5 Easy Activities for Students to Go Green in the Classroom

One of the most important things about creating a sustainable planet is teaching the little ones that will inhabit it for many years to come. Educators have the responsibility, power and knowledge to teach students environmentally friendly habits and practices. Being creative and finding ways to ingrain these lessons are easier than you think. Here are five easy class activities to teach your students how to go green in the classroom.

1. Room Check

At the end of the day, have your students make sure that all faucets and lights are turned off, trash is picked up, technology is shut down, blinds are closed and other necessary items are recycled. You can split up your class into a few groups with each one having a checklist for a specific area. This activity teaches kids the responsibility and importance of saving energy and cleaning up, and it only takes a few minutes. You could even make it a contest to see which group is able to find the most classroom mishaps.

2. Class Garden

Growing a school garden with your students will give them an opportunity to be outdoors and learn about the environment. There’s so much to teach about growing a garden, and you don’t need any fancy tools or supplies to do it. This activity can also help build important skills like responsibility, teamwork and social skills.

3. Recycling Contest

A recycling contest is the perfect way to get your students excited about making a difference for the planet. Let your students compete for first, second and third place in collecting the most recyclable items in a week or month. There are several ways to do this, but you could split your class into teams or compete with other classrooms. Teams can mark their items then place them into the appropriate bins. Count them at the end to find out who wins!

4. Building and Creating with Reusable Materials

Part of being sustainable is using less and reusing more. Ask students to look for reusable items from home and bring them in for a fun and crafty project. This teaches students to be more resourceful and creative because they get a chance to see everyday objects from a different perspective. They can make super hero cuffs from toilet paper rolls, build characters using soda cans, or create their own flowers out of paper scraps.

5. Plant a Tree

This could be another option aside from having a class garden. Getting your students to plant a tree and caring for it together makes for a great Earth Day activity. This teaches kids the importance of taking care of our planet and the responsibility to take action.