March is just about here. Schools are beginning to open up in some areas. Hopefully, all schools will be safe and open soon. In addition to all the COVID plans we must put in place while we are thinking about school health safety, there is more we should consider.
Let’s regroup, look at the big picture, and make our schools healthy in several additional ways. Make sure the water is safe, get out the lead, make your facility and grounds pesticide-free, stop using toxic cleaning chemicals, and much more. Learn more about how you can, as an instructor or parent, join a movement to have healthy schools. HealthySchools.org
Here’s a first step really quite easy to do. Start a No Idling Campaign. Idling cars and busses fill the air with the pollution which can cause major health problems for both children and adults. In most situations, we really don’t need to keep idling our vehicles. Exhaust from idling school buses is inhaled by children streaming out of school to get on their busses. That same exhaust enters the schools through open doors and windows. There’s also global warming and the unnecessary volumes of CO2 entering the atmosphere. This is unacceptable except on very cold days. Try out this easy campaign to protect both your student’s and your Earth’s health.
This would also be a good time to prep for your Earth Month activities. Earth Day is April 22 but most instructors work on Earth-saving throughout the month.
Launch in March and keep going through April. Here are some additional ideas. Try having a Bike Rodeo in your school or apartment parking lot or even in your driveway.
Ask the kids to study about KSE project on Greenwashing. Next, have a discussion about the issue in your classroom or virtually. Then find companies or corporations that “greenwash” about their products. Google the sentence “which corporations greenwash” and you’ll find suggestions. Write to them and ask them to tell the truth.
A great way to jump into Earth Month is to encourage your students to participate in Earth Hour. It’s a very empowering experience and this year they have an important video to present. Check it out.
Here’s another reminder for the Call for Young Heroes: Apply for this year’s Barron Prize! The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes is excited to launch its 2021 awards cycle! The Barron Prize annually honors 25 outstanding young leaders ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment. Fifteen top winners each receive $10,000 to support their service work or higher education. Encourage young heroes you know to apply online by April 15th! https://barronprize.org
Tell KSE about your hero too!
Thanks for all you do to help kids help Earth.