Quick Ways to TEACH about the EARTH in SCHOOL

You probably don't know this, but I'm a tree hugger.  Yes, I confess, I care about the earth.  

Each child creates a page for a book
Ways Kids Can Save the Earth

In my classroom of third graders the curriculum doesn't take into account the importance of teaching about the environment and conservation.  Over the years, I've figured out ways to weave it into our daily routine so kids get exposed and I can still get the environmental message out.

Here's a list to start you out:

• Plants and animals in the classroom - the kids rotate with their tribe to take care of the plants and critters.  It helps the room feel more like a home and the kids can have nature around them.  Our district has put limits of the types of animals so I have an African aquatic frog and guppies that are adopted from the 1st grade classrooms after their life cycles unit.
• Compost any fruits or veggies kids bring in for snack.  Each child has a "Fresh and Healthy" snack they bring in for the rest of the class.  Many days we compost banana peels, apple cores or orange peels.
• Community Circle questions with an environmental twist - we do a brief community circle where each child is given the chance to respond to a question or prompt.  Many times you can weave conservation or environment into your prompts.  For instance, last week one question was, "What kind of plant would you like to grow in a garden?"  Another one was, "If you could help an endangered animal, what one would you help?"  Also I've asked, "What is your favorite habitat?"
• Hang posters with environmental or conservation messages.  Recycling was TAUGHT when I first started teaching because it was such a new thing.  Now we just assume kids know what to do...but they don't.
• Encourage keeping a pencil as long as possible, it saves trees!!!
• Grow a Mother's Day present - have the kids each plant a few marigold seeds in a cup about 6 weeks before the big day.  Set them in something that catches water by the window.  Make sure they don't dry out.  Transplant into a hand painted terracotta pot.  They learn about nature and their mom's, grandma's or other special person in their life will be so pleased.

There are so many things that are easy to do in our busy classrooms that will stay with kids for a lifetime!