By Lisa Greeves, Manager, Promising Practices
The agriculture department at Sibley East Schools in Arlington, Minnesota, created the Sibley East School Garden using one acre of land. Students grew and tended the garden spring, summer, and fall, and all produce from the garden was used directly by the district schools’ cafeterias.
The G.R.E.E.N. Team (Growing Recyclers for Earth’s Environmental Needs) at North Pike Elementary School in Summit, Mississippi, is a great example of a recycling program that started out small at an elementary school that grew larger to encompass all kinds of different recycling options and that helps the the community.
Morgan Selvidge Middle School in Ballwin, Missouri, hosts Nature Trail Workdays in the fall and spring. On each workday, parents, students, staff, and community gather to clear debris from trails, build benches, build pavilions and bridges, maintain and beautify the acres surrounding the school.
Morgan Selvidge Middle School is also home to S.T.R.E.A.M.S, an environmental club that is low-pressure but that allows students to come up with plans for beautifying the school building, grounds, hallways, and classrooms. Students are empowered by seeing their ideas start out in a meeting and then come to fruition.
Bonneville Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah, created a practice called Respecting the Environment that encourages participation at even the youngest grade levels. Here, first grade students chose to devote their service learning project to educating other students about how to care for and respect the beds around the school property.
Finally, Julian Elementary School in Julian, California, trains fifth-grade Garden Ambassadors on all aspects of the school garden. Students apply for these positions and undergo training to learn everything about the garden that they can so that they can effectively discuss it to visitors, parents, and other students at school events.
