Yesterday afternoon, our Roots & Shoots club gathered to enjoy one another’s company while decorating canvas bags. It was part of a global effort to reduce our use of plastic. Most of the girls enjoyed the activity and were focused for nearly 45 minutes on their bags… the boys on the other hand, were more interested in burning off excess energy. Amazing how boys and girls differ so much in this regard.
I had stencils & fabric paints readily available and as the children worked on their bags (everyone brought their own), I talked about the purpose of the activity (to reduce our use of disposable paper and plastic bags). Through a little research, we have learned that the production of both paper and plastic bags uses a tremendous amount of natural resources. There are pros and cons to both materials and thereby the “greenish” choice is to use re-usable bags or baskets (canvas, hemp or other natural fibers).
When the children had completed their bags and while we waited for the paint to dry, I had activity stations set up in the kitchen to allow the children an opportunity to explore how a bird’s beak/bill is specially adapted to eating specific foods. I found the activity in Ranger Rick’s Nature Scope Birds, Birds, Birds! activity book. I also found an adaptation available here a a PDF download, Fill the Bill.
It was a great hands-on activity extension to our nature study focus area on birds. Earlier that morning, I also did a read-aloud from our Wildlife Fact File on “How Birds Build Nests”. I’m loving our new home school schedule! 🙂
4 comments
Faça a Diferença !!!
March 20, 2008 at 3:14 am
Blog is wonderful, an excellent layout.
Congratulations,
Ricardo Sergio
Make the Difference!
http://facaadiferenca.blogspot.com
School for Us
March 20, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I’ve been wanting to start a Roots & Shoots group for homeschoolers in our area. Maybe next year!
And, 2 stores in our area – Kroger & HEB – have both started selling cloth shopping bags for $1 each! And, I bought some. It made me happy. 🙂
Shez
March 23, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I think it is great that you are teaching your children to end their reliance on plastic grocery sacks. I must admit to being rather militant on this subject LOL. I’ve just been reading your blog and love all the fun things you do with your kids. We’re planning on making the mummy masks next week and I want to start a book of centuries. I think the book of centuries is a great learning tool, thanks for inspiring me to get off my butt and do something about it.
I’ve included your posts on “Taking the pledge to Pack” and on “making maple syrup” in the 2nd edition of The Carnival of Cool Homeschoolers. as I think you are a truly cool homeschooler.
A link to the carnival from your blog would be great. Hope to be able to include many more of your cool posts in future editions.
Shez
from Homeschooled Twins
momof3feistykids
March 23, 2008 at 10:48 pm
What a wonderful activity! I’ll have to steal this idea for our co-op. 🙂
Comments are closed.