07 Jun 2024
Teaching Our Kids Sustainability: Why Eco-Education Is a Must
Getting kids interested in sustainability has plenty of benefits – they learn about taking care of our planet, develop teamwork skills, and have fun while doing it! In this blog post, we'll look at some of the great projects run by Bexley Eco Festival that aim to get kids involved in eco-education.
Why you should get school-age kids involved with eco-friendly projects
Introducing school-age children to eco-friendly projects is a bright idea that could make a significant difference in their lives and the environment's future. Engaging young minds in such activities nurtures a sense of responsibility and love towards the planet.
As they participate in various environment-friendly endeavours, students learn the importance of reducing waste, conserving resources and protecting nature. These hands-on projects allow them to connect scientific principles to real-world situations, instilling a deeper understanding of environmental challenges and inspiring creative and practical solutions.
Additionally, working on eco-friendly projects encourages teamwork and fosters social skills as children collaborate and exchange ideas to achieve a common, sustainable goal. Ultimately, involving school-age kids in eco-conscious initiatives prepares them to be active environmental stewards, shaping a greener and healthier world for future generations.
School's Waste Action Club
One significant initiative Bexley Eco Festival runs is the School's Waste Action Club. This involves a series of activities suitable for different age groups or the whole school. These include:
- Wonderful World of Worms - learn about worms and the part they play in natural recycling.
- Waste Wormery - create their own wormery to watch worms in action.
- Rubbish Raps - create musical instruments from waste materials to learn about the 3Rs of waste minimalisation.
- Scavenger Hunt - high-energy activities to find cards around a field or playground to answer the questions to unscramble a word, all themed around things like recycling and plastic in the oceans.
Another important activity is the Waste Warriors for Year 2 and KS2. This involves spending an hour in local parks or roads litter picking and also helping with community campaigns to raise awareness of litter.
Plastic Pioneers
In an effort to create a sustainable future and protect our environment, Bexley Eco Festival is taking part in Plastic Pioneers. This initiative sees schools and organisations teamed up with TK Maxx and Homesense to tackle the issue of single-use plastics in schools.
This collaboration is a significant step forward in the fight against plastic pollution, as it aims to inspire and educate the younger generation to make more environmentally-friendly choices. By promoting sustainability, waste reduction, and repurposing of resources, the partnership encourages schools to explore innovative and eco-conscious solutions.
This initiative not only highlights the importance of collaboration and collective action in addressing environmental challenges but also serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact that young people can have on shaping a greener future for all.
Making a lasting change
Bexley Eco Festival is proud to help bring these initiatives to schools to improve eco-education and to help kids incorporate sustainability in their lives. Find out more about our work with schools here.