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Early Childhood Winning Ideas Contest 2008-2009

Share your ideas and win $50 worth of early childhood materials!

THIS ROUND'S QUESTION: 

How do you get children to reduce, reuse, and recycle in your classroom?

Five Ideas we Love!   

• Discuss with children the importance of recycling. Talk together about how paper comes from trees and metal comes from under the ground. Explain that when we reuse things, we don't need to cut down as many trees or dig up as much earth.
• Set up a classroom recycling system. Children can decorate cardboard boxes to use as sorting bins. Each bin should indicate the material it's for: plastic, paper, metal cans, Styrofoam. Supply gloves for children to wear while they're recycling to protect their hands from sharp materials.
• Collect reusable items from the school's kitchen. This is another great source for empty containers, boxes, Styrofoam trays, and other art supplies and props for dramatic play.
• Have children bring in recyclable items from home. Ask parents to send in specific materials you can reuse in upcoming art and science projects. (For safety reasons, discourage children from bringing in glass.)
• Take a field trip to your local recycling center. Deliver your recyclable items and talk with the people who work there about how those items will be made into new materials.

ECT's Web editors will select up to five of the most creative and effective Winning Ideas each round. See official rules for details.

When submitting photos of students, please complete a photo release for each child.

See last year's Early Childhood Winning Ideas!

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