How will you green your preschool? Here are a few ideas and resources to inspire and get you started. Of course, feel free to come up with your own green project concept too!
- Compost – Make Dirt!
- Fill Your Classroom with Peace (Lilies)!
- Grow a Rainbow (of Organic Veggies!)
- Get CRRRafty – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Compost – Make Dirt!
What: Composting is nature’s process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil known as compost. Anything that was once living will decompose. By composting your organic waste you are returning nutrients back into the soil in order for the cycle of life to continue. Finished compost looks like soil–dark brown, crumbly and smells like a forest floor!
Why: Compost tackles so many concerns at once, most importantly – reducing classroom waste and harmful methane gas emissions. Plus you get to make your own nutrient rich dirt, and you can play with worms!
Read more about why composting is the way to go here!
How: Here are some great resources on how to start composting (with or without worms!)
No worms!
- http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarden/kidscompost/cover.html
- http://www.urbanorganicgardener.com/how-to-build-an-indoor-compost-bin/
Worms!
- http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Own-Worm-Compost-System
- http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/recycle/compost2.htm
Fill Your Classroom with Peace (Lilies)!
What: Create an indoor arboretum. Fill your classroom with air pollution-fighting plants like Peace Lilies.
Why: Peace Lilies have been named one of the most effective plants for ridding the air or pollutants and toxins and creating a healthier indoor environment. Plus they are very pretty and easy to grow!
Read more about the best indoor pollution fighting plants here.
How: Here are some great resources on how to grow your own indoor Peace Lilies.
- http://knol.google.com/k/how-to-grow-a-peace-lily#
- http://www.gardenguides.com/78699-grow-peace-lilies.html
Grow a Rainbow (of Organic Veggies!)
What: Grow your own delicious organic vegetable garden! It’s a lot easier than you think!
Why: The reasons are endless. First of all, growing your own food cuts down on air pollution and global warming pollution, because your food doesn’t require planes, trains and automobiles to get to your plate. A garden is also a great teaching tool. You can teach kids about the parts and lifecycles of plants, broaden their food horizons, introduce new, fresh veggies and talk about good nutrition.
How: Here are some great resources on how to grow your own organic vegetable garden!
- http://www.earthbox.com/education/garden-youth.html
- http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarden/Child/school/sgintro.htm
- http://greenguideforkids.blogspot.com/2008/03/grow-your-garden.html
- http://www.gardeningwithkids.org/21-5011.html
Get CRRRafty – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
What: Reduce, reuse and recycle to create beautiful art projects!
Why: Teach children about the importance of the three R’s while exciting their inner artist! Recycling requires less energy, uses fewer natural resources, helps keep waterways cleaner and keeps waste from piling up in yucky carbon-emitting landfills. Reuse “throw away” materials like paper towel tubes, magazines, calendars, Episencial boxes and more to create environmentally-friendly art!
How: Here are some great resources on how to turn “trash” into treasures!
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.