Environmental Lessons & Activities

Community Clean Up

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Activity

To launch the program and create ownership of the environment around them, this project can be done to strengthen the class's connection with the environment.

School administrators, custodians, teachers and students need to be aware of where students could initiate clean up projects in and around their school areas.

Steps to Take

Learn all you can about the problem: interview experts or agencies on the waterways or parks in your community to see what needs to be done
Set a goal for yourself: Decide what size project is big enough for your group. What do you hope to accomplish in what amount of time? Are your goals workable and realistic?
List the steps you will take: Inventory what skills and talents you will need to have to get the job done. What forms for the trip need to be filled out for safety and supervision?
Involve others: Who will help with the removal of the garbage collected? Can you get food donated to feed the people doing the work? Are there bathrooms close by for use during the project? What Conservation Authorities, Land Stewardship Councils or parks departments can be involved?
Take the steps you have listed: Quit talking and get at it!
Evaluate the results: Did the plan work? What goals did you achieve? What would you do differently next time? What kind of report can you leave as a legacy for the next group to challenge them to do better?

Communications

Spread the word. The more who know your school is doing great things, the better. Leave no channel of communication unturned. Local cable, newspapers, TV shows, radio, neighbouring schools, the board office superintendents, trustees, as well as local, municipal, and federal government officials should be asked along. The least they could say is no and the most that could happen is they wish to roll up their sleeves and help in the days proceedings.

Stakeholders Involvement

Never forget the people who helped get you where your project is now. Parents, school volunteers, teachers, custodians, secretaries, administration staff, government officials, etc., that are involved should be recognized if only to thank them for their participation and hope that they will continue in the future endeavours.

Mentorship

This is the perfect chance to use the interschool links in and between each division (from grade 4s to reading buddies to high school co-op students connections).

Role of Class

In hosting a clean up there are several responsibilities to take into account:

Invitations - what classes, grades, and schools involved
Who will be the contact for the organization
Hosting and handling requests during the project (equipment needed, etc.)
Problem solving during the visit - (late arrivals, first aid, weather, etc.)
Thanking the sponsors and invited guests who came (could involve gifts or cards)
Cleaning up after the speaker leaves (participant garbage, recycling pickup, etc.)
Reporting the event to the EarthCARE Project Manager or EC Team for a success story (how much was removed, what numbers were garbage bags or recycling boxes, strangest things found, etc.)

Lesson Plan Links

Grades five or higher using waste lesson plans as a base for understanding.