Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22, but for many green-minded people, one day is simply not enough! Schools can celebrate the greenest time of year by transforming Earth Day into a week of action.
For schools that are new to running Earth Week events, our advice is to start small and build on initiatives year after year. We also encourage schools to change it up: if school grounds clean-up was held last year, try running a textile recycling drive this year to challenge students’ creativity and keep things fresh.
Here are five ideas for themed days you can take action on at school:
Prep for Pollinators
Greening school grounds is an important aspect of environmental education. It allows for tactile, hands-on learning that has strong connections to the science curriculum. If done correctly, a greening project can transform a space into a rich, biodiverse ecosystem. Here are some great ways you can make your school grounds an attractive place for wildlife:
- Invite students to conduct a research project that investigates the plants that are native, hardy and thrive in your school’s specific ecozone. Focus on planting these on your school grounds.
- Plant a greening project that attracts and feeds local insect and bird species. A pollinator garden is a great way to support the struggling honey-bee population; add milkweed for monarch butterflies as well. Also consider building bug condos and toad houses.
- Research which species of plants are invasive to your region and create posters to share this knowledge with the school community. Do your best to keep these plants out of your school grounds to give native plants the best possible chance to flourish.
Waste-Free Day
Waste, particularly single-use plastic, is an important issue that’s been gaining awareness in the public sphere. What are some ways schools can encourage students to skip the plastic and explore more sustainable options?
- Waste-free lunches are a popular and easy-to-organize initiative that cuts back on food waste and plastic packaging. Encourage a positive, voluntary experience where participating students can be celebrated, or create a “Got It, Need It” bin where students with extra reusable containers can place them for those in need.
- #RefuseTheStraw! Plastic drinking straws are a menace to a clean, healthy environment. They are non-recyclable, and often end up in waterways, rivers, and oceans, where they wreak havoc on wildlife. Encourage students to ask the question, “Do I really need a straw?” Practice refusal at the cafeteria, restaurants, and coffee shops, and consider buying a few metal reusable straws to have on hand at school for students in need.
- Take reusable dishware to the next level: work with your cafeteria to have reusable containers accepted for lunch and snacks. Keep reusable dishware and utensils in classrooms or the office that can be signed out, and encourage reusable water bottles and initiatives like the Great Gulp.
Walk/Roll/Ride to School
Take advantage of warmer spring weather and engage in active transportation. Spending time before and after school outdoors is a healthy way for students to experience nature and their community.
- Mark the beginning of your school’s active transportation campaign with personal pledges, a fun assembly, or a welcome party at your school for participants.
- Fundraise for a school bike racks to encourage cycling every day! Partner with a local bike shop for tune-up workshops or presentations on cycling skills and safety.
- Track the number of students getting active on their way to school and calculate the impact on the environment to further increase participation. Give participants rewards on arrival: hot chocolate on winter walk days or delicious lemonade on hot days.
Clean It Up Day
All that melting snow can reveal a lot of accumulated garbage and debris from the winter. Organize a clean-up campaign for your school yard or nearby natural area that teaches students about the impact of littering and waste. Litter isn’t just unsightly; it can be downright dangerous for wildlife. A clean space is a happy space for everyone!
- Get all students and staff involved in a schoolyard clean up. Wearing gloves is important for safety – consider using gardening gloves, rubber cleaning gloves, or if you don’t have them on hand, borrowing from friends or family.
- The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, the 20-Minute Makeover, and Pitch-In Week are all excellent initiatives that connect to a wider community. Cities and municipalities can provide the supplies you need to have a great event.
Don’t Trash Textiles
Explore the life cycle of clothing and textiles from beginning to end, and think about how textiles can be reused after their initial purpose is complete.
- Involve the whole school community by getting students, teachers, staff, and parents to bring in gently used items to swap. You can swap books, gifts, clothes, and household items to bring awareness to consumer habits.
- Family-studies classes can get creative by repurposing old clothes to make funky new clothing, tote bags, aprons – whatever! Organize a school fashion show and connect it with information on the environmental impact of clothing choices.
- Schools can also consider running textile recycling drives as a fundraising tool with companies like Bag2School. Diverting textiles from landfill cuts down on energy use, emissions and pollution. Visit Bag2School’s website for more information.
These are just a few suggestions to spark ideas — we’d love to hear about other initiatives you’re undertaking and exploring. Don’t limit these actions to just Earth Day, Earth Week or even the whole month of April – many of these initiatives can be done all year round.
Check out more Earth Week ideas in our online campaign kit and let us know what you’re up to on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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