It all started with some classroom bean bag chairs that had
gone flat.
Most people would refill them with styrofoam beans, but not
in Stephanie Allan and Rhiannon Wilson’s first grade class.
Allan and Wilson team teach at Heritage ECS. They share a
passion for lowering waste in their lives outside of school and decided to
collect plastic bags over the summer to refill the ‘poof’ chairs. When students
saw the teachers stuffing the chairs, they wanted to help.
“Naturally we started talking about why you just don’t throw
the bags away and other things you can do with them,” said Wilson. “And the
students started bringing in their own plastic bags and now the chairs are nice
and full.”
That led to more discussions about plastics. “We saw real
life photos of plastic island that is a big blob of trash that can make fish
die,” said Raquel. That island, also known as Great Pacific Garbage
Patch, is so large that it is equivalent to 250 pieces of debris for every
human in the world. And the students are passionate about doing their part to
keep plastic island from growing even larger. “We want to recycle so the
plastic doesn’t hurt the animals in the ocean,” said Makailyn.
So the students began talking about water bottles. That led
to the them coming up with creative ways to reuse water bottles. Case in point:
the classroom’s ‘Peace Corner’ is now well-stocked with calming jars the
students made at home. Filling a plastic bottle with water and things like
glitter create a tool to use when someone needs to take a break and refocus.
They have also worked with Miss Regina, the school’s custodian, to make sure
plastic cups are recycled in the cafeteria.
“This is project-based learning at its best,” said Allan.
“The students are learning and doing so much more than if I just sat down with
them and presented information.” The students’ interest in helping the earth is
sparking curiosity and driving their learning – and leading to the students
taking action and creating solutions.
When students became concerned about all of the paper towels
used at school, the class brainstormed on what they could do. Hand towels are
used at home, so they figured out a way to do the same thing at school and
still be sanitary. The class now has a ‘no paper towel policy’ -- using hand
towels at school and then collecting and washing them at home. They work
together to fold the clean laundry (often using math to fold the towels into
fractional parts).
Wilson added, “The kids just have this passion and heart for
making the world a better place and coming up with ideas and alternatives to
the wastefulness they see in our classroom, at home and in the school. Even
though the third quarter curriculum calls for students to come up with a way to
make an impact or change to their environment, there is no way we could stop
the students’ passion back in September.”
During the entire school year, the teachers are using this
passion as a basis for classroom lessons. “It is so integrated with our social
studies and science standards – even our math, our reading, our writing,” said
Allan. “It’s amazing.”
When the students learned that Crayola had a recycling
program for plastic markers, it peaked their curiosity: ‘How can we be part of
the program?’ and ‘Who else knows about this?’
The students added a marker bin to their recycling center.
They wrote a letter to Crayola. They surveyed Heritage teachers to see if they
knew about the program and if they wanted to participate. They graphed the
results. They provided boxes to teachers to collect markers, and each Friday
the first graders will gather the old markers throughout the school. They’ve
made signs and are even talking about creating a commercial.
The classroom recycling center also has areas for boxes,
scraps and paper that is only used on one side. The students find all types of
ways to reuse these items throughout the school day. And they are taking the
recycle, reuse and refuse message home as well.
There is no doubt that the students are passionate about the
environment. When asked what ideas they have for protecting the earth, almost
every hand went up.
“I asked my dad if I could drink
without using a straw.” - Alyssa
“I reused a plastic fork as a back
scratcher.” - Alaina
“I used a box and a spring to make
a pop machine at home.” - Maico
“Instead of using a plastic fork
and straw with a wrapper for breakfast, we have metal forks and spoons to use
in our classroom. Then we wash them.” - Sophia
“We use paper scraps to write notes
on.” - Isabella
“We made giant dice for the
classroom with boxes and sharpie markers.” - Madi, Makailyn and Dean
“The students inspire us every day to come in and teach,” said Allan. “We just
go with the passion they have, the decisions they make. We listen to the
questions they have and help them try to answer them.”
The first graders plan to be part of the #LakotaGoesGreen Earth Day Celebration on April 18. The entire community is invited to the event, held in partnership with the West Chester Farmers’ Market, from 2-4 p.m. at West Chester Square.