1. Reuse: Make decorations and party favors from materials you already have around the classroom. Ideas include: scrap paper garland, paper tube reindeer party favors or snowflake ornaments made from old puzzles. 

2. Reduce: Borrow or share party decorations used by other classrooms. 

3. Recycle: If you serve food, make sure all items can be recycled or composted. Do not purchase foam cups and avoid foods sold with excess packaging.

4. Re-gift: If hosting a gift swap, encourage people to give gently used items instead of buying something new. Reduce waste and save money!
 

"At P.S. 41 in the Bronx, we are big on students having classroom jobs and responsibilities," according to Principal Michelle Moore. Each teacher selected two students to be on our Green Team, which now has 72 members, even kindergartners. The students are responsible for making sure the students and teachers sort the garbage properly in the classroom and in the lunch room." The school also held a faculty professional development and meeting with cafeteria staff to ensure everyone in the school was on the same page.

Since the Green Team plays a major role in recycling, Principal Moore noticed that the teachers and staff responded positively to the program. "Teachers like knowing that the students are in charge and that they don't have additional work. All they need to do is remind the Green Team members of their responsibilities." Whether your Green Team is large or small, students can take a leadership role in managing their own school environment! 
 

Waste increases as much as 25% between Thanksgiving and the New Year, making it a great time to emphasize reducing, reusing items at school and home.

Using newspaper, brown paper bags, magazines, or old maps as gift wrap, or to make gift bags and gift bows, are simple reuse activities for a  green team or class that reinforces the 3 Rs. Reducing unnecessary paper waste from use of new gift wrap, reusing items for another useful purpose before they are discarded, and recycling the paper once the gift has been unwrapped. Remember, all paper wrapping materials and paper gift bags can be saved for reuse, or recycled in the paper recycling bin.