Service Area:
Nationwide

Hours of Operation:
7 Days a Week
10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET

Growing Green
Healthy Living for Yourself & the Earth

A Curriculum on Being Good Stewards of Our Health & the Environment for Elementary Age Children


About Our Program
Young people are increasingly aware of and concerned about changes in the environment and how these changes will impact their futures. The Growing Green Program at Pleasant Green United Methodist Church in Durham, NC uses scriptural, biological, and community / social networks to help our children understand the connections between the world around them and their own health and well-being. Our curriculum includes seven lessons that can be used with Summer Camp, Bible School, or After school programs.

And of every living thing, you shall bring two of every kind ... To keep them alive with you… Gen 6:19

 

Growing Green  Materials

Seven weekly lessons are linked with Christian stewardship based on God’s “Good Creation” in Genesis, Biblical laws and beliefs about caring for health, for animals, and for the environment, with Jesus’ teachings about caring for “the least of these.” As much as possible, the program focuses on the positive side of issues, emphasizing what we can do to be good stewards. Each program averages 2–3 hours in length (except for field trips), and activity times may be adjusted as needed.

The programs include weekly segments with ways to begin “Living Green” by providing information on saving energy, recycling, resource conservation, local and organic farming, healthy eating, rain forests and endangered animals. Concerns about the food supply, hunger, and policies that protect small farmers and our environment are explored.

Segments provide information and resources, activities, games, and snacks, in addition to handouts, word games, and coloring projects. The programs can be tailored to the time frame, setting and age groups being served. The annotated resource guide by topic at the end includes more detailed information on videos, websites, books, catalogs, and related materials.

 

 

Weekly Segments 


Week 1 . What Is Living Green?
Activity: Decorate Planters
Game: Recycle Relay / Treasure Hunt
Snack: Fruit & Dip / “Frundaes”

Week 2. Two Seeds and Soil
Activity: Plant Seedlings; Earthworm Farm
Game: Tunnel and Obstacle Course
Snack: Celery Bug Logs / Potted Veggies

Week 3. Air and Water
Activity: Video; Make Veggie Cars
Game: Air & Water Games / Field Trip
Snack: Hybrid Fruit & Veggie Cars

Week 4. Endangered Species
Activity: Video; Create a Habitat
Game: Animal Exercise Course
Snack: Cantaloupe Koalas

Week 5. Eating Green
Activity: Visit Local Farm / Farmers Market
Game: Farm Chores / Bucket Brigade
Snack: Healthy Trail Mix, Organic Fruit

Week 6. Hunger in Our World
Activity: Make dish for food program
Game: Round the World
Snack: Portion of dish or dessert

Week 7. Living As Green Stewards
Activity: Make Green Covenants
Game: Going Green Games
Snack: Healthy Mini Pizzas or Tacos

 


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