The Garden
Tomatoes : Students made a small hanging garden to plant tomatoe seeds. Each studnet keeps a 'Gardener's Journal' to keep track of how their plants are growing and what they are learning about looking after a garden. The garlic is still growing though as Ismael, 13 years old said, "as it's not raining because we are in drought, I need to be nicer to my tomatoes and water them so they dont die like my garlic". Through taking responsability for their own plants each student learns to take responsability towards the environment and that it is not so hard to look after it and enjoy the benefits.
As a group students painted their ideal garden and drew up a list of what they wanted to grow in the green house. The list included: Spinach, cucumber, onions, beans, clery, lettuce, avocados and flowers.
Plastic Art
The theme of the week was the Juntos Contigo garden and what we wanted to grow and how to look after it. Inspired by discussions, darwings, and books on gardens and flora and fauna of Nicaragua students created flowers from plastic bottles to take home to decorate their houses. The art classes are designed to encourage creativity as well as instill pride in students for their work and to make their homes brighter places.
Global Warming and Alternative Energies
What is our repsonsibility? What is the responsability of the governments?
How can we reduce our impact on the world's resouces: renewable, sustianable energies, consciousness when purchasing products.Students investigated and presented ideas on conserving resources using information sheets and articles about renewable energy reosurces and how we can adapt our day to day routines to reduce our impact on the environment.
Week 6
Taller Pachamama - making recycled paper
Earth Education Project is working together with national artist Lesbia Borge initiating the Pachamama Taller. The Pachamama Taller is specifically focused on adults and youth of the community; teaching them to make paper from scrap paper and create products using recycled materials. The small group is producing cards, boxes, bags and decorations for Christmas as part of the 1st month of the project to showcase in selected shops and fairs in the run up to Christmas.
Earth Education Project students continue to create recycled art and are also learning to make paper from newspapers for masks, games and decorations to take home.
Students went on a field trip to RENISA a Central American recycling plant that produces paper in Nicaragua and exports recyclable materials to El Salvador and Guatemala to introduce recycled packaged goods to the nicaraguan market. The field trip included a tour of the factory and machinery, and the finished products as well as a talk with the director. Students learnt about further employment opportunities with recycling as well as studying the environmental and social benefits of recycling and purchasing recycled products.
