By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A GROUP of environmentally passionate primary school students are spreading their sustainability message throughout Casey.
Over 50 Year 4 students from Thomas Mitchell Primary School have been involved in a sustainability program this year that saw them engage in a range of activities to enhance their environmental awareness.
These activities were organised by the student environmental group and included setting up a butterfly garden, a vegetable garden, a ‘bush tucker’ garden, taking an excursion to a local reserve and researching methods of recycling and conservation.
Liz Cooke, the Year 4 teacher who introduced the program to the Endeavour Hills’ school this year, said the environment was a passion of hers and she wanted to impart that to her students.
“We’ve made the sustainability program relevant to the students’ learning and made it their own experience through involving them in the local environment,” she said.
Another crucial part of the students sustainability program was contacting the local media to tell the Casey community what can be done to conserve the environment.
In a classroom packed with kids bursting to spread their message, each student had another tip to offer the News about sustainable living at home. Creating a compost bin, collecting rainwater, building a ‘vegie patch’ and recycling old toys were just some of the ideas the Year 4 students had for the City of Casey.
Ms Cooke said her and the other teachers intended to encourage other year levels at Thomas Mitchell to form their own environmental groups.
“We want to instil the environmental message in the Year 4s beyond this year and then get the whole school involved,” she said.
“Next year we’d like all year levels to incorporate this into their curriculum.”
