About This Lesson
To build a better world, passing down information on sustainable living to the youth is crucial. If you are a teacher who wishes to implement greener practices in the classroom and show their students how they can make a positive impact on the environment, read on. Here are the top ways of teaching students how to be more environmentally conscious.
Teach Your Kids About Renewable Resources
Solar panel installation practices have changed the way we view energy. Now, anyone can harness the power of the sun and reduce their need for fossil fuels in their home. And it’s as easy as turning on a lightswitch. Therefore, it’s imperative to teach kids in the classroom about this valuable and sustainable form of energy that they can use to one day power their cars and homes.
For a fun demonstration, use solar-powered calculators throughout your next math lesson. However, for a more hands-on lesson, have your class build a solar-powered oven using cardboard and foil to roast some marshmallows.
Give Their School Supplies a Sustainable Makeover
Reuse, reduce, and recycle are the three R’s of sustainability. Use these terms as a guideline for teaching your kids how to live a greener lifestyle. They'll learn that you can use sustainable alternatives almost anywhere — even in the classroom. Take school supplies, for instance. Swap out plastic pens in the classroom for biodegradable ones instead. Or purchase composition books made from recycled paper to cut down on the amount of waste students and teachers create in the classroom every year. Also, try and go paperless and have your students complete assignments and write their papers online to rid your class of paper altogether. Staple-less staplers are also cool gadgets that kids of any age will love.
Help Them Get in Touch With Their Love of Nature With a Garden
If you want your students to foster a deep love and respect for nature, start a small herb garden in the classroom. When students have firsthand experience watching a plant grow, they may feel more inclined to help the planet as they grow older. Some low maintenance plants you can grow include succulents, cacti, aloe, and the Chinese Evergreen plant.
Create Yummy Plant-Based Meals For their Lunchbox
Our food plays a large part in climate change and the overall wellbeing of the planet. Animal-based foods, in particular (like milk, cheese, and meat), are all large contributors of greenhouse gases. However, most people won’t opt for a plant-based meal because of the heavy stigma associated with it. However, if you introduce a child to various earth-friendly alternatives of their favorite foods early, they won't find them bland, or out of the ordinary.
Take oat milk, for example. It uses a fraction of the land, and water dairy needs to produce a single glass. Think about this next time you prepare a school lunchbox. Alternatively, if you’re an educator, talk to your school board about increasing the amount of plant-based dishes available at the school cafeteria. This way, the kids can learn how easy and delicious reducing their meat consumption can be.
Creating A More Sustainable World For Students Across the Nation
Students are like sponges when it comes to learning new and exciting information. No matter what subject you teach, consider these tips when trying to educate your students about living a more earth-friendly lifestyle. The kids of today are the leaders of tomorrow, so make sure you’re informing them about concerns that affect us all — the environmental issues plaguing our planet.
