Happy Holidays Inclusive Activities For The Classroom

Exclusively Inclusive!

Life skills for a better world all wrapped up in holiday activities! 

Whether you are a homeschooler or a classroom teacher, you will love these new activities for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and More. 

Planetpals NO PREP activities are not only clever and fun but unqiue! Kids learn life skills. One of a kind for Kindness, Inclusiveness, ways to a better world. Classroom, homeschool or home. 

Check out what's new! 

Here are three of our newest for the Holiday Sesaon.

A lesson on a world of holidays

A Star of an activity

Tick Tock It's Time for Kindness

Smash It, Don't Trash it! Pumpkin Recycle

It's A Pumpkin Palooza That's A Howl!

There are many ways to recycle pumpkins.  This is one of our favorites.

Pumpkin Smash? No, we don't mean smash your neighbor's pumpkins for Halloween!  We are talking about an after Halloween pumpkin smash that ends up in a great big compost pile.

Your town doesn't have one?  Why not organize a pumpkin smash in your town just like the recent Pumpkin Smash in Newton, MA?  So simple and it all goes to a good cause!

If you are not composting yourself, here is a fun way to compost that will entertain the kids and extend the Halloween season. Smash for a reason.

It's a win win.

See what a smashing time our friends Alexis and Max had when they attended the Pumpkin Smash. Here are their photos!

Smashing Pumpkin Recycle Event Newton, MA

Everyone having a smashing time!

Alexis and Max All done!

How to Recycle Pumpkins After the Holidays

Halloween and Thanksgiving are over, what are the best ideas on Earth for recycling pumpkins?

The Greatest list for Earth Saving Ideas to reduce and reuse pumpkins:

• Eat them! Pumpkins are high in Vitamin E and A and Fiber so make a healthy Pumpkin recipe...Yum.
• Eat the seeds, dry them. Another Yum!
• Compost them in your garden compost
• Give them away. Offer them to a neighbor or friend w a compost bin  (if you don't have one).

  

  Planet them.  Kids can watch them grow!

• Bring them to a farm that has animals that eat them. Did you know cows & cattle love pumpkins? Do call or ask first if they accept them. 
• Plant Them. Cut each top off, so that the pumpkin looks like a plant pot. Fill it with dirt. Then watch the seeds grow into new pumpkin seedlings!
• Recycle them! Every town is different so double check the rules.
• Smash them! Bring them to a pumpkin smashing in your town

NOTE: Don't leave them to degrade outside if you don't want mice, moles, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits or woodchucks coming to your yard. They love them!

Thanks for being a Planetpal!

17 Great 'E'cology Tips To Help You Make A Greener World on Thanksgiving!

Planetpals Puts An 'E' In Your Thanksgiving and Turns It Green

Some clever ways to green your Thanksgiving holiday and make it more memorable and meaningful for the entire family and Earth!

1.    When food and holiday shopping, combine trips. It saves gas and energy

2.    Buy in bulk: Such as using large soda containers instead of many small cans

3.    Bake your pies and dishes in reusable pans not disposable aluminum 

4.    Cook Many things in your oven at the same time to save energy

5.    Light a fire in the hearth to save on energy. Even better, make newspaper logs!

6.    Have a cooler with drinks for a large gathering because opening and closing the fridge lets the cold air out  and uses more energy

7.    Have  a designated Recycle Bin for guests Use Planetpals Free Recycle Sign

8.    Use cloth napkins, placemats and table covers. It not only makes the day more special and it saves paper!

9.    Make your own paper place cards and menus. Make them from your own handmade paper.  See Planetpals Paper Making Recipe.

10.  Make delicious recipes from those decorative pumpkins, berries and gourds (yes, you can cook some varieties) leftover after the holiday. Don't just throw them away!

11.  Recycle your decorations from year to year.

12.  Make decorations from recycled materials. This is a great craft for kids!

13.  Make paper mache decorations such as paper mache pumpkins. They not only can be reused, but you reuse paper! See Planetpals Paper Mache Recipe.

14.  It takes a lot of energy to make new containers, paper products and packaging. Be diligent, recycle all your newspapers, cans, bottles, plastics, cardboard and other materials.

15.  Make decorations from edibles such as fruit and cloves. The options are endless, just use creativity. Then, have a feast!

16. Make a Thankful Turkey teach kids to give thanks for the good things in life!

Get the Thankful Turkey! 

17. Lastly, learn all kinds of eco-friendly and fun Thanksgiving tips, tricks and crafts - Read the Thanksgiving Journal.

Always Remember the 4 "R"s. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair!

Get this Thanks & Giving Thanksgiving Activity

Keep Your World Boo-tiful This Halloween

Be a Planetpal, too!

Halloween is fun and games, but it isn't just about getting candy, bobbing for apples and winning prizes for costumes. This Halloween think about helping others while helping the planet. Practice the 3 "r"s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Here are some quick tips from Planetpals to help you share and care:

• Share your candy with a less fortunate friend.
• Have your class collect donations for a good cause.
• Make your costume out of recycled materials such as cardboard, cans, paper, old clothes or tin foil.
• Think of ways you can recycle or reuse the candy wrappers and candy bags.
• Have a Green Halloween Party
• Have a costume swap
• Have some healthy Halloween food with friends and classmates
• Decorate making recycled Halloween crafts with recycled materials
• Recycle your pumpkin, by making delicious dishes and drying the seeds. You can find plenty of recipes for these!
• Donate your costume and decorations to a thrift shop or swap shop when Halloween is over.
• Save your decorations to use again next year.
• Reuse your Halloween classroom activities (make bookmarks, decorations, etc)
• Eat only packaged items you obtain Trick or Treating...and share them!
• See Planetpals Green Halloween Journal for way more ideas!
• You're only limited by your imagination! Maybe you can think of some more ideas!

Remember: Be safe on Halloween-be well lit, pay attention out there it's dark out, and go Trick or Treating with a parent or guardian. 

For a variety of fun activities for the holiday check out Planetpals TPT Store.  All Planetpals activities are punny and playful! Did we say educational, too?

Check them out!

For more Halloween Ideas see Planetpals Green Halloween Journal and Green Halloween Board on Pinterest.

Like Planetpals! Join US:

PP  on FB / PP on Twitter / PP on Pinterest   / PP on Instagram

© judith gorgone www.planetpals.com all rights reserved