When you have about 25 kids in class, it’s easy to use a lot of resources. I’ve complied 10 ways to be an eco-friendly teacher, just in case any of these might be slipped into your busy day. (=
1. Turn lights off when leaving the classroom.
2. Try not to make unnecessary copies, etc.
3. Recycle food boxes, school supply boxes, etc.
(Possibly take things home to recycle if your school doesn’t recycle everything).
4. Choose read alouds that promote being good to the earth. Here are a couple of lesser know books I’d recommend: 2030, Polar Bear, Why Is Your World Melting?
5. If you’re giving kids gifts or rewards, try not to give them too many plastic toys, etc. Try to give consumables like pencils, pens, treats, etc. and life rewards like free time, etc.
6. Repurpose containers to use in the classroom.
7. Use natural items like beans and popsicle sticks for math manipulatives.
8. Give used crayons and school supplies, etc. to kids to take home instead of throwing in the trash at the end of the year.
9. Laminate some materials so you don’t have to make copies over and over.
10. Take a recycling bin on field trips for recyclable items.
Do you have any other suggestions for being a green teacher?
Thank you for whatever you do, no matter how small! Every little bit helps!
~ Carrie
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Great blog post. I feel that being more eco-friendly is so important.It is great to hear from a teacher’s perspective.
Definitely, Elise! Thanks!
Carrie
These are great ideas! Not only can you reduce your classroom’s impact, but you’re modeling good habits that the kids may carry forward all their lives.
Many of my kids’ teachers have done projects with reused materials. The kids often are inspired to repeat the project at home–and if we don’t have the exact materials they used in school, sometimes they come up with ways to reuse even more things to work with what we do have!
Thanks, Becca! Great idea doing projects with reused materials.
Carrie
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing with us at Love to Learn. Pinned.
Thanks for hosting!
Carrie
Oh, love these eco-educational tips! Another idea is to have small recycling bins in the classroom to recycle and teach the kids recycling on a daily basis. And maybe require school projects consist of a certain percentage of recycled materials (or extra credit for doing so). This is too sweet not to tweet!
Love those ideas, Elle! Thanks!
Carrie
As a homeschooler, I try to reuse 3-ring binders, notebooks, and other supplies instead of buying everything new. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your tips at the #LMMLinkup!
Thanks, Brandi!
Carrie