Citizenship
Middle School - November 2012
Character Education
Newsletters
Broward County Air
Quality Program
Take the Conservation & Climate Change (C3) Challenge!
We are proud to announce the 4th annual Conservation & Climate Change (C3) Challenge! This
year, the C3 Challenge runs from October 1st to February 8th. The C3 Challenge is an educational
competition intended to engage Broward County students, teachers, school administrators, staff, and
parents in practical actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at school and home. This competition
is aligned with the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. Each month’s Character Education
Newsletter will feature one of the four focus areas of the C3 Challenge, which are transportation,
energy conservation, waste reduction/recycling, and water conservation. America Recycles Day
(http://americarecyclesday.org/) is November 15th! Therefore the theme for this month is waste
reduction/recycling.
What do you have to do to win the C3 Challenge?
1. Register your school by emailing airoutreach@broward.org
2. Share the online Teacher Pledge with all the teachers and encourage them to complete it.
3. Use the Toolkit to educate your students, parents and school administrators about how the school
can reduce its carbon footprint and submit a “Share your story” article about the school’s
accomplishments.
The top schools based on the pledge drive and “Share your story” will be selected for an on-site
assessment to determine the winning schools for elementary, middle and high schools.
Speak to your principal and help promote the C3 Challenge in your school. We provide a C3 Toolkit
with excellent ideas on how to promote the Challenge and encourage other teachers, students and
parents to participate. Our staff is also available to make presentations during staff meetings or school
assemblies.
For more information visit:
www.broward.org/PollutionPrevention/AirQuality/EducationalPrograms/Pages/C3.aspx or you can email us at airoutreach@broward.org or call 954-519-1260.
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Environmental Kids Club
Broward County Kids
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NatureScape Broward
Upcoming Events
November:
America Recycles Day
C3 Challenge
December:
Clean Air Poster Contest
C3 Challenge
January:
Clean Air Poster Contest
C3 Challenge
February:
Clean Air Poster Contest
March:
Water Matters Day
@Broward Environment
Activity 1: Reducing, Recycling and Reusing
November’s character trait is Citizenship. Students can learn to be good citizens by helping the
planet and taking the initiative to help our environment.
Step 1: Reducing Waste
Tell the students that you are going to show them what it means to
reduce waste. Explain the idea of reducing waste by telling your class
that when you avoid making garbage in the first place, you don't have to
worry about disposing of waste or recycling it later. Tell the students to
imagine a large bag of popcorn and six individual bags of popcorn. Ask
them which they think makes more waste. Tell the students how more
wrapping is used in the individual bags and tell them that if more paper
and packaging is used to make something, it makes more waste, or
garbage. Explain how packing popcorn in reusable containers will reduce waste because it makes less
garbage.
Next, tell the students to imagine a gallon jug of juice in a glass jar, and a six-pack of juice boxes. Ask
the students to predict which of these items makes more waste. Tell the students that it takes more
paper and plastic to make the juice boxes.
Ask questions to ensure students' understanding of the differences between the items you have
discussed with them. Encourage students to think of other examples of how to reduce waste. Use the
following prompts as guides to stimulate discussion:
 If you write on both sides of paper, how does this reduce waste?
 If you buy one big bottle of detergent instead of three small ones, how does this reduce waste?
 If you use a reusable lunch box or bag instead of paper, how does this reduce waste?
 If you use dishes instead of paper plates, how does this reduce waste?
 If you use a reusable mug instead of a paper or plastic cup, how does this reduce waste?
 If you say, "No thanks, I don't need a bag," when you buy something that doesn't require a bag,
how does this reduce waste?
Step 2: Recycling
Share the following examples of things that can be recycled: glass bottles; plastic water bottles;
detergent bottles; cereal boxes; newspapers; magazines; phone books, etc.
Share recycling symbols found at www.earthodyssey.com/symbols.html with your class. Examples of
recycling symbols include:
Some of the symbols mean that the item may be recycled, and some of the symbols mean that the
item is made from recycled materials. Ask the students to look for examples of recycling symbols on
the items you have provided.
Step 3: Reusing
a) Ask the students to tell you what they know about reusing things. You may use the following
questions as prompts: Did you ever go to a yard sale? What is a yard sale? • Did you ever donate
your old toys or clothes to a charity? • Did you ever give clothes that no longer fit you to a brother,
sister or a cousin? • Did you ever use an old glass jar to hold your pencils, pens or paintbrushes?
Tell the students that these are all examples of reusing things.
b) Show the following items to your class and ask how they might be reused: Gift wrapping paper •
Paper lunch bags • A toy • An empty peanut butter jar • A cardboard box • A plastic milk jug • A
detergent bottle • An empty plastic soda bottle.
c) Ask the students to generate more examples of how one can reuse varied items. Encourage your
students to bring examples into class. Explain to the class how reusing things instead of throwing
them out can help take care of the earth.
Source: http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/parentsteachers/pdfs/lessonk_1.pdf
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Activity 2: Compost Activity:
November’s character trait is Citizenship. Students can learn to be good citizens by helping the
planet and taking the initiative to help our environment.
Recycling in nature occurs every day, without us even realizing it. Leaves that fall to the ground
decompose and turn into compost, a nutrient-rich soil which helps plants grow healthy and strong. In
addition, the organic material serves as food for bacteria and fungi which serves as food for
earthworms which serves as food for some insects, and so on. When leaves and grass clippings are
thrown away, waste is collected and we interfere with an important cycle in nature. By being a good
environmental citizen, we should make a compost pile at home or at school using yard waste and
other organic material.
It’s easy to maintain a compost pile. Start with soil and then add equal amounts of “greens” and
“browns”. “Greens” are sources of protein which attract organisms to the pile to breakdown the
material. Examples of “greens” are grass clippings and food scraps. “Browns” are carbohydrates and
include dried leaves and twigs.
Once you have established an initial layer of material, place a layer of “greens” then a layer of
“browns”, then a layer of “greens” and continue to alternate the layers on a regular basis. This will
ensure that the compost pile will have an equal amount of “greens” and “browns”. It’s important to
regularly mix the material in the pile if you want decomposition to take place rapidly. Then over a
period of anywhere from three to eight months the material will break down into compost and will be
ready to be used as a natural fertilizer for plants and trees.
Composting Tips:
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Keep the pile moist, but not soggy because the material will not decompose fast if it’s too wet
Do not add meat, bones or dairy products because these items will attract animals to the pile
Trim tree branches to ¼” in diameter or smaller because they will decompose faster
Mix the material in the pile regularly (the more you mix the pile, the faster it will decompose) to
allow aeration.
Compost Activity for the Classroom
On an overhead projector or writing board, write the following items. As a class, have the students
identify which are organic and can be composted. As each is identified, circle them for the class to see
and agree on.
Peaches
Twigs
Crayon
Glass bottle
Television
Leaves
Paper clip
Styrofoam cup
Plastic bag
Notebook
Banana peel
Celery
Adhesive tape
Tree branch
Mango peel
Newspaper
Orange peel
Computer
Pine needles
Avocado peel
Aluminum can
Lettuce
Envelope
Grass clippings
Source: www.swa.org/pdf/activity_sheets/compost_activity_sheet.pdf
For more information on waste prevention at home, work or at school, and information on composting,
visit the Broward County Pollution Prevention, Remediation & Air Quality Waste Prevention page.
November 15th is America Recycles Day. Which of the following is an example of reusing, and NOT
recycling or reducing?
A. Reducing the amount of waste we throw away by purchasing in bulk.
B. Refilling a thermos or water bottle instead of throwing it away.
C. Placing a soda can in the recycle bin.
D. Purchasing paper made from recycled content.
Answer: B
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America Recycles Day
America Recycles Day (http://americarecyclesday.org/) is November 15th! Be sure to have your class
pledge to recycle more!