How to Make Your School Go Green

Recycling bins make recycling easy.

"Going green" not only can lessen the environmental impact of your school by decreasing its burden on our natural resources, but will help keep some green in its pocket by cutting waste. A few new practices and programs can help start the process.

Things You'll Need

• Recycling bins
• Garden plot
• Seeds
• Gardening tools

Instructions

1. Consider composting. Reuse what usually is considered garbage, such as food scraps and biodegradable plates, cutlery and cups, by making a compost pile to create sustainable fertilizer. If your school administration does not think a school-wide compost pile is feasible, smaller, per-classroom piles can save waste from entering landfills.

2. Adopt a cause. Give the entire school something to feel unified about with a project such as "Adopt-a-Block," in which the school is charged with recycling of waste found on that block. Expand the idea by adopting an endangered species such as the bald eagle, with lessons about why the species is endangered. It will encourage students to understand the importance of environmentalism outside the classroom too.

3. 

   Recycling is an easy way to go green.

   Recycle as much as possible. Calculate how many recycling bins will be necessary to equip your school.

   Sort trash into categories: paper, plastic, glass. Look for the universal recycling symbol: three cycled arrows, sometimes around a number, in plastics. The number indicates a "resin code" that identifies polymer types found in plastics that makes them easier to separate for recycling.

4. Compete. Host an annual, school-wide contest in which the grade that collects the most recycled waste within a certain period of time can win a prize, such as a pizza party or field trip. Once the competition is finished, students will be better educated about the benefits of recycling and will feel encouraged to continue to do so.

5. 

   A garden promotes stewardship of the land.

   Start a garden. Gardens clean the air, promote stewardship of the land and create a pleasing school environment. Use the compost created in Step 1 to fertilize flowers, vegetables or herbs grown by students and invite a local farmer to discuss growing tactics and evaluate your garden. Students can sample what they grow and should be encouraged to start a garden at home.

6. Don't waste paper. Encourage students to use both sides of the paper for written homework assignments. Invest in printers that produce double-sided pages.

Tips & Warnings

• Involve parents and their specialties in "greening" projects at the school.

• If applicable, adopt an endangered species native to your home state.

• Use as many native plants in your garden as possible.

• Survey students for allergies before working outside.

References

• (2008) Russell, Sarah. Teaching Tips: 50 Ways to Go Green in Your Classroom
• O'Neill, Emily Ann. TeacherVision:Green Classroom Practices That Save Money
• Art of Teaching Science: Project Green

Resources

• Edu-Topia: Go Green in Your Classroom Database
• Waste Mangement: Think Green: Classroom Resources