23 Jan Support Green Actions in Schools!
Last Fall my company, Little Miss Recycle, presented an educational recycling PowerPoint to First Graders of The Magellan International School. They were beginning a unit (Sharing the Planet) related to practices of conservation of natural resources. The students were so enthusiastic about everything they had learned in the past several weeks they wanted to put it into practice.
The school’s first grade teachers and students went into action with a green show: Art with a Purpose. The children presented hand-made sculptures and products made from recycled materials ranging from newspapers, plastic and glass bottles, cans, plastic lids, etc. It was impressive! It was fun to see what they came up with…a recycling bin man (pictured), a “green” train, corral reefs, and various land and sea animal life.
The Magellan International School (MIS) embraces sustainability as a core component in the set of knowledge, skills and values necessary for Global Citizens of the 21st Century. In their efforts to accomplish this, they are working closely together with their Curricular Coordinator, Teachers, Green Team, Students, Parents, and their Green Coach, Sayuri Yamanaka, as well as local organizations and business such as Little Miss Recycle. Yes, it takes everyone to work together to make it really happen.
We should strongly support “green” actions by our schools. Many school districts across the country have been making great strides in their greening efforts. What many districts still lack, however, is a shared vision, set of goals, strategies, and implementation path to drive their sustainability initiatives in the same direction – using a whole-school and whole-district approach that engages students, staff and teachers working for a common, more sustainable future along the way. If we teach our children about these key concepts: Cause, Responsibility and Change; they can play an integral role in making our schools, communities, and planet more sustainable and healthy.
Research shows that schools that adopt an environmental focus demonstrate better academic performance across the curriculum. Environmental education helps build creative thinking and relationship skills, and fosters leadership qualities.
Currently, MIS is planning an event on Saturday, April 28th and will be opened to the general public. This event, Día del Niño Verde, will include educational sessions for parents and teachers and eco-activities for kids. One of the main topics of the event will be recycling and proper disposal of e-waste. They will be collecting any electronic devices that you are no longer using. Little Miss Recycle will continue working as a partner with MIS’ green efforts.
MIS is a member of Green Ribbon School Program based in Austin, TX. For more information about what you can do to help green our local schools visit http://greenribbonschools.org/ and http://www.epa.gov/region2/sustainability/greencommunities/greenschools.html
If you would like to receive guidance in green initiatives like The Magellan International School, please contact Sayuri Yamanaka and her associates at greencoach.austin@gmail.com
To learn more about the IB Primary Year's Programme at The Magellan International School, please visit http://www.magellanschool.org/
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