What is the Earthday SWAP Challenge?

It's something we came up with here on PLANETPALS EARTHZONE to teach us all about our earth and how to reduce and resuse. It's about giving things a second life. A challenge to do things differently and learn to measure how much you consume every day! Do it for Earthday or any day! It's a great activity for us all young and old.

The purpose of the lesson is to "Learn about how to REDUCE and REUSE".

NOTE: The detailed version of this activitiy under "Earthday Swap".

Prepare the students

Designate a Day (Earthday or other)
Designate a Theme - general, toys, school supplies
It works like a Yankee Swap.

Plan a paperless Activity in the classroom.

For discussion ideas:
See PRECYCLE
See Earth Matters
See Worldly Wise Tips

The challenge:

List everything you do in a day that uses our natural resources and creates waste and how many times (i.e.: how many times do you put on the lights, flush the toilet, drink something canned or bottled, take a short shower or bath, etc.). You might be surprised at how much you actually consume and you may start to live differently! Then you would be a true PLANETPAL!

At the end of this project, try to make a resolution to eliminate something in your life that you could do without...one day a week without playing electronic games? shutting your computer off in between using it? Bring home made lunches using refillable containers? Using a hand held pencil sharpener instead of an electric one?

Challenge: How many of the following non waste activities (rules) can you do?

Earthday Fast Rules:

• Do not use hot water*
• Don't watch TV or play with electronic devices*, power tools, appliances or computers
• Walk or use your bike or take public transportation
• Try to use only stored water and no ice
  
• Bring a lunch, don't use pre- packaged items, use nothing pre-bottled-instead use a thermos or reuse a bottle
• Use less paper

  Exceptions
  

  • You can use stored energy such as solar to power electronic devices. i.e. solar calculator.
  • You can use hybrid transportation such as an alternative car
  • Heated water is allowed if you use a 'natural energy' source like the SUN

  BEWARE!
  

  ...don't unplug your fridge/freezer/hot water/ etc. Just Don't Use Them
  

• Learn more about the Planetpals with the Planetpals Pages
• Learn many things for and about Earthday with our fabulous list of Earthday Learning Pages
• Have loads of fun with the Fun for Kids pages: activities, crafts, games, greetings,clip art and more!
• Use the Parent / Teacher pages for teaching ideas, projects, and more info
• Learn facts and tips with the Eco Helper Pages
• Learn more about World Peace on Earthday with the World Peace pages

• Learn more about the Planetpals with the Planetpals Pages
• Learn many things for and about Earthday with our fabulous list of Earthday Learning Pages
• Have loads of fun with the Fun for Kids pages: activities, crafts, games, greetings,clip art and more!
• Use the Parent / Teacher pages for teaching ideas, projects, and more info
• Learn facts and tips with the Eco Helper Pages
• Learn more about World Peace on Earthday with the World Peace pages
• Give us your opinion at Planetpals Polls