World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5th. Like Earth Day, this day is a perfect time to learn new things about the environment, to participate in activities that promote the protection of the planet and learn how to help the environment for the future. You can plan school activities in contact with nature, take lessons focused on nature and activities focused on the environment.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Going out into the fresh air
Step 1. Organize a treasure hunt in nature
Divide a sheet into various sections, write something on each part that students can observe outdoors such as trees, flowers, birds, insects, animals. Students can like this and write what they saw under each category. Finally, talk about what they found and how nature can be protected.
Alternatively you can use this template:
Step 2. Clean a common area
Collecting garbage from the park or school garden can help students understand the importance of respect for nature. Talking about the damage of garbage and the importance of recycling is very important.
Step 3. Increase interest in nature with an excursion
Bring your students outdoors and in contact with nature, for example by organizing a trip to the local park. Encourage their creativity by suggesting that they write a poem, a story, a song, or draw a picture of something they saw and inspired them.
Step 4. Take lessons outdoors
A simple way to increase your students' interest in nature is to take lessons outdoors. Choose a shaded area, perhaps under a tree or a gazebo, and take lessons as usual. Children love to change their environment.
Part 2 of 4: New Initiatives for the Environment
Step 1. Propose an art lesson plan using recycled materials
Many art teachers love projects made with recycled materials that everyone has at home. Talk to the art teacher to understand what you need. Then, during World Environment Day, he organizes a collection area at the school for these objects. Students, teachers and parents can bring anything they don't use that can be recycled during the creative recycling workshop.
Step 2. Plant some trees or a garden
Creating green space is a perfect way to celebrate World Environment Day. Ask the nursery to donate trees to plant in the school garden as part of your celebration this day.
Or you can identify an area to start a common garden. You can grow fruit and vegetables that students and teachers can collect or use from the cafeteria
Step 3. Start a recycling program
If your school does not yet have a plan to recycle the trash, this day is the perfect time to start. Identify an area that can be used for this purpose and organize meetings on how to recycle and why it is important to do so.
Step 4. Connect your students with local initiatives
In your area there will certainly be various initiatives related to the environment. Look for the ones where your students can contribute. Explain these initiatives and organize a trip to introduce them to the project.
Part 3 of 4: Planning Lessons Focused on Nature
Step 1. Invite experts to talk about nature and environmental protection
There are probably a lot of people who are knowledgeable about environmental issues in your area. Invite them for a presentation during class or arrange to meet after school.
For example, you could invite someone who works at the local park or recycling center. Another good option could be a forest ranger or a zoo biologist
Step 2. Talk about how you can save energy
You can explain why you need to turn off the lights when you leave a room, set the air conditioning a couple of degrees less cold, do the washing machine with cold water and do not leave unused devices connected to the electricity. You can also talk about how to change your energy habits at home, for example by choosing LED bulbs instead of ordinary ones.
Step 3. Plan a trip to the natural science or history museum
Children who come into contact with science centers have a better chance of learning how to protect nature. In addition, museums often organize special activities for World Environment Day.
Step 4. Watch expert videos
Videos are a perfect method to awaken the attention of students; you can find lots of them specifically for children on environmental protection. For example, you can look at this section:
Part 4 of 4: Planning Environmental Protection Activities
Step 1. Make seed balls
These are small balls full of seeds that, left on a ground, will sprout making plants grow in that area. Use plants typical of your area, otherwise you risk that the new species will ruin the ecosystem.
- Mix 15 grams of your chosen flower seeds with 100 grams of potting soil. Add 45 grams of dry clay, such as the red clay used to make pottery. Mix the ingredients together.
- Slowly add water until the mixture is firm enough. Shape into balls and let them dry on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
- Leave the balls on the ground. When it rains, the balls will break and the plants will sprout.
Step 2. Turn your old t-shirts into bags
Ask students to bring old T-shirts or buy them from a second-hand store. Cut the sleeves of the shirts and then cut the inside of the neck. The sleeves will become the handles of your bag.
- Turn the shirt inside out. Make a mark at the bottom, about 10 cm from the end of the shirt. Cut strips that are about 2-3 cm wide until you reach the line you drew.
- Knot the fringes two by two, one in the front and one in the back. Then tie each pair with the next one. Turn the shirt inside out again.
Step 3. Create a birdhouse
Start with an empty roll of toilet paper or household paper. Make a hole at the beginning of each side and insert a rope between them. Tie a knot over the roll. Using a butter knife, coat the peanut butter roll and then with bird food by rolling it into a plate full of seeds. Hang it outdoors using the rope.
Step 4. Make jump ropes from plastic bags
Start by making strips from the bags. Place the bag on the table and cut the top off including the handles. Cut the bag horizontally into strips, then tie them together. You will need 12 strips and they must be a little longer than you would like the string. Glue 6 strips together for the ends.
- Tape 6 strips onto the back of the chair and weave them together. Glue the final part. Repeat the operation with the other 6 and glue the end. Remove them from the chair.
- Glue the two cords for the ends, and attach them to the back of the chair. Twist your braids together and then glue the ends with masking tape. The duct tape will form the handles of the rope. Detach the rope from the chair.
