Project Ideas

You’re psyched! You’re rarin’ to take on a challenge! But what are you going to do? Here are some suggestions!

Idea: Cool Plants Make For A Cool Planet

Have you noticed how it feels cooler when you play on grass instead of concrete? Does your school have a large open yard?

If it’s paved, raise funds to get a section of it turned into a grassy field. If it’s already grassy create some nice shady places by letting some of the grass grow long or by planting trees and gardens. Not only will this provide food and shelter for local wildlife but it will keep you and the planet cool too!

Idea: Energy Add Up

Did you know it takes a lot of energy to process and package food, and that you get more nutrition from eating fresh foods? Find out just how much energy is used to process food then initiate a litterless lunch campaign and start adding up the energy you save by eating fresh foods. You and the environment will be healthier for it!

Idea: Community Connections

Explore the connections between air, water and energy. Learn how your energy choices affect air and water quality. Host a water-way clean up, re-green shorelines by planting native species and start a campaign to promote renewable energy usage in your community. Everyone will breathe a little easier if you do!

Idea: Motivation Momentum

How do you get to school everyday? How about all the other places you go?

Raise awareness by doing a transportation-energy-a-thon. Have classmates, teachers, parents and community members pledge a reduction in their transportation energy use and see how much non-renewable energy can be saved. Turn this idea in to a fund raiser for a local environmental cause.

Idea: Generation Generate

Do you think you can take the energy from wind or water and turn it into light or sound? How much wind or solar energy would it take to power your classroom? How about your school, home or community?

Keep unwanted items out of the land fill by having a community garage sale. Use the funds raised towards a renewable energy source for your school.

Idea: Recycling Round Up

Which products can be recycled? What products do you see daily that are made from recycled materials?

Explore how much energy is used to create an item from raw materials vs. one from recycled resources. Better yet find out how much energy is saved by using reusable items.

Start a competition in your school to see which class can save the most energy by selecting products that use less energy throughout their lifecycle. In the end everyone will win!

Idea: Eco-Electro-Retro

How much electricity do you use in a day? What do you use electricity for? Do you really need to use as much as you do?

Explore where electricity comes from and what impacts it has on our environment. Challenge yourself and classmates to cut out non-essential electricity for a day, a week or even a month. How long can you go living it “old school”?

Idea: Mixing Matters

Have you ever wondered why some things can be recycled while other things made of similar material can not be recycled?

Do some research and take a tour of a local recycling plant to find out why. With your new understanding take a look at the composition of the materials around you. Can similar items be purchased that are recyclable? Initiate a program at your school that replaces difficult to recycle items with newer ones that are easier to recycle. Nix the mix and save the planet!

Idea: Hopping to the Heat

How hot is your school? Can you wear a t-shirt in December and still feel warm? Does your school lose heat to the outdoors?

Do an energy audit at your school and see where you can find places to improve its energy efficiency. Hold a school dance to celebrate your success and raise funds to make your school greener. Be part of the change and “hop” to stop global warming!

Idea: Current Connections

Energy systems are connected to all sorts of other systems. What is the source of energy for your school? Discover what some of the systems affected by this source are. Identify areas that may be negatively affected by your school and community’s energy sources. Are there alternative energy sources available? Research the options, initiate the change and reduce the impact of your school’s energy source. Start your own system that results in action!

A big thanks goes to The Great EcoKids Challenge sponsor, Sony of Canada Ltd, for the great prizes, and to all EcoKids out there who contribute to the health of the Earth in their own way.