Advocate for an Idle-Free zone around your school to help reduce air pollution and protect the environment.
Grade Level: K-6
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the impact of idling on people and the environment
- Demonstrate ways to contribute to reducing idling
During this activity students will:
- Learn about why idling is harmful to people and the environment
- Learn about ways to contribute to decreasing air pollution
- Take action to support idle free zones
Materials
Instructions
- Talk about what idling is (leaving a car or bus engine running when it is not moving). Discuss why idling is bad for people and the environment, such as creating air pollution and harming health, and that one way we can help is by encouraging people to turn off their engines while waiting around the school for drop-offs, pick-ups, or deliveries.
- As a class, make a plan to advocate for an idle-free zone around your school. Have students explain the benefits of an idle free zone through:
- Creating a simple petition for other students, teachers, and parents to sign that says they support an idle-free zone (Sample petition)
- Making No Idling Posters (see template)
- Sharing information on the announcements/school social media
- Reminding their parents and guardians to turn off the engines when waiting near the school
- Carry out your action plan by sharing information with your school community.