Chances are that your homeschooler is into "being green". Children today are acutely aware of the environmental concerns that effect our planet. While some children are content to practice energy saving methods at home, or recycle regularly, others wish to go one step further. Here are five ideas you can implement with your homeschooler to "green up" your life even more!

1. Check out "Roots and Shoots" online and in your community. Founded and inspired by Jane Goodall, this green program encourages youth to make positive changes to their community, environment and for animals. You can start a homeschool group, join one already in existence, or participate in group projects and activities for the community. The comprehensive website, listed at the end of this article, offers a calendar of activities, inspirational ideas and much more.

2. Read a book and have a discussion about going green with your primary homeschooler. For children in grades Kindergarten through second there are some wonderful and informative books, written simply and clearly, while still appealing to the youngest recyclers. "Miss Fox's Class Goes Green" by Eileen Spinelli and "Dinosaurs Go Green!: A Guide to Protecting Our Planet" (Dino Tales; Life Guides for Families) by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown are both fantastic choices for reading with your child.

3. Implement ideas year round to get greener. Utilize a calendar like the "Think Be Go Green 2010 Wall Calendar" to put environmentally friendly ideas into action on a daily basis.

4. Learn about being green while homeschooling with planet hugging themed activites. There are some educational, responsible and fun activity books for ecological exploration. "Braniac's Go Green Activity Book: For Earth-Savers of All Ages" by Mara Conlon is an up to date and challenging activity book all children will enjoy. Learning Horizons offers a comprehensive activity book called "Go Green Activity Books: My World!" (Earth Lover's Big Activity Books).
Also, Dover offers a hands on fun kit for elementary aged children titled "Go Green Fun Kit" (Dover Fun Kit).

5. Play games to get green awareness! The state of Wisconsin offers a free website titled "EEK", or Environmental Education for Kids. With lots of neat articles in this electronic magazine, chidren can access a plethora of ways they can help the environment. There are also project ideas and teacher resources. The magazine, while geared for children in grades four through eight, can be tailored to all homeschoolers.
Also check out the "Plan it Green" game from National Geographic. With forty five challenging levels, this is a game children and adults will love to play and learn from, too!




Eek website:
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/index.htm

Roots and Shoots Website:
www.rootsandshoots.org/