Earth Day

Happy Earth Day!

Here's how I'm helping out:

I go paperless as much as possible. In computer class I leave instructions on our social network and the kids post their work on the website. My two preteaching classes have a Wiki site that we use to do our communicating and planning. LeapBlog is the blog for Leadership, Education and Academic Program. The students do all of their writing there without using any paper.

I am queen of reusable craft materials. I have a bag in the bathroom that collects toilet paper rolls. They were donated yesterday to the second grade class who turned them into cowboys and cowgirls. I also save paper towel rolls and the styrofoam plates (?) that my nuts come in. I make plarn purses out of plastic bags. I get most of my bags from friends, especially colorful ones. I try to use reusable bags myself and have a collection of them that I keep in the trunk of my car.

Not all recyclable items are good for crafts, but I save those too. I save boxes. I have a bag of packing peanuts. I reuse padded envelopes and tissue paper. Some people don't see this as a good thing.

I inherited my zeal for reusing from my dad. His was less about being kind to the earth and more about saving money. But that's good too.

Earth Day is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the earth's environment. (wikipedia) I hope you have been so inspired and will appreciate and enjoy this great planet that we call home.