Sustainable Schools
Sustainable Ideas to do at Home!
While we are unfortunately stuck at home with free time on our hands there are some activities that can help keep the kids busy and even save some money with rebate programs from MidAmerican Energy. As Van Meter continues to increase our sustainability efforts it is important to have the students and their families be aware of what can be done to keep involved.
This website has numerous different lessons and resources for learning from home for any grade level. They have online cooking classes that a family can do together to Astronomy activities, making birdhouses out of recycled material and even creating your own greenhouse with milk jugs. There are so many options provided that anyone can find something of interest that is educational to help pass the time.
These lessons are geared more towards any students up to fifth grade and are focused on recycling. Printable worksheets come along with the five lessons that go from making your own micro-composter in a bottle to a better understanding of how you can increase recycling in your city and school.
5 Free Recycling Lesson Plans and Worksheets for Kids
The 15 sustainability ideas that are addressed from this website are more focused on younger kids and include simply separating trash at home, starting a garden and all the way to using recyclable material to make art. These are simple ways to increase the knowledge of sustainability at home.
15 Sustainability Activities for Kids
The next steps are for adults that can be done at home to try and save money by making your home more energy-efficient. Almost all energy companies provide information on the necessary changes to help lower energy/water use to save money. MidAmerican Energy has a number of different websites that offer information on what can be done.
This first one provides a list of the programs that are offered in Iowa from energy-efficient appliances to resources for teachers and kids. The second website offers simple steps that can be taken at home to help lower energy costs. The third one has more information on the HomeCheck Online, that analyzes energy use based on lifestyle and area and is free to any MidAmerican Energy customer. By completing the HomeCheck Online you are able to qualify for a free Energy Efficiency Kit that can contain different items, based on your assessment, that will help lower energy use. There are a number of different options for people to address energy usage that can help save money.
Residential Energy Efficiency Programs