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Teaching Recycling With Dumpster Diving and Taste Tests
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WCPSS Elementary teachers took very different approaches to help students learn Earth Day lessons on recycling.
Members of the Oak Grove Elementary ecology club, the "Green Otters" participated in a live demonstration April 18th at the second annual Planet Earth Celebration in downtown Raleigh. The group was invited to do a "dumpster dive" to show how trash from one week could be reused, recycled, or composted.
The students were excited as they dove into a large pile of garbage that was on display during the Earth Day festival. As they dug around, they were guided by Burt's Bees Environmental Manager, Steve Walker. He answered questions and helped the kids move the large pile of trash into the smaller piles.
In the end, the group sorted the pile and discovered that the largest pile was made up of things that could have been recycled.
A crowd of people gathered to watch the "Green Otters" go to work. Many talked to their own children about what the kids were doing, and how they should try and be more mindful of what things they place in the trash at home.
The Oak Grove Elementary Ecology Club was the first club at Oak Grove. The club is open to 4th and 5th grade students and meets every other Thursday in Cathy Walker's classroom.
At Reedy Creek Elementary, students wondered which tastes better: mud or dirt? Or do you prefer your Earth Day mud and dirt treats with worms or ants or both? And what child doesn't enjoy making noise!
On Wednesday, Sheryl Kirkey's class savored all these options. Can't you just imagine the fun of tasting dirt and mud "sundaes" topped with worms and ants while constructing artistic and unique wind chimes from recycled tin and aluminum cans, old keys, plastic bottles, cups, and beads and several other "throw away" articles? Parents and grandparents accepted with enthusiasm and pleasure the invitation to participate in this joyful, creative Earth Day celebration where the students learned to reduce their environmental "foot print" by recycling as well as becoming more aware of the planet upon which we all depend for our existence by tasting their delicious down-to-earth edible concoctions.
Kirkey's celebration reinforced the positive potential of learning that will remain in the memories of her students long after their year in third grade, for which their parents and grandparents are very grateful.
Thanks to Cathy Walker and Sheryl Kirkey for sharing their stories with GotNews.
Posted by Bill Poston at 9:20 AM on April 24, 2009 | Leave Feedback
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