a few days, when the trees are dry, they are painted with tempera paints.
FINAL PRODUCT: Trees as winter decoration
SUBJECT: Science, Arts
DURATION: 18 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 6-15 years
BAGS FROM T-SHIRTS
GOAL: Eco bag for school slippers
MATERIAL: Students bring a T-shirt that they have outgrown and turn it into a bag for school slippers
YOU NEED: An extra T-shirt, scissors
Description of the activity
We cut off the sleeves of the T-shirt and enlarge the neckline. The entire lower part is cut into finger-thick strips. Tie the strips crosswise so that there is no hole at the bottom.
FINAL PRODUCT: Bags from T-shirts
SUBJECT: Arts, Environment
DURATION: 2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 8-12 years
NEW YEAR’S DWARF
Description of the activity
A good idea to increase students’ involvement is a yearly Christmas bazaar organized at school, and the students take part in it by preparing various products to be sold. One popular one is the New Year’s dwarf, which brings luck for the coming year. The dwarf is a nice decoration, and they are made from all sorts of recycled or discarded materials such as old socks, fabric scraps, leftover yarn, buttons and ribbons. Rice, flakes or various seeds which have expired dates are used for the filling. A fun way to make the dwarves is to invite grandparents to the workshop, make the products together and connect generations at the same time.
FINAL PRODUCT: New Year’s dwarf
SUBJECT: Arts
DURATION: 2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 6-10 years
POTS FOR PENS AND SMALL OBJECTS
GOAL: Making a pot for pens and others objects
MATERIAL: Mugs, glasses, vases, markers, boxes
YOU NEED: Glue, scissors, markers, crayons
Description of the activity
After the boxes, jars and mugs are thoroughly washed and dried, they are painted in nice colors. After the paint has dried out, the pots are decorated using different materials e.g. leftovers yarn, ribbons or stickers.
FINAL PRODUCT: Pot for pens
SUBJECT: Fine Arts (reuse)
DURATION: 3 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 7 years
THERE’S NO PLANET B
WATER SAVERS
GOAL: Reuse of discarded products
MATERIAL: Plastic water bottles
Description of the activity
We made water savers by cutting and putting the mouth of the bottle upside down. This way the rainwater can be collected and used for several purposes, e.g. ironing, watering the flowers or as cars’ windshield wiper fluid.
FINAL PRODUCT: Water savers
SUBJECT: Art, Technology
DURATION: 1 hour
RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-15 years
ECO POSTERS
GOAL: Ecological awareness-learning how to sort recyclable materials
MATERIAL: Colourful big bristol boards, letters to cut out, paints, kitchen sponges, printed pictures (A4) of recycling bins (to paint), pictures (to colour) of items /waste/ materials for segregation
YOU NEED: Glue, scissors, markers, crayons
Description of the activity
Paint the pictures of big recycling bins using the household sponges. Make correct names for the bins using the letters. Glue your work to the bristol board. After colouring pictures of waste, match the waste to the appropriate container and glue it.
FINAL PRODUCT: Posters
SUBJECT: Integrated skills, Art
DURATION: 3 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: Any
FINAL PRODUCT: Environmental diary RECOMMENDED AGE: Any
ENVIRONMENTAL DIARY
GOAL: Ecological awareness
Make the pupils to see the daily little things at home that they can do to help the environment.
MATERIAL: Notebook, a mascot
Description of the activity
The mascot visits each student’s home and investigates the green habits of the house, for example, does the family recycle and what do they eat. The students write a diary on the visit and share the experiences. After the mascot has visited all the homes, the diary is read together, and the stories can be shared with the whole school as well.
ECOLOGICAL BOOKLET
Booklet with ten tips to save the Planet
SUBJECT: Science, Art, Social studies
GOAL: Biodiversity, Ecological sensitivity
MATERIAL: Paper, crayons or markers
Description of the activity
Making your own ecological booklet is a good way to start the research on everyday habits that can help to protect our planet. Begin by studying the topic together first and talking about the habits that the students already know. Then move onto the actual theoretical facts. Students can choose their own top ten tips and the contents can vary according to the age of the students.
FINAL PRODUCT:
DURATION: 3-6 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 4-14 years
EDUCATIONAL STICKERS/PICTOGRAMS
GOAL: Ecological awarenesslearning how to save water at school
MATERIAL: Cardboard
YOU NEED: Paints, crayon, markers
Description of the activity
Share ideas with your classmates how to save water at school. You can use tablets/phones/ ChatGPT to search for the tips connected with saving water on the Internet. Discuss the ideas. Then choose one idea and design a sticker or pictogram. Your work can be printed on the sticker sheet and pasted at your classroom or school bathroom.
FINAL PRODUCT:
Educational stickers/pictograms
SUBJECT: Languages
DURATION: 2 hours
RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-15 years
RESPECT FOOD
Description of the activity
Make zero food waste a goal for the whole school. Helping kids avoid wasting food teaches not only nutrition, but ethics, environmentalism, economics, and personal responsibility.
Talk about the topic with the students and investigate the effect the food waste has on the whole planet. Have theme weeks. Measure the food waste. Have “food agents” keep a watch next to the waste bin in the cafeteria.
Reflect, revise and remind. And repeat again.
FINAL PRODUCT: Game
SUBJECT: Arts, Environment
DURATION: 2 hours
RECREATING CULTURAL HERITAGE, PLAYING GAMES OF GRANDPARENTS
Description of the activity
Pupils make a MILL or SPANA game that their grandparents used to play. To play the game, they use pebbles, pins, corn.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
• Cultivate the sense of environmental responsibility among big and small
• Empower the students with knowledge
• Cherish critical thinking and problem solving
• Keep in mind the benefits of experiential learning approach
• Collaborate
• Believe in your cause
• Focus on the positive solutions and actions
• Get out of the classroom and visit the forest, parks, local farms, food stores, flea markets etc.
• Fill the school library with books that explore climate change, sustainability, and environmental issues