As an educator, there are so many things you can do to make your classroom and school more green. The environmental practices you bring to the classroom can create lifelong habits that support the planet. From fostering connections with nature to supporting student composting and upcycling, small actions can have a big impact over a school year or lifetime.
To get started, check out 10 staff-inspired resources and ideas for your classroom in 2023.
Start simple: Help students connect to nature by taking reading time outside
Foster environmental leadership by giving students sustainable classroom jobs!
For example, one student can be in charge of turning the lights out when everyone leaves the room or checking waste bins to make sure everything is sorted correctly.
Want to level it up? Collect soft plastics (granola bar wrappers, etc) and have someone bring them to a recycling depot each month.Get Sorted: Speaking of waste… conduct a waste audit. Have students sort through classroom garbage (using gloves) to see what's being thrown out, including any recyclables or compostable items. In Vancouver, Edmonton or Calgary? Try the VanSort, What Goes Where or Sort it Right games!
Try something new, ‘Befriend a Tree’ is a fun opportunity for learners to connect to nature and place by reflecting on a tree they choose and how it changes over time. Students can write, draw, or simply spend time with their tree of choice.
Get outside with a simple and fun nature scavenger hunt. Customize great resources like this to get you started.
Experiment: Try growing food from scraps inside the classroom by propagating green onions and other vegetables. Or, explore different food storage techniques to see what keeps a veggie of your choice fresh for longer.
Get creative and turn trash into treasure with a fun TRASHformation craft activity. Explore the recycling bin and turn clean used containers into pen holders, or fabric scraps into whiteboard wipes.
Think circular by starting a classroom compost bun. Here are some easy instructions.
Collect and recycle – dry erase markers a little too dry? Terracycle and Staples Canada have a drop-off writing utensil recycling program. Collect and recycle old markers, pens and pencils from the class or entire school and drop off at the end of the school year.
Take on a fun ‘challenge’ as a class to establish new habits and build a sense of team. Waste Free Wednesday: Lunch edition? Plastic-free week? Walk, bike or ride to school? Make it fun with sustainable prizes for the whole class if they work together to achieve their goal successfully.
Want support? Take advantage of programs offered in your region. To learn more about programs offered by Elements visit the programs page.