Understanding local impact for Zero Impact Day

New Morning School bee presentation wax.

It was a great learning experience for Earth Day as New Morning School students experienced how much we can affect our local and global environment for our first Zero Impact Day on April 22.

Also, two middle school students, Malina and Zach, were also quoted on the radio during segments which ran throughout the day on WWJ Newsradio 950.

Here are audio links to the segments:

Here is the link featuring Malina, which ran on WWJ Newsradio 950.

Here is the link featuring Zach, which ran on WWJ Newsradio 950.

The concept for Zero Impact Day originated from a topic covered in middle school science/STEM class.

“In the middle school, we’ve been studying human environmental impacts, and that includes exploring where we (humans) come from and we’re going,” said science and STEM teacher Paul Hanna. “This includes discussing the lives of paleolithic humans, who lived mostly in harmony with the planet. The children specifically enjoyed imagining life of a 12-year-old 10,000 years ago, and it might be fun to have that become a bit of reality.”

After a school-wide introduction to Zero Impact Day, lights were turned off and electronic and battery-powered items were not used throughout the day. Students also performed various earth-friendly projects through the day, including making paper, cleaning the school grounds and other similar projects.

Beekeeper Wendy Harless explains how bees are among us and their role in ecology.

Also, local beekeeping authority Wendy Harless addressed all grades to discuss the role played by bees in the local ecosystem.

Katelyn Ewing and kindergarten NMS class.
Kindergarten students take their class lessons outside for Zero Impact Day.
Middle school without lights
The middle school class learns while unplugged, only using the afternoon sunlight to brighten the classroom.