Thursday, September 15, 2016

Happy Full Moon Pals!

This months full moon is September 16, 2016 @ 3:05 EST.  It's a LUNAR ECLIPSE – FULL MOON in the Astrological sign of Pisces. 

The Ancient Full Moon Names for September are: Harvest Moon, Singing Moon, Corn Moon, Blood Moon, , Mulberry Moon, Chrysanthemum Moon, and Moon when the calves grow hair. 

Learn more about the Full Moon Names,  Moon Phases and Moon Facts at Planetpals!







Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Make National Play Doh Day Natural Play Dough Day!

Why not try making natural Play Clay at home and bring home a healthy message.

Make National Play Doh Day Natural Play Dough Day!
National Play-Doh Day celebrates a great childhood play toy on September 16.
Invented in the mid 1950s, it has entertained millions of children, and allowed them to express their creativity, both at home and in the classroom.
The original invention was simple. A school teacher wanted a safe modeling clay for her pre-schoolers. She asked her brother-in-law Joseph McVicker, who worked at a chemical company, to come up with something. The result was simple....flour, water and food coloring.
You can do the same at home -- and it is healthier!  
Check out the variety of simple play clay recipes (there are cook and non cook, flour and corn starch recipes, and more) available on Planetpals.com with some ideas and patterns to help you teach healthy living, too. 

Nature Crafts #DIY Sand, Rocks, Clay, More!
Lots of great recipes!

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Teach The 4”R’s” and Paint Your School Bright GREEN

Teach the 4”R’s” and paint your school bright GREEN
There are so many great ways to have a greener school yearl. This is Planetpals top ten list of SIMPLE ideas you can implement in your school, in no time, and with no cost!  All the while, encouraging GREEN habits, pro-active solutions and teaching the 4 “r’s”. 
1. Reusable Containers
Encourage everyone to use reusable containers to hold their snacks, drinks and lunches - so that no plastic or paper has to be thrown away. This is a great way to REDUCE!
2. Scrap Paper Box
Keep a scrap paper box in a convenient location. Encourage everyone to use both sides of the paper. This is a great way to Renew!
3. Ecology Craft Box
So many of the items normally bound for the garbage actually make wonderful craft materials.  Boxes, tissue paper, string, and plastic bottles are some of the items kids can use to make great projects. This is a great way to recycle!
4. School supply SWAP
Organize a school supply swap or have a swap box in the classroom for unused school supplies and books. This is a great way to REDUCE!
5. Book Swap:
Encourage additional reading! Organize a one-day book swap or have a “free book” bookcase in the classroom.This is a great way to REUSE!
 6. Organize a Planetpals “Walking School Bus” or Car Pool:
If kids live close to school, we love this idea.  Kids can learn to save energy and gas by using alternative means of transportation such as bicycle, walk or ride sharing. This is a great way to REDUCE! Learn more
7. Get Your Whole School to Recycle. Start a Planetpals ECO PATROL
Planetpals ECO PATROL is a great way to encourage kids In school. This is a great project for your class. if your school does not already have a recycling program in place.  If your school already recycles, see if your class can improve the current system. This is a great way to RECYCLE!
8.  Recycle Fundraisers: 
Good for the school good for the environment.  Recycle phones and ink cartridges.  Earn points and money for your classroom.  Encourage companies to sponsor your by donating their points. A recycle fundraiser gets everyone involved.  This is a great way to RECYCLE! 
9. School Beautification:
Teach kids to love their surroundings and earn a green thumb.  Start seedlings and later plant flowers around the schoolyard. Encourage them to maintain the garden. This is a great way to RENEW!
10. ORGANIZE a “PLANETPALS Day”.
Once a month or once a week.  Many schools have a” Planetpals DAY”. Do Planetpals recycle kits and activities to learn about earth and earth issues and encourage recycling. Why not have a recycle craft on that day! This is a great way to learn  ALL the 4 “r’s”!
Learn more about being green at Planetpals.com.  Hundreds of pages of content, info, ideas, crafts and downloads. Teachers Parents Pages, more.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Peace Crafts And Ideas for Peace Day

September 22 is International Peace Day and what better way to celebrate than participating in some peaceful activities and peace crafts.  

Peace Day Crafts and Peace Ideas for Peace Day and Every day.  Spread the love!
Peace Day Crafts Even You Can Do!
Take a look at these unique recycle craft ideas we have for you for Peace Day. Make one for yourself and spread the peace to a friend (or two)!


For additional peace crafts follow us on Pinterest, FacebookTwitter and go to the peace crafts section of Planetpals Website. We add them all the time.
Make a colorful Paper Plate Peace Symbol Recycle Craft 
September 22 is International Peace Day and what better way to celebrate than participating in some peaceful activities and peace crafts.

From Ikidsclub Peace Website Make an origami Peace Crane and participate in the 1,000 cranes for peace project !

From Ikidsclub Peace Website Make a Peace Lantern.  Get the Directions here 
September 22 is International Peace Day and what better way to celebrate than participating in some peaceful activities and peace crafts.
peace lantern

Cut out a Peace Sign and wrap it in wrappers, magazine pages etc. This one is wrapped in can strips-but we don't recommend that for children!

September 22 is International Peace Day and what better way to celebrate than participating in some peaceful activities and peace crafts.
Candy Wrapper Peace Symbol
Soda Can Pop Tops Peace Sign is another great recycle crafts from greenupgrader
September 22 is International Peace Day and what better way to celebrate than participating in some peaceful activities and peace crafts.
Can Top Peace Symbol
 From Craft Knife a simple idea for melted crayons Peace Sign. 
September 22 is International Peace Day and what better way to celebrate than participating in some peaceful activities and peace crafts.
Melted Crayone Peace Sign
 A Peace Symbol CD Recycle Craft from Planetpals
September 22 is International Peace Day and what better way to celebrate than participating in some peaceful activities and peace crafts.
Recycle CD Peace Sign 

Have a Peace Party! Make  Peace Symbol Cake or Cupcake:

September 22 is International Peace Day and what better way to celebrate than participating in some peaceful activities and peace crafts.
Peace Cake and Cupcake
Looking for Classroom ideas, history and lesson plans to celebrate Peace Day? IKC has is all!  
September 22 is International Peace Day and what better way to celebrate than participating in some peaceful activities and peace crafts.

Read these enlightening and fun ideas for peace in this International Peace DAY article, too.  Great for the classroom!
Loads More Peace Ideas and Crafts on Our Pinterest Peace Page
© jag Planetpals.com all rights reserved! 
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Shop The Town Swap And Save The Landfill

Divert thousands of tons of trash from a landfill while shopping green.

Divert thousands of tons of trash from a landfill while shopping green.

All over the country towns are implementing "Swap Shops" at town transfer stations or recycle centers.  
Town Swap Free and Green-Divert thousands of tons of trash from a landfill while shopping green.
They make so much sense, that I haven't figured out why every town in the US does not have a swap shop! It's a no brainer, because it not only diverts trash tonnage from landfills, but it adds up to savings on town disposal costs.  For instance, the town of Dennis, MA diverts 56% of it's residential solid waste from the landfill due to their Swap shop "Take it or Leave it". 
Town Swap Free and Green-Divert thousands of tons of trash from a landfill while shopping green.
What is a swap shop?  
A town swap can be a recycle center for just about everything. It's a put and take: a place to bring items and a place to shop for them for free.  
Each town runs theirs differently, some towns have only single book swaps or computer swaps.   But many towns have swaps for every recyclable category, often housed in multiple buildings or recycled trailors. Many are well organized and categorized just like stores and libraries.  Some buildings even have background music!  Many swap shops are maintained by city employees and others manned by volunteers.  
Town Swap Free and Green-Divert thousands of tons of trash from a landfill while shopping green.

What amazes me, is how much stuff actually gets reclaimed, reused, repurposed and saved from landfills.   It seems that people find use for just about anything.  Residents can not only reclaim standard items such as clothing, kitchenware, furniture, sports and gardening equipment, but also reuse building materials. No matter how the shops are configured, they have one thing thing in common, and that is that they give new life to tons of old objects and recycle it all.  Items go as quickly as they come in!
Town Swap Free and Green-Divert thousands of tons of trash from a landfill while shopping green.

Why doesn't every town have one?  
Every town has a small space that can be allocated for this project, but many towns do not consider them important enough.  My town had a book swap and a computer electronics area for several years, but recently closed them down, mainly because they didn't want to be bothered. It's a shame, because residents are often too overwhelmed, incapable or ill informed to find someone to take their stuff away and more often end up just tossing it into the trash. Hence, it goes to a landfill and much of it will never biodegrade.

Town Swap Free and Green-Divert thousands of tons of trash from a landfill while shopping green.
So, whether the swap shops are affectionately named "Town Mall", "Put n Take", "Last Chance" or "Treasure Chest",  it's a concept that not only saves the residents and the town, but saves the planet!
Town Swap Free and Green-Divert thousands of tons of trash from a landfill while shopping green.
If there is no swap shop in your town, why not take action and talk to your DPW or recycle committee.  It's good for the planet and greener in many ways.

Learn more about Swaps on Planetpals.com