EF Classroom Changes

JWANDIDO

Okay, I feel like my classroom is killing the environment. My students are so freakin' wasteful, I looked over today and this kiddo had about six paper towel sheets to dry her hands. I took the abundant amount of towels away and made the other kids use them. I've talked to them about not wasting paper and putting paper into the scrap boxes and recycling things but we I feel like we still throw out so many paper towels and art related stuff. Next year i want to try using bar towels for washing tables. I don't see a way around using paper towels for hand drying in the classroom. I really want to cut down on the amount of trash that my room produces. Any ideas? Anyone have any ideas for Eco-Friendly art projects? I teach k-5 art.

Galena99

I have a cloth towel we use to dry hands.  I brought it from home and bring it home as needed to clean.  All I had to do was the math w/ the kids and they understood.  "We wash our hands at least 2x/day.  We each use about a foot of towel. 1 ft x 2x a day x 17 sudents x 180 school days= a TON of towels."  Then they hought about incorporating the whole student body in on that and never looked back.  Now they can't believe anyone uses paper!  Maybe just doing the math w/ kids will help them realize not to waste what we have!

Galena99

Also, if budget allows buy recycled paper for your classes to use. 

julygal

I use to post a note next the paper towel dispenser reminding them of how much they were to take.  With my first graders we had a rule that you pulled the handle 3 times.  So on the dispenser it was posted "3 pulls".  I showed them the sign, told them what it said, discussed the rule, and then posted it.  They just needed to see the 3 as a reminder, and they all kept tabs on each other since it was a rule.  With my 3rd and 4th graders we talked about waste and what we could do to help, then we posted the sign as a reminder of what they should use.  Did waste still happen?  Yes, but it seemed to help.

I tried to be eco-friendly in other ways...cleaning table/desk tops with vinegar and sponges/cloth towels, etc.  We did units on how to use recycled materials to make musical instruments, art, etc. Assigning classroom jobs to help keep tabs on regular classroom needs, but also recycling, turning off the lights when we leave the room, etc.

jacksjerseygirl

I love the measured pull idea (2 or 3 pulls depending on your machine).

Unfortunately the idea of using a community towel to dry hands will probably not work from a health inspection standpoint. I believe that in a school system are some practices that we might use at home that can't be used for fear of it becoming a health hazard. And, there may be some parents not pleased with it either which could cause you added headache and problems.

Is the art waste from little scraps of paper and the such? Maybe you could have a special bin for the itty bitty pieces then at the end of the year do a project with them. Maybe send them through a shredder to make confetti and then use that confetti on a painting project.

 

jen5-03

Galena99:

I have a cloth towel we use to dry hands.  I brought it from home and bring it home as needed to clean.  All I had to do was the math w/ the kids and they understood.  "We wash our hands at least 2x/day.  We each use about a foot of towel. 1 ft x 2x a day x 17 sudents x 180 school days= a TON of towels."  Then they hought about incorporating the whole student body in on that and never looked back.  Now they can't believe anyone uses paper!  Maybe just doing the math w/ kids will help them realize not to waste what we have!

This is kind of grossing me out. I HATE the feel of wiping my hands on a wet towel someone else has used. I can't even imagine how gross that towel is after one day. I mean, how many kids are using it? A 100? More? ick ick ick.