I think world environment day was great, because we got to try out some new things and we learnt a lot about green issues too!
We all participated in different activities and at the end of the day we got the chance to show off what we’d done to our peers in the assembly. There was a big variety, from dance routines to mousetrap cars, and I enjoyed watching the various performances.
Our recycled materials textiles collage © Guiseley School
Recycling fabric into a quilt
I was part of the textiles group, our green project was to make a giant patchwork quilt, all from scraps of material that otherwise would have got thrown away! We also used plastic bags, paper, sequins and beads to enhance our designs.
Each member of the group made one patch, each showing a different green issue, for example we had global warming, rising sea levels and “support local farmers!” Then the designs were sewn together, creating a patchwork quilt that we’d all helped create!
After the afternoon assembly everyone was buzzing, there was a rush for the delicious buns that the food group had made and there were other things going through everyone’s minds too – namely the assembly in the morning and all the new information on green issues we had learnt.
Learning about green issues
We found out that a green issue is something that affects everyone around the world, global warming for example – or starving children in third world countries. We saw a particularly moving picture of a bird stalking a starving child, and it really made us think. This was part of the motivation to really achieve something – to show our support, and help in any way we can.
One other thing that really stuck in my head was the clip we were shown from an American TV show. In the clip the women explained how we are basically hypnotised into buying things we don’t need, through advertisements on TV, posters, radio, and even other people around us. Most of this is just useless junk, made specifically to break as quickly as possible, whilst still persuading us that we need to buy another one, as soon a possible!
Overall I think that world environment day was a big success at our school and I hope we can do it again next year! It was great fun working together to create the patchwork quilt, and we learnt some really important information about green issues; it really encouraged me to do my bit for the planet, and before I hand over my money, think, “Do I really need this?”
A fantastic day.
Tamara Hallam was one of the two students to receive the 2009 Green Day award of £200. Congratulations to Tamara and to all students and staff at Guiseley School for a fantastic Green Day. © Guiseley School
Cover image: © nuanc (flickr.com)
All Green Day award winners from 2009
Liz Rushton, primary teacher from Moor Allerton Primary School, Leeds
Pippa Davies, assistant head from Guiseley School, Leeds
Emma-Leigh McAbe, student from St Cleopas Primary School, Liverpool
