“We did not inherit the earth from our parents, we are borrowing it from our children.” Native American Proverb

Just announced!
GoAEYC will present at NAEYC's Annual Conference and Expo in November 2010. Find us in the Learning Galleria as we present easy, functional and eco-friendly activities for your classroom plus classroom environment additions. More details will be coming soon!

her tree.

Natural Orchestra
Create a musical performance using only natural materials.

Secret Smells
A guessing competition - use different smells from nature (e.g., flowers, leaves) - who can guess them right?

What if We Slept for 100 Years?
(A Rip van Winkle proposal for the restoration of nature)
If we slept for 100 years, what would the world look like and what would we do? Individuals or groups can dream, draw, write, act, discuss, etc. possible scenarios. Such activities help people to envisage new possibilities for more sustainable relations with nature.

Favorite Place in Nature
Where is your favorite place in nature? Write a description, draw or picture or describe the place to someone else. What makes it special?

Nature Scavenger Hunt
One way to run a nature scavenger hunt is to hand out an egg carton and a list of 12 items to collect - e.g., natural items which are: soft, spiky, blue, strong, beautiful, old, fragile, yummy, sharp, smooth, closed, open, wet, dry, from an animal, dead, etc. (be creative).

Leaf Rainbow
A nature art exercise: In small groups, students search for leaves of different shades and colors and create a "leaf rainbow".

Observing the Micro-Universe
Peg out a 1 metre x 1 metre (3ft x 3ft) square in a patch of nature. Sit in the square for an hour, focusing only focus on what is inside the square. Observe the terrain and the myriad of natural dramas which are unfolding on the micro-scale.

What Has Changed in 150 Years?
What has changed in the last 150 years? Brainstorm as many things that have changed as you can. This is ideal for small groups € run it as a brainstorming competition. Ask groups to read their lists out to the whole group. Discuss the main themes, the surprises, etc. (Also see What Was Life Like a Long Time Ago?)

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Growing Up Green presented at the NAEYC 2009 Annual Conference and Expo in Washington D.C., November 20, 2009! We appreciate all of the attendees that participated in our workshop. It was a wonderful opportunity to share ideas and rejuvenate our passion for raising environmentally responsible children. Here are some photos from the workshop.

Special thank you to Deerfield Whole Foods Market for the generous donation of reusable bags to help support our Growing Up Green efforts! We appreciate their ongoing support in surrounding communities. Please visit http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/deerfield/ for more information about Whole Foods Market.

About us:
GOAEYC has begun taking small steps toward a more healthy and clean environment for our children. Together, we can educate and empower professionals and young children alike to support a lifestyle that encourages taking responsibility for our actions for an overall clean and healthy earth.

This page will serve as a resource for ideas that you can use in your classroom or with young children to take small steps to make a big difference! We will include ideas for teachers, changes to look for that we will make in our organization and other useful information for your quest to help young children grow up green!

For more information on how you can help children to “grow up green” please visit the following links:

http://www.restoringessence.com/home.html
www.themailboxcompanion.com
www.kiwimagonline.com
www.education-world.com/a_lesson/03/lp308-05.shtml
www.epa.gov/kids
www.ourearth.org
http://www.jonisensel.com/garbage_monster.html

Old Nature, New Nature: Environmental Activities for Growing People & Planets	This 12-page booklet is designed to be a practical and inspirational primer for environmental activities which can be applied in diverse settings. Activities focus on raising environmental awareness and developing eco-sustainable behavior. [A4 booklet]
Little Ways & Big Ways of Engaging with Nature	Find little ways to learn about nature and explore them regularly e.g., visiting a special place, looking after an animal, a meditative walk, tending a garden. Then gradually engage in deeper, longer, nature-based activities e.g., vision quest, switching to solar power.
Solo Hour in Nature	We are rarely "still" in nature. Visit a natural place that is conveniently available. Spend one hour in silence. Simply observe and be. Relaxing and opening.
Solo Walk	A group walks in silence as a form of "physical meditation". Helps to calm minds and set tone, providing an initial personal and group experience in the outdoors.
Hug-A-Tree	In a forested area, pairs take turns being blindfolded, lead to a tree (for touch and feel) and then lead away. After removing the blindfold, the tree hugger tries to locate his/her tree.

Natural Orchestra	Create a musical performance using only natural materials.
Secret Smells	A guessing competition - use different smells from nature (e.g., flowers, leaves) - who can guess them right?
What if We Slept for 100 Years? (A Rip van Winkle proposal for the restoration of nature)	If we slept for 100 years, what would the world look like and what would we do? Individuals or groups can dream, draw, write, act, discuss, etc. possible scenarios. Such activities help people to envisage new possibilities for more sustainable relations with nature.
Favorite Place in Nature	Where is your favorite place in nature? Write a description, draw or picture or describe the place to someone else. What makes it special?
Nature Scavenger Hunt	One way to run a nature scavenger hunt is to hand out an egg carton and a list of 12 items to collect - e.g., natural items which are: soft, spiky, blue, strong, beautiful, old, fragile, yummy, sharp, smooth, closed, open, wet, dry, from an animal, dead, etc. (be creative).
Leaf Rainbow	A nature art exercise: In small groups, students search for leaves of different shades and colors and create a "leaf rainbow".
Observing the Micro-Universe	Peg out a 1 metre x 1 metre (3ft x 3ft) square in a patch of nature. Sit in the square for an hour, focusing only focus on what is inside the square. Observe the terrain and the myriad of natural dramas which are unfolding on the micro-scale.
What Has Changed in 150 Years?	What has changed in the last 150 years? Brainstorm as many things that have changed as you can. This is ideal for small groups € run it as a brainstorming competition. Ask groups to read their lists out to the whole group. Discuss the main themes, the surprises, etc. (Also see What Was Life Like a Long Time Ago?)

Just announced! GoAEYC will present at NAEYC's Annual Conference and Expo in November 2010. Find us in the Learning Galleria as we present easy, functional and eco-friendly activities for your classroom plus classroom environment additions. More details will be coming soon!

_________________________________________________________________________________

For more information on how you can help children to “grow up green” please visit the following links:

Just announced!
GoAEYC will present at NAEYC's Annual Conference and Expo in November 2010. Find us in the Learning Galleria as we present easy, functional and eco-friendly activities for your classroom plus classroom environment additions. More details will be coming soon!