Civic Projects for Children: the Green Team One

At the beginning of the semester I have the children look at and discuss in a group different options for their projects and the pros and cons of each one. How much time and effort it will take verses the possible benefits. In general, most kids are willing to work for the good if they can see a concrete outcome and can track their own progress to a set goal. While I do choose the options and do the research into each project myself, I let the kids choose the final project. As a group, they need to feel a sense of ownership, and will be more likely to complete goals that they themselves have set.

The goal is important. The kids need to see what they are accomplishing and why. They need to have clear and easy to follow steps in order to achieve that goal, whether they are five or fifteen years of age, and it helps them to see their progress if it is charted in some way. An actual chart is a good way to do that, with the beginning and end of the project clearly stated.

Okay, that’s the set up. Here’s some ideas that have worked for me in the past that the kids have been engaged in.

For the Green Team: Let’s recycle with your school! Most elementary schools have some sort of recycling that is done, but few take all the waste that is thrown away that could be reused or recycled. Paper and pop cans are often what is collected, but what about plastic bags and wrappers? What about chip board and cardboard? Find out what is recycled at your children’s school and what is not. Discuss with your group what they are willing to deal with and what they are not. It might be unreasonable to expect them to wash out tin cans, but fine to break down cardboard boxes. Find an acceptable place in the school to put plastic bins or boxes for collection, and make a chart to track how much they have done. You could weigh it (a bathroom scale works fine if there isn’t one available in the school) or count items. (A sly way of incorporating some useful and fun math!) Have the kids put up posters made by them with what they are doing and why it is important. They can put it into their own words with a little help from you, and it will generate interest in your project with other students, teachers and parents. Make at least a weekly effort to track progress. With whatever you are recycling you can make it more meaningful by statements like, “We took seventeen pounds of waste out of the landfill this week! Good job!” Look up on the internet to see what the items are recycled for and show the kids, or have them to the research themselves. Make sure that everything at the school has been cleared with the administration-where the bins are and where the posters are as well for you doing the project. You don’t want to break fire codes or upset the custodial staff! When you reach your goal have a ‘green’ party with washable dishes, or paper products made from recycled paper, and items of food that can be composted instead of thrown away.