Environmental awareness

Teaching Pre K-8, Apr 1997 by Barbara Kines

Because we celebrate Earth Day this month, April usually means more classroom attention is focused on the environment. Students know a good deal about farreaching topics such as hazards to the rainforest or perspectives on global warming, but we must be careful not to overload them with disturbing concerns and dire predictions that cause them to worry and feel the situation is hopeless.

It's best to suggest a plan of action when we talk to children about worldwide problems, and it's effective and practical to bring environmental awareness into their personal lives.

Many families have been recycling papers, bottles and cans for months or even years, but have you investigated what happens to your recyclables? Children are fascinated to learn that park and bus stop benches can be made of recycled Styrofoam, for example. Your local waste management department can direct you to pamphlets and resources that make the process understandable.

On a "here-and-now" basis, examine lunch packaging. It may be easier to toss out plastic sandwich bags and paper lunch sacks, but when we consider the number of children who do that every day, it's obvious that re-using them even once would have a significant impact on our solid waste crisis.

Not just in April, but throughout the year, schools and parents work to increase children's awareness of our fragile environment. From using only the water we need, to making a compost pile or studying endangered species, we show children how they can make a difference in ways that are critical to all of us.