Recycling
Since the boys were little, we’ve been trying to teach them to be environmentally friendly – waste not, want not; recycling; etc.
So when we moved to our new place, we got sorting bins for recycling.
Now the kids can can also practice green habits by learning to sort their trash into glass, plastic, paper and metal.
And for Hercules, it’s a fun sorting activity to identify what’s metal, plastic, glass and paper. While we were at it, I discovered he could read the labels on our recycling bins without having to check what was inside each bin and without Aristotle telling him which bin was for what.
To learn about what happens to the stuff that has been sent for recycling, there is a Magic School Bus episode that talks about the process of recycling – The Magic School Bus Holiday Special (Get it from Amazon).
Energy Usage and Impact on the Environment
Some time back, Aristotle was playing a game on Kinetic City called “Power Up” which teaches children about the different types of energy available. The aim of the game is to provide enough power to a city without exceeding a budget and without impacting the environment too much. It’s a great game for showing children the different types of energy available, the financial costs to use them and their impact on the environment.
Pollution
There is also a good episode on Bill Nye the Science Guy about Pollution that can help children learn more about its impact on the environment and the damaging effects of global warming.
The Value of Trees
The boys learned about the importance of trees and the role that they play in preserving our environment in “Be a Friend to Trees” by Patricia Lauber – from a series of books that teaches children about science through reading.
That’s about as far as we’ve gotten with the boys’ green education. For more resources to facilitate green education at home, check out these sites:
- National Environmental Education Week
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Students
- Project Learning Tree
- Green Work Experience – Free Green Education Curriculum
- Edutopia – Go Green Database
Ng says
Hi Shen-Li,
May i know what do you do with the sorted waste? just wondering.. coz i live in an apartment and everyone here just dump their waste in one big rubbish dump…. i only keep those aluminum cans for recycling….
Thanks
Shen-Li says
We’re in an apartment, too, and they have recycling bins in the main trash area so it’s easy for us. Hubby empties our recycling bins into those whenever they fill up. Otherwise, you’ll have to take it out yourself to places that do recycling. Not so convenient and requires a lot more dedication.
Ng says
wow! yr place is great! i think i will just recycle the cans then… :p