Primary school teachers from all over Islington will be making environmental issues fun for children after attending a unique Environmental Workshop at Islington Council’s brand new i-recycle centre.<br><br>Sitting at tables and chairs made of recycled chopping boards and playing games made of recycled plastic bottles, teachers have been shown how to introduce environmental issues into the classroom to grab their pupils’ attention through games, songs, DVDs, puzzles and activities while also linking in with the National Curriculum. All primary school teachers attending the workshop received an Environmental Toolkit produced by Islington Council to take back to their primary school.<br><br>During the first half of the workshop lesson plan ideas were taken from the Environmental Toolkit and among other tasks teachers were asked to sort through a bag of rubbish to understand the different materials people throw away. They also watched a DVD showing what happens to their recycling after it is collected from their house, how it is sorted into separate materials and then recycled into new products allowing them to buy it back again in a shop. During the second half, they were able to see a fully functioning wormery full of mini-beasts and sample the interactive touch-screen games.<br><br>Andrea Bowley, from Clerkenwell Parochial School said: "I liked the Toolkit folder, it’s a well thought-out pack designed to help schools to be part of recycling and it shows how children can be educated on the environment. I really enjoyed the lesson ideas for integrating into curriculum." <br><br>Islington Council is committed to making recycling easier for residents and having a clean and tidy environment is a real priority for people living and working in the borough.<br><br>Councillor Bridget Fox, Executive member for sustainability, said: “Islington Council has doubled the amount of recycling done locally over the past year and recognises that the environment in our crowded borough can only be improved with the help of everyone in the community, including local schools, teachers and pupils. <br><br>The i-recycle centre offers teachers the resources they need to help children be more aware and make a real impact on the area around their schools and homes and the Environmental Toolkit is a valuable resource full of lesson plan ideas teachers can easily integrate into the classroom.”<br> <br>If you would like to attend the next workshop being run at the i-recycle centre please call Melissa Painter, Recycling Education Centre Manager on 020 7527 5996.<br><br>If you would like an Environmental Toolkit please call Imogen Purchas, A1 Borough Schools Environmental Project Officer on 020 7527 2324<br><br>ENDS
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009