Opinions
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Something old to something new:Education for sustainable development |
by Judianne Jayme
I’m using my space today to highlight a colleague who has done some amazing work facilitating the learning and growth of our students while also promoting sustainability. We live in a culture of consumption that is really not doing our environment any favours. Schools are challenging this idea by incorporating education for sustainable development (ESD), which not only looks at environmental concerns but also the wellbeing of our students (physically, mentally, emotionally) and our communities.
Recently, Mrs. Glenda Medina, a third grade teacher at Lord Nelson School gathered up interested third graders to meet Take Pride Winnipeg’s Fashion Fest contest. Below is information from Mrs. Medina about what her group of young kids accomplished in an all-ages event.
Have you ever made a dress of recyclable materials? We did, and it was really fun! Mrs. Glenda Medina, Grade 3 teacher at Lord Nelson School worked with her after-school club of Crafter’s Corner students to create a dress that was submitted to Take Pride Winnipeg’s Fashion Fest contest. They used the following materials to create a beautiful dress, tiara and necklace:
- pizza boxes
- old magazines
- newspapers
- glue
- tissue rolls
- soda bottle caps
- old cloth
- used ribbon
The after school club brainstormed the importance of recycling materials and decided what they wanted their dress to look like. They sketched the dress and then began creating! They used pizza boxes for the base of the skirt and rolled a lot of magazine pages to glue on the lower part of the skirt. They folded more magazine pages to make the second layer, and then wove the magazine pages to make the upper part of the dress. An old shirt was used for the string.
They created a headdress made up of bottle caps and old magazines for the links and a bracelet made up of bottle caps to add some details and colours.
Parent tip: Reduce, reuse, recycle!
People are generally used to the notion of recycling, but how many are actually advocating for reducing our consumption, or reusing materials? The world that our children will grow up in depends on how well we all work together at taking care of the environment and natural resources. ESD is not limited to a school or classroom, but extends to life at home as well. Encourage your kids and lead by example to reduce, reuse, and recycle!
Judianne Jayme is an educator teaching sixth grade and a division-wide mentor in the Winnipeg School Division.