SAVE THE WORLD
*********** IMPORTANT*******************
Please sign our petition to stop offshore oil drilling
Who are We?
Save the World is a group of students who care deeply about the environment and the world around them. We believe that every one of us needs to take responsibility for caring for our planet and doing everything we can to make it a better, greener place.
Save the World currently includes students from fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. It will be open to third graders soon. We meet each Thursday after school for about three hours. We are a registered Jane Goodall Institute's Roots & Shoots children's environmental group, which means that, each year, we undertake to complete at least one project that helps animals, one that helps the environment, and one that helps people in need.
How Did We Begin?
Save the World Environmental Club formed in October 2006. As the culmination of a science discussion covering the harmful impacts humans have on the environment, Ms. Swanson assigned her third graders to form small groups and decide what was the single worst environmental problem facing us today. Next, they needed to figure out what they, as third graders, could do to help solve that problem. Although problem choices varied, most of the groups suggested that forming a club to research the issues and find solutions was a viable step forward. Save the World was born.
 What have We Accomplished?In our two years of existence, Save the World has implemented a comprehensive paper recycling program at Calverton for a population of more than 800 students. Every classroom has its own recycling bin, and club members examine every bin for compliance with the program and empty every bin on a weekly basis. Save the World members also recycled their own paper, condensing it into pulp and straining it to make new paper, which is displayed in the school hallway.
In 2008 and 2009, Save the World organized Earth Day programs for the entire school, which included every class picking up litter on school grounds, students planting trees and flowers outside the school, and a brief educational program including environmental music and poetry. We wrote a pledge to the Earth that students and staff recited on Earth Day. Additionally, Save the World reminded the school to celebrate Earth Day every day with a suggestion for how to live a greener life on the morning announcements every day throughout April.
Also, in 2007-2008, each student in Save the World did extensive research on at least one endangered animal species. This months-long project generated informational posters which you can see right outside the media center. The posters describe the animals, explain why they are endangered, and suggest how individuals can help the situation. Save the World has also created a colorful mural depicting many different ways to help the environment, which is displayed in the third grade hallway.
 |
On 12/3/2009 the Save The World Club began their initiative to protect the Chesapeake Bay by painting the reminder "Don't Dump Chesapeake Bay Drainage" onto local storm drains. Special Thanks to Signs By Tomorrow, Beltsville for providing the stencil.
|
In 2008-2009, Save the World focused on global warming and alternative energy issues; although we also spent some time looking at problems related to industrialized farming practices. In addition, selected Save the World members took part in the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) Waterways simulation. These students studied the plight of an endangered coral reef in the Pacific Ocean and presented their results to NOAA scientists last June.
Save the World is also involved in humanitarian issues. We organized a school-wide program to send care packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan for the holidays.
We have won awards or other recognition of our work from the Jane Goodall Institute, NOAA, the National Humane Education Society, Keep Prince George's County Beautiful, Prince George's County Public Schools, the City of Greenbelt, and other organizations.
What are We Doing Now?
This school year, Save the World is leading the drive to make Calverton a Maryland-certified Green School. Also, on September 22, we will join children across the world to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace. We will “fly” a giant peace dove (wingspan of ten feet) that we built ourselves, largely from recycled materials. The dove is symbolic of the children's commitment to peace and hope for our world. Children around the world fly peace doves as part of the Jane Goodall Institute's Roots & Shoots children's environmental groups' support of the Day of Peace. We were also invited to fly our dove at Dr. Goodall's recent speech at Georgetown University! You can see the speech and our role in it at the following link: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=61947
For More Information: Contact Ms. Swanson, Club Sponsor, at katharine.swanson@pgcps.org
 |
Calverton Elementary students held a peace parade September 22, 2010.
The parade was led by the peace dove created by the Save The World Club.
|
Last modified: 11/6/2010 2:13:28 PM
|