Here are some stories about things that other Montessori schools did for Earth Day last year. Perhaps you can become inspired by some of them. Please share some of your own upcoming ideas, also!
The Flagstaff FoodLink is counting on local schools to help teach children about sustainable, organic gardening. As children learn to grow their own food, they will take pride in it and are more likely to eat healthy foods. Some of the schools are planning on using the food grown in their gardens to feed their students. Teachers can also use the experiences to teach the plant life cycle in the science curriuclum. The local Montessori middle school was one of the participants.
Students at Tulsa Montessori worked to plant 88 shrubs in a labyrinth. For now the shrubs are small, but when they mature, children can take pleasure in full body movements through this calming maze.
Schools in Palmetto Bay released thousands of ladybugs for Earth Day, to control the aphid population as a natural pesticide. Schools participating included Alexander Montessori School and Winhold Montessori.
Planting 2 Million Trees
Brisbane had an ambitious plan to plant 2 million trees. Fig Tree Pocket State School and the Brisbane Montessori School helped to plant 1200 of them at the Brisbane Equestrian Centre.
Several schools in the Jacksonville area, including Discovery Montessori, worked with the Rainforest Alliance to bring about conservation awareness on a local and global level. One project included a giant art display at the Jacksonville Zoo.
Sea Pines Montessori Academy in Savannah, GA created a Rain Garden last year. These gardens catch rainwater run-off, and use plants to filter pollutants out of the water.
School Gardens in Durham, Hosted by Chef
Jeff Ensminger, chef in Durham, is working on implementing school gardens at all 20 elementary schools in the district. His goal is to have four raised beds at each school, so that children can plant and harvest seasonal vegetables. They are more likely to eat food that they have grown themselves. But because state law prohibits the cafeterias from serving the school-grown produce, Ensminger hopes that they schools can possibly sell the produce. George Watts Montessori already had a thriving garden in place.