ARD Team Project: The Blue Bin Crusaders

Greg Farias, Jalisa Smith, Janet Joy, Robb Hassa

Project Purpose
Creatively educate the children at Rodman Elementary and the 21st Century AfterSchool Program.

Introduce Gifts to Give

Make a donation

Build a successful team

Service to Community Partners

Worked with Rodman Elementary to teach students about recycling awareness both in the classroom and as an afterschool program.

Spread knowledge about Marissa Perez-Dormiters goal to increase recycling and awareness in New Bedford
Taught about and set up a program for Gifts to Give. Raised a substantial number of items for Gifts to Give through Rodman Elementary student donations.

Assembly
We had the honor of presenting the Rodman Elementary school (grades kindergarten-fifth grade) with a recycling seminar and recycling project for the school on October 26th. This included: Presenting the blue bins Presenting the green bins Presenting Gifts to give

th 4

Grade Lesson

We chose November 14th during National Recycling Week. This lesson was geared towards the 4th graders so that they can have a personal lesson on how to recycle and reuse items. This day included the students to participate in two activities and a listening lesson.

21st Century After-School Program

We wanted the children to be more involved in the activities. After school on November 14th the Blue Bin Crusaders came back to Rodman to collect all the gifts to give items. The children of the after school programs helped us gather and sort the items into its specific category.

3rd Grade Activity

On Friday November 16th the 3rd graders were such a pleasure to work with. They were able to participate in an in-class recycling activity with the Blue Bin Crusaders

Think outside the box

We had to literally think outside the box. We included many different creative activities throughout the Rodman Project.
Project Rushmore: this artistic creativity shows that we were able to put our ideas on paper Assembly Examples: To get through to the children we brought examples of a bottle, flattened cereal box, Clifford animal (toy), children's jacket, shirt, and pants. 4th grade: We scattered returnable bottle around the room and whoever found the bottles received money for them. List acceptable and non acceptable: read off a list of items and children listed them under the proper category

Posters for Assembly: drew out three posters with illustrations to present to the school about recycling
Board illustrations during events

More outside the box

Rewards: the children was rewarded with mood pencils made by recycled material was given to us my Meg who works with Marissa Jump Rope: the after school children was able to practice this activity with Janet on Nov. 15th but it really hit home with the 3rd graders on the Friday. How it is done: you need, plastic bags, scissors, and duck tape Cut the handles off the bag, then cut the bag in half along the two sides, cut the rectangles into slices then grab three slices, braid into a rope, do this with multiple slices and then duck tape the ropes together

Community Involvement
We were able to measure our success by the data we collected. The results of our project showed a positive, significant impact in the New Bedford area.

Community Involvement Cont.

Gave the children at Rodman a goal of 10 coats and 10 toys, for a total of 20 items. Children raised a total of 220 items, 1100% of the goal.

The 140 students at the school, in particular the 50 combined between then 3rd and 4th grade helped out with lesson plans while about 30 children in the afterschool program also participated. Our program not only affected the students at Rodman, but also the future recipients of these items, leaving a lasting, positive impact on the New Bedford community.

Recycling Awareness, Education, and Behavior

Handed out Pamphlets on both recycling (provided to us by Marissa) and on Gifts to Give(made by our group). Held numerous events for Gifts to Give including leaving the collection bin and sorting through the items with the after school program. Provided the school with additional green recycling barrels. Taught lessons on recycling and did educational arts and crafts.

Recycling Awareness, Education and Behavior Cont.

Worked with about 30 children in the after school program.
Split them into groups and had them sort out the bins and boxes and had them help organize them into groups. Explained to them how they were making an impact and helping out other children and families who are not able to afford clothes and toys for themselves.

Sustainability
Have instituted Gifts to Give in the school itself. Bins will remain even after we have left and the school will continue to donate to the organization.

Positively influenced lives of the students and left a good impression on the benefits of recycling.
140 children donated 220 items to other children.

What We Learned
Compromise
Accountability is key A little effort leads to a huge impact

Effective Communication leads to successful project

Conclusion
Reaching out and educating the students and staff of Rodman Elementary Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Teams working efficiently and effectively