New Year, Greener Classroom! Resources and ideas for a greener classroom in 2023

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.

1. Start simple: Help students connect to nature by taking reading time outside

2. 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. 

3. 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!

4. 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. 

5. Get outside with a simple and fun nature scavenger hunt. Customize great resources like this to get you started.

6. 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. 

7. 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.

8. Think circular by starting a classroom compost bun. Here are some easy instructions.

9. 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.

10. 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.

10 Ways to Enjoy an Eco Friendly Holiday!

As we enter the holiday season, you may be asking yourself, ‘how can I reduce my environmental impact, while enjoying all of my favourite traditions?’ Have no fear! 

Elements staff have tips , that will make your holidays merry and bright! 

1. Get creative with beautiful and sustainable wrapping! Get creative with your gift wrap this year by choosing reusable, or upcycled materials like jars, boxed, and fabric. Check out our favourite ideas for inspiration! https://www.treehugger.com/eco-friendly-alternatives-wrapping-paper-4858648

2. Regifting! Lets break the stigma around ‘regifting’. One person’s trash is another one’s treasure - before you purchase new gifts, consider what you’ve received that you haven’t used or that would make a better gift for someone else. New to regifting? Here are some helpful tips:
   https://www.cbc.ca/life/holiday/how-to-regift-the-right-way-1.6677696, https://www.readersdigest.ca/home-garden/cleaning/top-ten-rules-regifting/

3. Make memories not garbage! Have someone who is hard to buy for? How much more "stuff" do we really need? For Zero Waste Place, we encourage students to think about the entire lifecycle of their object. What is it made out of? How long will you use it for? Where will it end up once you're done with it? Often, we gift toys or products that might get used only once or twice. Instead, consider gifting consumables or experiences, a few of our favourites:

   • A fancy food or drink item from a local farmers market

   • Purchase an "experience" that you could do together

   • Donate to a charity in their honour (winky face …)

   • Adventures, such as skiing, zip lining, an escape room, etc

   For more ideas, visit: http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/solid-waste/reduction-reuse/create-memories/  

4. Recycle your tree! If you or your loved ones are putting up a tree this year, check out where you can compost trees or decorative greenery. Check out your local municipal website to find an option near you.

5. Adjust your thermostat! As the snow falls, we understandably respond by cranking up our thermostats. This year, get cozy with some holiday PJs, a cozy blanket and a warm drink. 

6. Handmade decorations! Holiday decorations can often be wasteful (not to mention costly). This year, explore what crafts you can do with your family at home to repurpose or upcycle existing household items as decorations! Ideas include collecting real pinecones and branches to use like garland, or popcorn on string for tree decorations. Explore more ideas at: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g393/homemade-christmas-ornaments/

7. Enjoy an eco friendly feast! While preparing all of your favorite holiday dishes, try to support local farmers that grow sustainable ingredients, opt for plant-forward dishes as much as possible, and get creative with the resulting leftovers! 

8. Switch to LED Holiday lights! As old lights burn out, replacing with LED lights can save you around $50 on your holiday season energy bills because they use 90% less energy. Sounds like a win-win for the planet and your wallet.

9. Send an eco-card! As the holidays draw near, many wish to send a card to commemorate the season.  But as appreciated as they are, many cards get thrown away once the holidays are over. The solution? Send an eco friendly holiday greeting card that’s made from recycled paper, upcycled artwork, or send a personalized e-card! When going the paper-route, avoid cards with glitter or other plastic attachments.

10. Ditch the cheap stocking stuffers! Often, stockings are filled with cheap plastic items that end up broken, lost, or discarded once the holiday season ends. Instead, fill them with delicious homemade treats and a few small, thoughtfully chosen gifts to round it out. Stockings are a fun part of the Christmas tradition, and with a little thought, they can be transformed from wasteful to awesome!

Did we miss any? Comment below or tag us on social media with your top eco-friendly Holiday tips!

Support Accessible Environmental Education Today

Sustainable actions start with education. However, access to Environmental Education programs vary across communities.

Executive Director of Elements Society, Samantha Rogers, is working to consolidate an inventory of existing environmental education in BC to better connect learners with programs and to identify gaps in access so they can be addressed.

Follow the link above to add your environmental education programs to the database. Don’t work in environmental ed? Help address gaps in access by sharing the link with those in your network!

Cookin' up Some New Ideas with EcoCooks!

Taco bout’ delicious!

Our first official week of EcoCooks School has come to a close and we could not have been happier with the results!

From meeting guest chefs to experimenting with plant-based S’mores and learning how to dehydrate food to creating and devouring Rainbow Tacos… we are so proud of all of the EcoCooks for diving deep into the intersections of food and planet.

Learn more about the program and how to get for priority registration for the Fall here.