PART III: TOP FIVE LIST
Our students are involved in many activities that promote green living at Forest Ridge. The top 5 list was created by our students.
Reuse
At Forest Ridge we reuse practically everything. Leprechaun traps, cities, arcade games, art projects, rockets, Rube Goldberg challenges, STEM activities and Valentine's Day boxes are some of the activities we have done using only leftover materials. We reuse our science fair boards from year to year. We try not to throw out items if there is any chance they can be used in an upcoming project. The students know that it is important to try to reuse items.
"Even if it's just a scrap, if someone can use it even for the inside of an eye in an art project, that counts; it's not in the garbage." Jordan
Green Team Ambassadors
The Green Team Ambassadors were formed this school year and have hit the ground running. This group is made up of 4th and 5th grade students. These students have weekly meetings. They learn about current environmental issues, they plan projects, write songs and skits, and do presentations to inform all the students in the school about the projects we are completing. They led our "Save the Bay" stenciling project. "Being on Green Team is fun and we help inspire others to save the earth." Joyce
Book Swap
We are really proud of our book swap program. Each school year the students have an opportunity to share their books. Each student brings in 5 or more books to recycle. During the last week of school all of the books are displayed on table, and the students are able to choose one book for every book they brought in. The students all get "new to them" books to read for the summer.
"Book swapping is a great activity. We get to save money, save trees, and have good books to read on the beach or on long car rides." Prisila
Recycling
We try to recycle everything that we can't reuse. We recycle drink pouches, chip bags, ink cartridges, pens, crayons, paper, bottles, cans, cardboard, and other items. The 5th grade students take turns picking up the recycling in all the classrooms and distributing it to the appropriate receptacles. The students monitor each other. They make sure that we recycle as many items as we can.
"Recycling is fun when you do it with friends." Jordan
Change of the Habitat around the School.
We planted trees and bushes in 2011 and 2012, installed a rain garden in the summer of 2012, built bird feeders in the summer of 2011 and bird houses in the spring of 2012 and we have now planned an outdoor classroom with a boy scout from the community that will be installed in summer 2013. We love learning outdoors at Forest Ridge!
"I think the outdoor classroom will be great, especially in the beginning and at the end of the year. It will be nice learning outside." Liya
Reuse
At Forest Ridge we reuse practically everything. Leprechaun traps, cities, arcade games, art projects, rockets, Rube Goldberg challenges, STEM activities and Valentine's Day boxes are some of the activities we have done using only leftover materials. We reuse our science fair boards from year to year. We try not to throw out items if there is any chance they can be used in an upcoming project. The students know that it is important to try to reuse items.
"Even if it's just a scrap, if someone can use it even for the inside of an eye in an art project, that counts; it's not in the garbage." Jordan
Green Team Ambassadors
The Green Team Ambassadors were formed this school year and have hit the ground running. This group is made up of 4th and 5th grade students. These students have weekly meetings. They learn about current environmental issues, they plan projects, write songs and skits, and do presentations to inform all the students in the school about the projects we are completing. They led our "Save the Bay" stenciling project. "Being on Green Team is fun and we help inspire others to save the earth." Joyce
Book Swap
We are really proud of our book swap program. Each school year the students have an opportunity to share their books. Each student brings in 5 or more books to recycle. During the last week of school all of the books are displayed on table, and the students are able to choose one book for every book they brought in. The students all get "new to them" books to read for the summer.
"Book swapping is a great activity. We get to save money, save trees, and have good books to read on the beach or on long car rides." Prisila
Recycling
We try to recycle everything that we can't reuse. We recycle drink pouches, chip bags, ink cartridges, pens, crayons, paper, bottles, cans, cardboard, and other items. The 5th grade students take turns picking up the recycling in all the classrooms and distributing it to the appropriate receptacles. The students monitor each other. They make sure that we recycle as many items as we can.
"Recycling is fun when you do it with friends." Jordan
Change of the Habitat around the School.
We planted trees and bushes in 2011 and 2012, installed a rain garden in the summer of 2012, built bird feeders in the summer of 2011 and bird houses in the spring of 2012 and we have now planned an outdoor classroom with a boy scout from the community that will be installed in summer 2013. We love learning outdoors at Forest Ridge!
"I think the outdoor classroom will be great, especially in the beginning and at the end of the year. It will be nice learning outside." Liya
