Going Green at School, reaching Kids in Science, and Geography Classes
Sep
27
Green living is a hot topic in many schools all around the UK. At secondary schools green issues are an integral part of citizenship, science, and geography classes. But there’s no national policy on whether and how to teach about being green, so what your children learn is usually down to the individual teacher and the enthusiasm of the head- teacher.
Most universities run green projects. Some of these aim to raise awareness in local schools and the wider community, some are research projects, and some involve students in working with local people to improve the local environment. If you get to university and find there’s no suitable project that you can get involved in, persuade your student’s union to appoint a Green Officer and set the ball rolling.
What you do in your own home to live a greener lifestyle can be translated to the school environment and what your children learn at school can be put to good use at home - everyone wins!
Reaching Kids Early
Just as the banks want to get your children to open an account with them - because they usually become customers for life — so you want to get your children interested in green issues as early as possible because they’re likely to be committed for life.
Children seem to understand green issues — sometimes better than adults. They can relate to the plight of animals caught up in the havoc caused by human over-indulgence, and to the effects on children of their own age in developing countries. They readily take on board the tips they learn in school about living a greener lifestyle and put them into practice at home. Once children feel that there’s something they can do to help other children less well off than themselves or to prevent further suffering to animals, they usually go to it with enthusiasm.
Children like to be able to teach their parents a thing or two as well. Give them the chance to take the lead at home — put them in charge of various aspects of your environmental policy at home and they’ll love the role.
When you do something at home to make your life greener explain your reasons to your children but don’t force changes on them. Lead by example and they will soon adopt your plans, whereas if you force them to be greener they may rebel.
You don’t have to become a paragon of green overnight and you shouldn’t expect your children to either. As the saying goes: ‘How do you eat an elephant? Bite by bite!’ Start with the things that are easiest to change. Every little change counts.
Getting to School
Green education can start before children even get to school. The sections here look at ecofriendly ways to travel to and from school.
Walking to school
Driving the children is a must for people who live too far away to walk or cycle. For other people, driving is just habit born of convenience. If the school is close enough to walk to, leave the car in the garage. Explain to your children that when you do short journeys in the car it doesn’t warm up to run most efficiently and therefore those journeys cause most pollution. Walking is the greenest way to travel and does least damage to the environment.
Don’t forget to get up a bit earlier in the mornings or the damage will be to your health through the stress of trying to get everyone ready and out of the house on time. Start by walking on mild dry mornings and driving when the weather’s less good.
Children love to see their friends so you can talk to the parents of those friends closest to you who go in the same direction to school and join forces. You can then split the task of walking with the group of children to school. If there are enough children in your area going in the same direction, set up a walking bus in which the children all walk together with a parent at the front as the driver and a parent at the back.
Walking isn’t just green. It’s good exercise and saves you money. You may even get there faster than if you get stuck in the car in congested streets.
When the children are old enough and competent enough on bicycles, let them cycle to school. Think about having them take a cycling proficiency class so that you both feel confident that they can handle themselves in traffic.
If the school is too far away check out the buses. If there’s a stop near enough to walk to and a convenient bus, then that’s the next best thing to walking or cycling.
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Great site and thanks for visiting my blog. Wasn’t that post about the 21st century education of our children eye opening. I have added your blog to my blog roll of informational sites.
What a great resource you have here. Keep up the great work of informing kids about our environment.