"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in."
–Rachel Carson, naturalist and author

With 10 years teaching experience and a presenter at the local, state and national level, Nancy Bourne is a 3rd-grade gifted teacher at Beacon Cove Intermediate School in Jupiter, Florida.

It's important that these kids get interested in helping the environment. Obviously, if they aren't interested they won't make any changes. I want students to have the foresight to see that their actions affect where the planet is going. I hope I make a difference in their behavior so they can make an even bigger difference for the world.

The first step is being informed. We read magazines in the classroom such as TIME For Kids and Scholastic's Super Science to get the students informed about the environment. I also have "news reporters" (the students take turns researching an article in the paper or internet and present their information to the class). We as a class discuss what we can do to help at our level.

For instance, today a student presented an article about a boy killing a big shark. My student was interested because he likes to fish and hopes one day to see a shark. After the article was presented and we were conducting the question and answer part, I asked the students if they thought the shark should have been killed. Was it a danger to the fisherman? Was this necessary? This is what we call a teachable moment. Using this opportunity to remind the students that their actions will affect those around them now, but even more so in the future is a strong lesson we as teachers continue to reinforce.

We invite guest speakers (frequently parents) to our classroom to tell us what they are doing in their jobs to make a difference in the environment. Can we take part?

We are attentive to the amount of paper we use in our classroom. Kids can be heard reminding each other, "Wait, use scrap paper instead!" Further, we recycle in our classroom and schoolwide. We have gone on field trips to the recycling plant to see the next step in the process.

We do lots of experiments in the classroom. One experiment showed how reduced-water showerheads really saved water. We modeled this idea using plastic cups with a different number of holes poked through the bottom of each cup and used a stopwatch to see how fast the water drained through. The idea behind this experiment was to have the kids change their behavior and use less water. They could encourage their parents to do the same or even buy a reduced-water showerhead, or simply not turn the faucet on fully.

The other day we were playing outside when a student yelled, "Look, a caterpillar!" So we all gathered around to investigate. As we did this, I asked, "What do you think we should do with it?" When we walk around campus, I look for teachable moments: learning how to be a good caretaker of the environment so it can be a good caretaker of us.

We have clubs at our school to help get kids interested in the environment. Once children are excited, they will share with other kids, and the word will spread. I am the co-sponsor of the Creative Cultivators Club. We have a butterfly garden at the school that we help tend to along with the EarthSavers Club. One project (I found it in Real Simple magazine) included recycling old towels and T-shirts. The fabric was cut into strips and then braided to create dog toys. They were then sent to the local no-kill animal shelter as a donation from our school. No waste in the landfill—you know: reduce, reuse and recycle. Kids could do the same thing at home and give them as presents to family and friends.

Bill Laraway is a 4th- and 5th-grade teacher at Silver Oak Elementary School in San Jose, California. He has been teaching for 28 years.

Motivating students to help the environment is easy. Kids are frequently exposed to the need to take environmental action. They understand the message that we all need to do our part to take care of our environment. The problem is that students don't know what they can do beyond the basics at home: conserving electricity and water, and recycling.

Teachers can motivate students to think of projects that move beyond their homes and into their school and neighborhood communities. Students learn best when they are actively involved in the research, planning, execution and assessment of the entire project. Involve your students from the start.

Think about the students in your class. Make sure they have an emotional stake. Students will put forth the teamwork needed for the project if they have some connection. A student's project is more interesting and far more successful in the end than the teacher's idea.

Determine the project that would work best for the group of students in your classroom. For some classes, a school project is appropriate. A student recycling team can make scheduled rounds throughout the school to collect used paper for recycling. Students can do more than simply collect the recyclables--they can be empowered to teach other students about the importance of conservation, too.

For other classes, a larger environmental project is appropriate. Students can research environmental issues that affect them in their own community. Brainstorm lists of environmental agencies in your area: local department of parks and recreation; local, state and national park directors; or the local water board. Divide students into groups to invite representatives from these agencies to speak to the class about ways the students can support the departments and the environment. Guest speakers can really motivate students to take action. After the guest speakers have presented current environmental issues in your community, narrow the project to the one that is the best fit.

For example, one of my classes successfully planted hundreds of saplings in a reforestation effort in a county park after a summer fire. A representative from the county park spoke to the class about that fire and the urgent need to plant saplings to prevent erosion before winter rains arrived. Students contacted landscapers and landscape suppliers who supported our replanting project with manpower and materials.

Whichever project you select, have students keep a journal along the way. Remember to take photos! Once the project is complete, have your students write up a summary of the project from its inception to deployment. And don't forget to share the experience with the local news media.

Involved in her school's faculty Environmental Club, Elaine Williamson teaches 5th grade at the all-girl Nightingale-Bamford School in New York City.

One of my students had a birthday party in a nearby city park. A park ranger met the girls and gave them a short talk about a project that they would be participating in_she told them how to pick up garbage. The ranger brought garbage bags and gloves. The students brought the cake! The girls felt really good about the cleanup project_and had a fun time.

On Earth Day, the upper-school Environmental Club sponsored a contest in which the lower- and middle-school girls made artwork out of recyclable materials. It was very effective, and the kids came up with some wonderful pieces, one of which still hangs in my classroom. It is made from cork screws placed on a wire in the shape of a fish with tail and fins made out of used tin containers.

Much of my curriculum revolves around the environment, and hopefully this creates awareness of the importance to maintain a healthy environment. The sixth-grade students in life science are presently researching biomes and putting together a power-point presentation on a specific biome. Their presentation includes both biotic and abiotic factors.

A 2nd-grade teacher at Gilkey Elementary in Plainwell, Michigan, Sharon Pendola has a real passion for recycling.

Here at Gilkey Elementary we have a student group called the Gilkey Green Council. We are working on revamping our lunch room. This means recycling more and looking into our tray use, silverware and anything that is going into a landfill. We have a composting bin for our food scraps.

We also recycle grocery bags, batteries, printer cartridges, cell phones, aluminum, plastic and paper. Once a month the teachers pay five dollars to wear jeans for a week. The proceeds go to beautify our school.