Environment Week 2023-24

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed,” are the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi.

Indeed, it is the need of the hour to sensitise the masses about being compassionate towards our planet. Every element of this blue and green planet is required to be nourished by us for our children.

Environment Week provides the opportunity to teach and enhance environmental science and the nature of science activities. The idea is to bring environmental issues to life, as it were, for the children through a wide range of fun, interactive educational activities.

The Indian School-Second Shift celebrated Environment Week from 3 July 2023 to 7 July 2023.  The children were sensitised towards their environment through various activities spanning the week.  The children enjoyed the week and learnt many new things about our environment. Different activities were organised for each class throughout the week with all students participating in them.

The students of Pre school and Pre primary learnt about plants and flowers through a story and later crafted colourful flowers. They also crafted musical instruments with the help of paper cups and beads. The students attempted various yoga poses like the.tree pose, butterfly pose and the frog pose.

The students of classes I and II participated in activities like waste segregation, rainwater harvesting and decorating brown paper bags. Through a waste segregation activity, the students sorted flashcards of items which go into the dry waste bin and wet waste bin. The concept of rainwater harvesting was discussed to emphasise the importance of water conservation. The children also recycled old items like used bindis, forks, leaves, ribbons, and other waste items to decorate brown paper bags. It instilled creativity and enhanced their intellectual development.

The students of class III generated awareness on how to reduce various types of pollution (noise, land and water) by utilising recyclable materials. Moreover, it enhanced their intellectual development and developed sensitivity towards the environment and factors affecting the environment.

The students of class IV made eco-friendly alternative lanterns using recyclable materials, strengthening their artistic skills and creativity.

The students of class V created a beautiful fairy garden by using recycled materials like shoe boxes, old crazy balls, old colourful stones etc. It also educated them about conservation.

The students of classes VI and VII participated in various activities like paper bag making, quiz, storytelling etc. A plantation drive was carried out at School to help provide lifelong oxygen to everyone.

The students of classes VII - X wrote thought-provoking poems on sustainable development. They participated in an inter-class debate whose topics were climate change-a harsh reality, sustainable development, the impact of technology on the environment etc. The competition encouraged thought-provoking discussions and a deeper understanding of environmental issues. The students of class IX also curated seed paper which can be potted.

To add shimmer to the celebrations, the students of classes III – V presented a special assembly on 7 July 2023. They dedicated themselves to ensuring a protected and safe environment for all with a mesmerising dance performance to the song ‘Dharti ka dil kya bole’. Through this spell-binding performance, they conveyed the message that all living beings have an equal right to live on this earth and that each life is worth respecting, whether it be a tree, plant etc. They were deeply appreciated by the audience for their message and effort to protect Mother Nature and say no to plastic through a spell-bounding and mature performance and campaign at their young age.

The celebration of Environment Week thus cultivated a deeper respect for the environment, by planting trees, recycling waste, and conserving water. The children imbibed the significance of preserving our planet for the future generations with sustainable practices. The young minds grasped the interconnectedness of all living beings and imgrained empathy towards nature. The event instilled in them the values of responsibility, stewardship, and harmony with the environment, ensuring a greener and healthier future.