Building Sustainable Schools: 10 WAYS TO TRANSFORM IT INTO A SUSTAINABLE HUB
By emphasizing environmental themes and sustainability in our schools, we can do more than giving the next generation the tools they need to take on environmental change — we can give them a better future.
How to Make Schools more Eco-Friendly? 10 Tips to Transform it into a Sustainable Hub. Every detail counts!
1. Introduce green habits
A green patch of land can be dedicated on the school premises for a mini farm and students can be taught about planting and caring for it. It’s a learning practice and it helps them be in tune with eco-friendly activities. Students can be taught to ensure taps are closed properly after use and also to use water sparingly.
2. Class dedicated to cleaning
For kids the ring of the last bell means scuttering home with their bags. Teachers can instead dedicate a small class at the end of day, dedicated just for cleaning the classroom and the school premises. It’s not just aimed at driving environmental consciousness, but is also a fun bonding activity. Start a recycling system in your classroom and show the children how to use it and recycle their things.
3. Green patch exercise
This is aimed at going beyond textbook theories and implementing theories in real life. Teachers can impart practical knowledge by introducing ‘do at home’ experiments like planting trees in the area or finding solutions to reduce and segregate waste in-house.
4. Lessons on saving energy
When we speak about an ‘energy-efficient future’ most of it relies on how we sensitise the younger generation – to make sure they have clarity on renewable energy and the power of technology that will make things easier for them in the future.
5. Homework on sustainability
Setting ‘eco-friendly’ themes every week can be an engaging and learning experience for children. From no plastic use to minimalism, the students can be given specific tasks to do every week and write a detailed essay on what they learned from it. This will help inculcate sustainable habits in the future.
6. A club dedicated to environmentalists
Starting an environmental club at school is a great way to get students energised about taking care of the Earth and helping the community while learning about some of the most important issues facing the world in the 21st century. Clubs can work together and share experiences with each other to help get a sense of the bigger picture about environmental and climate issues.
7. Mock awareness rallies
To ensure that students have ownership of what they want to change and how to implement these changes, can be done by conducting mock awareness rallies within the school premises. A group of 8 to. 10 kids can be chosen to research a topic related to the environment and help sensitise the rest. The exercise will push students to research, investigate how and why things happen, and make their own decisions about complex environmental issues. Learning transcends the classroom and awareness rallies are the best way to whip up that enthusiasm.
8. Anti-pollution ambassadors
The anti-pollution ambassadors can be tasked with spreading awareness on the need of conserving the environment by cycling to school, or taking the bus to reduce the use of individual cars. Exercises such as these go a long away in making the younger generation aware of the environmental impact caused by certain activities.
9. Produce own power
When we speak about an ‘energy-efficient future’ most of it relies on how we sensitise the younger generation – to make sure they have clarity on renewable energy and the power of technology that will make things easier for them in the future.
10. Skits and plays based on spreading environmental awareness
Having skits and plays in school promotes two important rules, caring for our environment and showing respect for other cultures. Messages about recycling and reducing global emissions gently worked into a fun and engaging story-line goes a long way in sensitising kids.
