Eco Week and Pyjamas for the Planet
This week at the Prep has been Eco Week, led by our pupil Eco Ambassadors and supported by Mrs Woods. This week was chosen because today, 5th June, is World Environment Day. Established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 and now led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the day serves as a platform for galvanising action and that is exactly how we approached it in the Prep.
Across the week, there have been a number of initiatives to get the children and staff thinking more about their own impact on the environment and how we can all do better. Every day, the children reported on their method of travel to school and discussed how they might make their journey using less resources. We’re encouraging biking, scootering, car shares and use of public transport. There has also been a mission to “power down” anything that isn’t needed – lights, plugs, charging units and such.
Throughout the half-term break, children have been trying to complete Eco Bingo Cards with a real range of tasks such as simple, but restorative activities like bird watching or building bug hotels, to more fast-paced challenges such as trying to keep showers to under 4 minutes! The cards are all now in and it is clear the children have given it a real go. Thank you to the parents and families who have helped.
But of course, there had to be an element of fancy dress or, on this occasion, dressing down. On Wednesday, we chose to wake up to the needs of the planet by really conserving energy – we came to school in our pyjamas. We didn’t bother to get into our school uniforms and work clothes. We rested, as a symbolic act of allowing the Earth to rest.
Click here for more Pyjamas for the Planet photos
It may sound trivial but when we add some frivolity to a serious message, it helps the ideas stick. The children remember pyjama day from last year and that memory ensures the other ideas about eco action are also retained. School life should be fun; childhood should be fun. And we know we can achieve serious learning in an exciting way.
It was the turn of our Year 4 children this week to head off on an overnight adventure. They headed to an outdoor activity centre called Root’d in Hertfordshire, rucksacks on their backs and a spring in their step. For some, this was their first night staying away from home without their parents. This fledgling independence is an important step on their journey to self-reliance.
They have had great fun taking part in physical and team challenges, not least to say attempting to get their sleeping bags back into the cases they came out of! They arrived back this afternoon a little bit grumpy, certainly tired, but also a bit wiser. We know they will sleep well tonight. More photos will be available soon.
Wishing you all a lovely, eco-friendly weekend.
Mrs Goodfellow
