Recycling and Waste Management (2012)
by Nerompogies kai Xromata
limassol, LI, CyprusOur project explores ways of waste management with emphasis on Reducing and Reusing materials and with Recycling as the last action we take towards waste management.
Children of the preschool age (4-5.5 years old) should realize why these measures concerning the waste management should be taken. Which is the impact of waste on the environment? Then after realizing the damage caused from the waste they should consider ways of managing the waste in order to minimize the impact on the environment. A key issue to this discussion should be the actions they could personally take, which if possible, the children themselves should suggest.
Alongwith our videos and photographs, please review our attachment (project earth. doc) to see our detailed actions.
Introduction to our Project
Our project explores ways of waste management with emphasis on Reducing and Reusing materials and with Recycling as the last action we take toward waste management.
Children of the preschool age (4-5.5 years old) should realize why these measures concerning the waste management should be taken. Which is the impact of waste on the environment? Then after realizing the damage caused from the waste they should consider ways of managing the waste in order to minimize the impact on the environment. A key issue to this discussion should be the actions they could personally take, which if possible, the children themselves should suggest.
Purpose and Goal:
Preschoolers (ages 4-5.5) of our Kindergarten were part of an educational project in recycling and waste management which had the following goals:
i. To create awareness and sensitivity about the hazards of waste materials on this planet from a young age.
ii. To involve kids actively in the recycling of waste materials by raising their awareness in recyclable and reusable materials in terms of the products they consume and in the actual recycling of waste materials, in order to give them a firsthand experience.
iii. To brainstorm about ways to protect and preserve the environment.
iii. To involve the families of the kids in our effort to educate part of our community in the management and recycling of waste materials.
The Action Plan Step – by – Step:
I. In order to raise children’s curiosity on issues of environmental awareness signs and banners were placed in all the classrooms with pro environmental content. This was followed by a power point presentation of the “Environmental Code” and various discussions with the kids. During these activities our kids became aware of the waste materials inside and outside of our school and at the same time they became curious as to how some of them could be put back in circulation!
II. Our students proposed ways to develop and cultivate the right attitudes toward the environment with emphasis on recycling. Out of these proposals we selected the best to turn into posters with pro environmental content, which were then created by the kids and decorated our school.
III. Children created drawings of the “Environmental Code” which were placed in central locations of the community such as banks, community council, supermarkets, and convenience stores. We also created an environmental booth at our school’s entrance with informational material which was available to the families of the kids and passers by.
IV. “Green Corners” were established in all the classrooms where art projects created out of recyclable and reusable materials were displayed throughout the year. A musical slogan with references to recycling was created and a song was composed and sang by our kids on a CD. This material was sent to a radio station to enhance public sensitivity on recycling.
V. Further on children brought “trash” from their homes (cans, cardboard boxes, newspapers, commercial pamphlets etc. We created a “trash area” in the school yard and then learned separation of waste materials in two different containers one for plastic and one for paper.
VI. They created three different waste bins and their labels and began to explore which materials should be put in each bin according to their type (e.g. paper, plastic, Tetrapak).
VII. Finally we made paper-pulp out of the waste paper that we had collected.
Documentation
While the program was running we took photographs of each step along the way.
These pictures were then put together to create a small video showing the project in progress. The documentation served well its purpose to show children's' activities step by step in detail.
Student Involvement
Students were actively involved in this project. Project was created because of the questions and curiosity of the children regarding waste materials.
Children’s research involved
1) The collection of newspaper clippings regarding environmental issues with the help of their parents.
2) Discovering reusable and recyclable materials in their everyday life.
3) Recognizing the labels of recycling on various product packages.
4) Children themselves selected and brought various materials from home, which they considered “waste” materials. They were also prompted to bring to the school “recyclable” materials to use in their art projects.
Children participated in following excursions and educational trips:
1) Visit to Waste Water Treatment Plant.
2) Α walk around the neighborhood to observe the problem of overflowing in the waste bins.
3) A visit to the supermarket closest to our school where we observed the packages of various products and investigated where large packages end.
4) Visit to recycling plants in our town: Metal Recycling (Epifaniou factory), Paper Recycling (Philomedon Factory), Glass Recycling (Demsis Factory).
5) Visit to an ecological farm and observation of the process of composting waste.
Following creative projects were undertaken by our kids:
1) Our Christmas tree decorations were made out recyclable materials.
2) Our Carnival costumes were created out of recyclable materials.
3) A book marker with pro environmental messages was created during our art classes.
4) Children created their own story which was then presented as a puppet show (with puppets made out of recyclable, reusable materials).
5) A domino game was created with pro environment pictures.
6) The ABC of recycling was created with each letter of the alphabet standing for a message regarding the process of recycling.
7) A bio-vegetable garden was created in our school yard which was cared for by our students.
Collaboration
In the framework of our Project we collaborated with:
i. The Cyprus Environmental Movement: After the separation of materials an expert from the Cyprus Environmental Movement in Cyprus was invited to the school and together with the children they recycled paper and created paper pulp. Children were involved actively in the preparation process by cutting the paper up before it went into the blender for further processing.
ii. "Anakyklos" (Recycling Society): A member of the Cyprus Recycling Society visited our school and discussed with our children the concept of "reusable" materials. Children were asked to collect and bring old clothes from home. Kids were shown how to cut them up and to create dolls out of the old clothes.
Outcome
Preschoolers learn best when the learning process involves as many senses as possible. They respond very positively to repetitive audiovisual techniques. In this sense our kids had the opportunity to “see” written messages [e.g. power point presentations, posters, arts and crafts] and various recycling procedures [either at our school or during their visits in recycling plants]. They also “heard” concepts and terminology on recycling [through discussions, stories, presentations]. Internalization succeeded through a wide range of “hands-on” experiences [arts and crafts activities with recyclable / reusable materials, waste separation, caring for bio-vegetable garden and many more].
Read More
Post a Comment (84)
Send A Message
Share
Join
