From Guest Blogger Kara Masterson: Four Ways Elementary Education Teachers Are Going Green
The term “green” no longer just refers to a color or cold-hard cash. More often than not when we hear the term green we know it is referring to the well-being of the environment, both in a personal sense and for the planet as a whole.
Why is it important for teachers to go green?
As citizens of the earth it is important for all of us to consider out footprint and do what we can to “go green.” Teachers have a unique responsibility in setting an example and educating the generation who will be living on this earth after we are gone. The new version of the three “Rs” has become: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle! There are many ways in which teachers going green pays off for the students. Here are just a few:
- Environment-the actions of the teacher immediately helps the environment and lessons taught to the students will have an impact for years to come.
- Better health and better attendance- Environmental practices such as not using toxic cleaners, often result in better health and better attendance
- Higher grade and test scores- Green schools have better test scores, possibly as a result from the level of involvement and a healthier environment.
Ways teachers go green:
- Equipment and materials in the classroom- Make use of computers and use non-toxic art materials and cleaners.
- Teaching environmentalism- Besides teaching the importance of climate change and the environment there are fun and interesting things to promote going green:
- Visit a recycle center
- Recycle art project using magazines and newspapers
- Adopt an animal from an endangered species through a local zoo or an international organization
- Attend International Walk Day
- Build birdhouses
- Engage in a neighborhood clean-up project
- Going paperless with administrative work and communications to parents- An email sent to a parent is much more likely to be received than a written note
- Continuing education online- More and more teachers are pursuing online Master’s Degree Programs in Education. An advanced degree can be a terrific career boost. Not only does the online education option offer personal convenience, but also significantly reduces your footprint through less paper both in reading materials, and assignments and tests, and by saving on transportation costs and reducing fossil fuels.
The health and well-being of our planet is one of the most important issues we face today. We owe it to our children to teach them the importance of environmentalism and provide them the tools to protect the earth for their future and future generations.
