In Grade 1/2, we learned about protecting our planet by reducing plastic waste. We talked about how plastic forks and spoons harm the Earth and animals when they're thrown away. So, we decided to use reusable cutlery instead.

First, we talked about where plastic goes when we're done with it. We found out it piles up in landfills and hurts our planet and animals. Then, we brainstormed ways to help. We made notes for our parents and posters for our school to encourage everyone to use reusable cutlery.

We also talked on the school announcements and put notes in our lunch kits to remind our parents. Every day, we made sure our reusable cutlery made it home,
not in the trash.

When we went to the zoo, we saw how animals need clean air and water. We played near the beaver lodge and learned how plastic can hurt them. That made us even more determined to help.

The zoo field trip wasn't just a fun outing—it was a chance to connect what we've been learning about animals to the real world. Each of us had researched different animals for our projects, and seeing them at the zoo made those
animals come to life.

As we wandered among the exhibits, we shared what we knew about the animals we'd studied. Some of us talked about red pandas, others about snakes and some about elephants. We were like little experts, teaching each other what we'd learned. One of the highlights was seeing Lucy the elephant taking a walk with her zookeepers.

At Thorncliffe School we're learning that small changes can make a big difference. By using reusable cutlery and taking care of our planet, we're making the world better for everyone, including animals.We realized how important our mission to reduce plastic waste really was. We didn't want the animals we loved to be hurt by something we could help stop. So, we became even more determined to spread the word about using reusable cutlery and taking care of our planet.

Thank you very much to the Valley Zoo and Melton Foundation for providing our class with this fabulous opportunity!

The grade  two/three class atThorncliffe Elementary School were lucky enough to be able to take part in the Pay It Forward For the Planet Program!

Our class put together a display bulletin board where they wrote about the importance of keeping the earth clean.  Our bulletin board is filled with awesome ideas on how to look after the Earth. We  you talked about things like picking up trash, using less water, or planting trees. Students learned about why recycling is so important and how it helps us protect the Earth. They learned that when we recycle things like paper, plastic, and glass, we're giving them a chance to be used again instead of being thrown away. Students then did research on the importance of recycling, reducing and recycling. They made connections between school and home on how to recycle, reduce and  reuse lunch containers, clothing and transportation. They created posters and displayed them around the school for other classes. 

Thank you to the Edmonton Valley Zoo Development Society for their generous gift and for encouraging our students to engage in these activities.

Keeping the Earth clean is very important for keeping our environment healthy and safe. Our class has learned how litter can hurt animals, pollute our neighbourhoods, impact future generations, and spoil the beauty of our city. To help our students understand this and see how their actions can change the world, we’ve been doing some exciting activities together.

First, we made colourful posters that show why it’s important not to litter. Then, some of our students shared this important information during the morning announcements so everyone could hear about it. We also rolled up our sleeves and cleaned up our schoolyard and the areas around our community. The students felt great pride in knowing they were making a positive change.

We’ve also learned a lot about how to take care of animals, and the field trip to the Edmonton Valley Zoo showed them how human actions can endanger the existence of different animals. Our class worked with our Grade 1 buddy class on these projects, which helped us take care of our community and the success that working together can have.

One of the special things we do is called Kindness Projects. In these projects, we think of ways to be kind to the Earth and to each other. We talked about why littering is bad and came up with ways to stop it. When we see someone littering, we learned how to remind them nicely to throw their trash away properly.

By doing these activities, the students are all learning to take better care of the Earth and are becoming responsible and thoughtful citizens who care about the environment.

Room 1 students from John Barnett School were chosen as a recipient of the Pay It Forward For the Planet Program. Because of the many social and economic challenges, many families in the community have never been to the zoo before. They were ecstatic when I told them that we were going. The students and parent volunteers had an amazing time. Although they were tired and it was a bit chilly outside, they really enjoyed exploring the zoo and learning all about animal adaptations.

Our school believes in the importance of the Indigenous 7 Teachings. We have been talking about caring for animals throughout the year - how we respect animals, how to show animals love, why certain animals represent wisdom and courage. We also had the opportunity to go to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre and this tied it all together very nicely. Students learned about sorting waste in order to prevent them from going into the ocean. When we got back to school, they were eager to start their project. After some back and forth, the students decided to make posters for the school. In addition to putting posters up, they have started littering less and encouraging others from other classes to do so as well. The students have also even done a few presentations for the Grade 1 and 2 students on the importance of being kind to animals.