If you are a teacher, there are plenty of ways you can make your classroom more sustainable. From promoting recycling to improving energy efficiency, you can do many things to create a more environmentally friendly atmosphere in your classroom. The tips below are designed to help you start off on the right foot.

One of the best ways to teach sustainability is to encourage your students to take the initiative. For instance, you can ask them to donate old computers or clothes to a nonprofit organization. The process will also give them a chance to learn about recycling.

Another way to teach sustainability is to ask students to calculate their carbon footprint. This is an easy, fun, and useful measure of how much energy they are consuming. You can have your students do this on a regular basis. This is particularly important if they are preparing to go on a field trip or participate in an activity. You may want to have them do a waste audit, too.

Another green educational activity you can do is plant a garden. Not only will this teach kids about gardening and the benefits of organic produce, but it will also make them realize that they have the power to improve the planet. You can also ask them to choose a plot of land to grow in and decide on the type of soil they will use.

If you are a teacher, you can make a real difference in your community by creating a more sustainable school environment. You can start by adding a compost bin to the cafeteria. You can also incorporate an outdoor rainwater harvesting system to collect runoff water. You can even build a small school garden.

When you do this, you will also need to explain what’s going on. You can include a recycling center tour, and discuss the importance of using green products and practices. You can also ask your students to research an issue that is important to them. You can also have your students contact politicians and corporations about an issue that they believe is important to them.

When it comes to school sustainability, the smallest steps are often the most rewarding. Creating a greener, cleaner school can make your students more aware of their impact on the environment and help them become future environmental professionals. This will ultimately benefit everyone in your community.

The most important step is to educate yourself and your students. There are a lot of great resources on the Internet, including the Learning Sustainability Campaign. You can learn about sustainability by reading books for children of all ages. You can also visit the Sustainability Blog, which offers weekly updates and special event invitations. If you are looking for more ideas, try Project Green Schools. You can also join the GreenWatch Project, which promotes sustainable literacy.

Teaching about sustainability may seem daunting, but there are many fun, exciting, and easy ways you can get your students involved. It’s a good idea to start off with a small project, and if you have more than enough students to help, you can assign projects that tackle the biggest challenges facing your school.