LAC - Part 2

As mentioned in my previous post, I would like to share the gist of my proposed LAC project due mid June this year.

I intend to initiate an Environmental Awareness Program for elementary school students near where I live. The challenge is to work with the school's faculties to make the program interesting enough for elementary school students. Not easy ...

Anyway, the objective of the program is to raise the level of awareness amongst Grade 1 and Grade 2 students at LISA Jr. on sustainability activities to safeguard the environment.


Priority Issue (Environmental Challenge)

Many of the environmental issues we are facing today are due to direct or indirect human actions (or lack of actions) as there are growing scientific evidence that we are living unsustainably at an exponential rate that nature cannot replenish itself accordingly. Solutions, such as reducing wastage particularly on energy, food and water; promoting the concept of recycling and reusing to reduce amount of rubbish; and instilling ‘ownership’ to free access resources such as nearby forest and river are kept clean can be handled appropriately through education and awareness program that are easy for elementary school students to comprehend and even be executed in their daily routines.

A famous Malay proverb “If you want to bend a bamboo tree, start with its shoots”, indicates that if we want to instill good habits, we need to start with the young. Hence, I consider making a suitable and yet fun programs that teach on the right sustainable living values and environmental ownership to elementary students will make a great start to promote sustainable living and greater care for the environment.

Planned Activities

• Discussion with class teachers on how and when to collaborate on this program. This will include planning actual sessions of the program in their classrooms and probably visit to the park alongside the river during spring time to point out species around the area and also the importance of keeping the area clean.
• Prepare program that will include mainly graphical (including animation) representation to inform students on nature or environment around their school and city where they live in. There is also an intent to encourage the students to draw / sketch and talk about their experience (particularly on the plants and animals they see and also describe the air that they are breathing) when/if they go on holiday either to the mountain areas for skiing or to the beach during their Easter holidays
• Prepare print-out brochure on waste management (recycling and reusing) that the students can share with their parents and siblings based on drawings that the students will draw in school. This is to encourage students to know the importance to separate trash into different categories. There will also be programs that will include graphical (including animation, if possible) representation on the importance to separate trash according to different categories and the concept of recycling and reusing in order to reduce amount of trash in the landfill area.
• Prepare program that will include mainly graphical (including animation) representation to inform students on importance to reduce wastage (energy, food & water) at school and at their homes. One of the possible materials to be used is the videos from http://www.animalssavetheplanet.com/ (Please refer to one of my previous posts) Need to get approval from site owner before using their material. Search for online program or educational game on sustainability and environment for elementary school students. Promote this to be included in the school’s computer education syllabus.

I would, therefore, appreciate comments from all of you especially those with school going children around ages 6 - 9 years of age. You can leave comments in the blog or you could send a message to me at isam.dallee@gmail.com

Thank you in advance.