The Little Green Toolkit

The Little

GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

3

MAKE GOOD GROW

4

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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.

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

5

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.

6

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

FINAL PRODUCT: Creation of a seed collection bank to contribute to the protection of biodiversity SUBJECT: Science, Arts, Social studies DURATION: 6-10 hours RECOMMENDED AGE: 5-14 years

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

7

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

FINAL PRODUCT: Stand for flowers SUBJECT: Arts DURATION: 2 hours RECOMMENDED AGE: 6-10 years

8

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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.

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

9

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

10

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

GO OUT!

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

11

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

12

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

13

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

14

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

15

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

16

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

17

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

18

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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 The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

19

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

20

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

21

NO TRASH SHOULD BE WASTED

22

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

23

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

24

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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.

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

25

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

26

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

ASSEMBLAGE SPATIAL 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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

27

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.

28

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

29

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.

30

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

31

YOU CAN RECYCLE EVERYTHING ELSE EXCEPT OLD ATTITUDES

32

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

33

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.

34

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

35

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.

FINAL PRODUCT: Hats for carnival SUBJECT: Fine arts, reuse DURATION: 3 hours RECOMMENDED AGE: 6-11 years

36

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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.

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

37

3D SHAPES GOAL: Ecological awareness, paper recycling MATERIAL: Old postcards, photos, posters YOU NEED: Glue, scissors, nets of solid figures - patterns

Description of the activity Make colourful 3D shapes. Trace the net of solid figure on the paper material you brought, cut the net, fold it and glue it.

FINAL PRODUCT: 3D shapes SUBJECT: Mathematics DURATION: 1 hour RECOMMENDED AGE: 10-14 years

38

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

39

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

40

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

41

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.

42

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

FINAL PRODUCT: Mosaics SUBJECT: Arts, Technology DURATION: 2 hours RECOMMENDED AGE: 7-15 years

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.

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

43

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

44

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MATTER THE MOST

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

45

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.

46

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

47

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.

48

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

49

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

50

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

51

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.

52

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

53

THERE’S NO PLANET B

54

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

55

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

56

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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.

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

57

ECOLOGICAL BOOKLET 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:

58

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

Booklet with ten tips to save the Planet SUBJECT: Science, Art, Social studies DURATION: 3-6 hours RECOMMENDED AGE: 4-14 years

EDUCATIONAL STICKERS/PICTOGRAMS GOAL: Ecological awareness learning 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

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

59

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.

60

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

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.

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT

61

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

BE PERSISTENT!

62

The Little GREEN TOOLKIT