Over the past month, GoGreenish has successfully launched the Matter on the Move Lab at Earl Warren Middle School which presents a dynamic educational experience on learning about recycling, composting and trash. With collaboration and support from the Thomas C. Ackerman Foundation, Go Greenish was able to take these next steps by educating youth, promoting sustainability in their lives.
The lab featured an interactive Pear Deck covering key concepts within the matter cycle, including the water cycle, common recycling misconceptions, decomposers and detritivores, and more.
Throughout the lab, students watched professionally filmed videos of GoGreenish leaders explaining each concept, followed by guided questions designed to assess and reinforce their understanding. To enhance the experience, each student also received a Goodie Bag containing custom-made tote bags, compostable notebooks, and plantable pencils, encouraging students to apply sustainability practices beyond the classroom.
Overall, the lab was a tremendous success and resulted in positive feedback gathered from students.
A participating student notes their takeaway as understanding that a “single, consistent change in your daily life can significantly lower your environmental impact.”
They further elaborate how “simple acts like switching to LED light bulbs or washing laundry in cold water can provide immediate benefits. Before buying something new, ask if you truly need it. Opting for high-quality, repairable items or shopping secondhand for clothes and furniture reduces the “upstream” environmental damage caused by manufacturing new goods."
Through the lab, students informed themselves on the power within their daily habits, leading to environmental sustainability.
Another participant explains that “one habit I can change in my life to become more environmentally conscious is checking the labels on the bottom of plastics so that I do not misplace/mis-recycle something that is not actually recyclable.”
GoGreenish plans to expand the Matter on the Move Lab to all middle schools within SDUHSD in the upcoming academic year.
