After-school / Holiday Eco games and activity ideas

Goal: Building impetus toward behaviour change by -

Rousing a competitive spirit,

Introducing excitement, and/or the element of surprise,

Making the learning experience memorable and meaningful!

Note: this page is under construction.

FUN QUIZZ ACTIVITIES

How:

Days at holiday programme or hours at after school programme can be very long and repetitive.

Some students will wish to be physically active, others chill out and others get involved in a mental challenge. Why not harness the impetus of the last group by involving them in Peer Education so the older students engage with the younger group as pseudo-teachers in ecologically minded activities.

Fun facts can be investigated around consumption trends (fast fashion vs vintage and upcycling) leading in to the development of Quizzes and Activity Books. For the girls, illustrators and budding statisticians- turn your research results in to Graphs, Infographics with colourful illustrations. For the budding designers and events managers - bring your rag to riches discoveries to life in the form of Fashion Parades, and Dress-Up days. These can revolve around all manner of FUN FACTS on recycled fashion wares for young women - eg finding out which 'upcycled' outfits  - 1950s, 60s or 70s  vintage have the most websites? How are petro-chemical based fabrics being recycled (polyster, viscose, vinyl) and which brands incorporate them in to their fashion lines. (H&M, Ombra Bras, Kathmandu, Patagonia, Tommy Hilfiger, Mecca Maxima (cosmetics), Aveda (Hair)).

Another research topic- explore which companies accept the return of fashion for recycling textiles.  Fun research fact: how many bottles go in to the construction of a Medium - Size Suit-Case or Sand-Shoes (American Tourister, Nike and other brands). One new product emerging - Cactus Leather as an animal friendly alternative and which creates less pollution in its production cycle. Students might opt to research their products with strong eco ratings, eg. which companies brands are recycling Ocean Waste or use the least water or the most biodegradable materials. My favourite is the Aveda Hair Salons for their effort in recycling tin-foil, hair, excess hair product and all manner of by-product which get turned in to roads, or back in to foil for highlighting hair.

Older students in Composite Classes might help the younger pupils set up ‘Shopfronts’ in the class-room and bring along Environmentally friendly products to be “sold” and taken away using home made shop bags (or fold-up Envirosax carry bags).  Find out which countries our unwanted goods are turning up in, or now are being turned away from (China being one of them!)

Outdoor games can be enjoyed along with Sing-Songs for the littlies who make up ditties to sing to their parents who are about to venture to the Shops _

Mum, Dad!!!

Don’t forget the Shopping Bags - Cos… 15cents A Bag is Such a Drag”

Photograph: Courtesy of Nicolle K. Pots for planting sourced from upcycled building materials.

  • Endangered Species Ball Game (Ages 8 and up)

    Research and select ONE climate change affected species that can be sketched easily.

    Bring a bunch of light coloured large bouncey balls to the session. Half the group sketches the selected endangered species on to each ball.

    The other half of the group researches what are the key reasons behind the 'selected species' being listed as endangered. They bring in to class old Tee Shirts and draw pictures of the source of the threats on to Tee Shirts, to be worn by them. So, for example, if the balls have an ORANGUTAN drawn, then the research group draw pictures of burning forests or Palm Tree Plantations on to the Tee Shirts.

    The object of the game is for those not wearing the Tee Shirts to keep the Orangutan Balls in play without letting the ones wearing the Tee Shirts get possession of the balls. Alternately, the game can be played as a form of “Dodgeball” in a yard or large outdoor area, whereby a group wearing the Tee Shirts huddle together in the centre and two people (minus the Tee Shirts) stand at either ends of the yard, and toss the ball down the middle of the Group, each bearing the depiction of a Habitat Threat.

    ………………………………………

    START a “Bring A Branch Day”

    Pupils helping out with some pruning in the garden (or park if no garden available), and bring in a small specimen/branch/flower to class. A gardening App may be available to assist. The exercise for the class is to analyse the foliage and to work out which plants are ideal for planting to create a shady spot in the garden (consider UV protection, evergreen vs deciduous - winter versus summer shade, shelter from the summer sun, the H20 needs of plants (hydro- zoning) etcetera.) Analyse which plants create habitats for critters, reptiles, and which environments are suitable for seed eating, nectar or insect eating birds,? This could be an ideal geography and physics lesson in understanding the angles of the sun, how shadows are formed, how the ecosystem works together symbiotically and synergistically.

    AI image of children in nature - courtesy of Seb.C.

  • Creative use of visuals and story-telling

    Students run workshops about the amazing features of dirt. Get the youngsters to dress up, as one of their favourite bugs! At camp or on holiday programme, encourage children to construct (sew or pin together) their own costumes. One activity might involve interviewing each other about the role of bugs in our eco-systems.

    They can make up stories about where the dung beetle, the worms and all the other critters go when we over-develop gardens - replace grass and vegetation with pools and concrete. Explain the reasons why the top-soil is so important to the biosphere, bio-diversity aspects and for a sustainable landscape design.

    Research which countries have top-soil levels at MOST RISK and the impacts caused by agricultural industries. Research solar and renewable innovations, Hydroponics, the Use of Algae/Biochar, Vertical and Indoor Farming and other ways to regenerate and/or prevent depletion of top-soil.

    One way to get youngies interested in the health of our oceans and waterways is to arrange a PARTY or EXCURSION to the beach and have a ‘Mermaid’ turn up to tell a story about ocean habitats, to inspire a change of heart with respect to single-use plastics.

    Activities can be set up to divert waste-stream such as building sculptures, or for a greater challenge - attempt to make JEWELLERY out of plastic and other wastes?

    Children and Nature Network website is a resource for all aspects to the importance of children being out in nature.


    Picture credit: Viktoria Borodinova

Parks Victoria – Junior Rangers Program 

Led by a park ranger, children and their families can take part in a range of activities. Find out more at Junior Park Rangers - Parks Victoria website.

 At Converse Conserve, we believe in education being 'informational' and 'inspirational'. Just remember all the causal drivers that bear on human behaviour: intellectual, functional, moral, sensual, emotional, psychic, sub-conscious drivers. The language of environmental education and campaigning can take all of these in to account.