Last Updated on 10/01/2023
Schools have an important responsibility to set the example for their students and communities when it comes to environmental stewardship. By taking steps to make their school eco-friendly, schools can help teach children about the importance of sustainability as well as lead by example in reducing a school’s carbon footprint. Here are some brilliant and innovative ways schools across the country have made sure they’re doing their part.
School growing patches
As the years go by, schools and their playgrounds are becoming more and more sustainable. One great way to make this happen is by growing vegetables at school. Growing vegetables in the playground allows children to get up close and personal with nature and gain a better understanding of how our food grows. It also teaches them about sustainability, as well as responsibility for taking care of the environment.
The benefits of having a vegetable garden in the school playground are vast! Not only does it provide healthy snacks for students but having plants around can improve air quality, reduce noise levels and create habitats for beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife. Plus, tending to a garden can be an enjoyable living classroom activity that gets children outdoors while helping them
Novelty recycling bins
Introducing novelty recycling bins into schools is a great way to ensure that students of all ages are actively participating in the sustainability movement. Not only will these bins help to reduce waste and conserve resources, but they can also act as an educational tool for students. With creative designs, the bins can be used to promote awareness about environmental responsibility and encourage children to get involved in eco-friendly activities.
Not only are novelty recycling bins an excellent teaching tool for kids, but they also help improve sustainability in playgrounds. These colourful containers make it easy for kids to identify and use different types of recyclable materials such as aluminium cans, plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, etc. Kids will have fun sorting their items into the appropriate bin while also learning how they can help reduce waste and keep the planet clean.
Water Butts
Primary school students are tomorrow’s environmental stewards, so teaching them about sustainability from an early age is a great way to have a positive impact in the long-term. One of the best ways to do this is through introducing water butts into primary schools. They provide an inexpensive and easy way for primary schools to reduce their water consumption and save money on their bills.
Water butts can easily be installed near downpipes around the school grounds, allowing rainwater that falls on roofs or other surfaces to be captured and used instead of tap water for activities like watering plants, washing hands, cleaning floors or flushing toilets. This not only helps reduce costs by cutting back on expensive tap water usage, but it also serves as a great way to teach young students about the importance of conserving resources.
With composters, birdbaths and other elements of nature added into the mix, they offer a great opportunity to encourage kids to get outdoors and explore their environment in an educational setting.
Classroom composting
Classroom composting is an important part of sustainability that can help foster a sense of responsibility in students. When done properly, classroom composting can create nutrient-rich soil for sustainable gardening projects inside or outside of the school building.
When starting a classroom composting project, students should be made aware of environmental benefits and encouraged to participate in the program. Some ideas for teaching kids about composting include creating a worm bin to demonstrate how worms break down organic matter; giving presentations on topics such as why some food items are better than others for composting; having kids take turns emptying food waste from lunch bins
Eco friendly meals
One great way to encourage the development of a greener lifestyle is by incorporating eco-friendly school meals into the daily options. Eco friendly meals can be achieved in different ways – from supporting local farmers who practice sustainable agriculture methods, to reducing food waste and composting organic materials, or even opting for plant-based meats or dishes with seafood as the primary ingredient.
Another great way to make eco-friendly school meals is by avoiding single-use plastics, Styrofoam and other packaging materials that are not recyclable or biodegradable. Instead, opt for reusable containers or trays. This helps reduce the amount of waste created and can even help save money in the long run since less material needs to be replaced as often.
Author: Lily Meyers