The students at Ralph J. Bunche Middle School spent Earth Day learning about recycling and sustainability, while also getting in some yard work with Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson, Atlanta Board of Education (ABOE) member Alfred “Shivy” Brooks, and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
In the morning, students learned about repurposing materials by making tie-dye shirts and creating bird feeders out of used water bottles. A plain white shirt can become a colorful new addition to the wardrobe. And instead of bottles piling up in the trash, they can be used as a tool to give back to the environment.
“Our Earth Day sustainability activity is an annual activity we have at Ralph J. Bunche Middle School, and the goal is to restore, recycle, and more importantly, it’s an opportunity for campus beautification,” Bunche Middle School science teacher Dr. Adrianne M. Redmond said.
Dr. Redmond and a group of students spent the day planting flowers in one of the school’s courtyards. They also have plans to plant a vegetable garden in the school’s other courtyard where they can grow watermelon, zucchini, tomatoes, and more. “Our students enjoy working with their hands, discovering things, and coming to new knowledge through self-discovery,” Dr. Redmond said. “We’re providing the students with some STEM-related activities and just teaching them about sustaining the resources that we have.”