ECO COUNCIL
eco activities in our school
OUR TARGET AREAS ARE OUTDOOR LEARNING, ENERGY & TRANSPORT
OUTDOOR LEARNING
We have 2 outdoor learning areas in our school grounds. We have developed 'The Magic Garden' for our P1-4 classes to use throughout the week to engage with mature and the environment. Our older pupils use 'The Lower Garden' for weekly outdoor lessons, linking to curriculum topics. We are delighted to have received the RSPB Gold, Silver and Bronze Wild Challenge Awards for the wide range of activities we have taken part in. We also use the local Glen Lyon for Forest School lessons, led by one of our staff who is a trained Forest School Leader. |
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ENERGY
Our Eco Councillors are responsible for reducing the amount of energy we use in school. They have to make sure we switch off our lights, computers and interactive whiteboards when they are not being used and close the doors and windows to keep in the heat. During Switch Off Fortnight we take meter readings to see if we have made a difference in our school. We also now recycle batteries when we have used the energy inside them. All this helps to clean up our environment. |
TRANSPORT
Sustrans, a local sustainable transport charity, supports us throughout the year in our learning about how to travel more safely and in a more environmentally friendly way. We have taken part in Road Safety Week, Cycling Proficiency and Road Cycling lessons, Dr Bike workshops and we are about to take part in the Big Walk and Wheel competition to encourage our pupils to choose an active journey to and from school. |
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GLOBAL LEARNING As part of our work for Eco Schools we are learning more about people in the world around us and how our environment can have an impact on them. Each of our classes learns either French or Spanish as a second language. Our Prep 3 class learns about Fair Trade in their chocolate topic. Yum! We have earned Fair trade awards and the International School Award at Intermediate Level based on our global learning throughout our school's curriculum. |
WATER To extend our ongoing Eco School activities within the school Prep 4 – 7 boarded the NI Water Bus to learn more about where our water comes from, how it is cleaned and how we can preserve our water supplies. Some of the top tips for water use in the home are:
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WASTE WATCHING In school we try hard to recycle the things we don't need or use anymore. We have Recycling Prefects in Prep 4 and Prep 7 who help us to keep our blue bins correctly filled with only recyclable products. We also like to UPCYCLE. Prep 7 transformed their old t-shirts into bags in a Fast Fashion workshop. We also did a clothing collection for the people of Ukraine. In March we use Waste Week to remind us to recycle. |
LITTER
OCTOBER IS LITTER AWARENESS MONTH In school we have Litter Picking Prefects who help us to keep our school grounds free from litter. When we did an audit we found that most of the rubbish in the playground was crisp packets and plastic lunchboxes so we have had to talk to each class about looking after their belongings and putting rubbish in the bins provided. We also like to litter pick along the shore line and on our walks to and from our Forest School site. WANT TO TRY OUT SOME ONLINE ACTIVITIES? TRY THESE APPS Race To Recycle Re-cycle Challenge Recycle Rescue Recycle Rangers Earth Hero Kids: Planet Rescue |
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SCHOOL GROUNDS
Our School and Eco Council have been working together with the staff and SUPPA committee to develop our school grounds. We now have log seating, picnic benches and a special seating area in our new SUPPA Wellness Garden to enjoy. Mr Campbell our caretaker built us a stage so that we can perform outdoors in all weather. Our Foundation Stage classes enjoy time playing in the Outdoor Classroom where there is a mud kitchen, a craft table, a tricycle track, a fairy garden and a musical garden to perform in. |
BIODIVERSITY
Throughout the year and especially on Green Day we love to get out into the school gardens to care for our wildlife. We have made bug baskets, bug hotels, bird feeders and hedgehog homes. Karen Shiel from the RSPB visited our school to highlight the plight of hedgehogs in the local area and to identify birds in the school garden. The Prep 4 class accompanied her on a bug hunt in the school grounds to see what kind of food supply local hedgehogs would have. They also took part in a bird count. |
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