Discover DEC
If everyone begins to think and act environmentally, people will develop what is known as "Environmentality." There is an awful lot every person can do to keep Mother Earth clean, healthy, and happy. The best place to begin the process of "Environmentality" is with children; after all, the future rests in their hands. That is why the Walt Disney Company developed a unique program-Disney's Environmentality Challenge.Disney's Environmentality Challenge exists in four regions; California, Florida, the Cayman Islands, and Hong Kong. Disney's Environmentality Challenge consists of two parts - the pledge and the class project competition. The level of commitment is up to you and your students. The Pledge entails a small commitment, while the Class Project Competition requires a more comprehensive project. Part 1: Take the Environmentality Pledge Here's an easy, fun, and interactive way to do something good for the environment and receive Disney's Environmentality Challenge gifts and Pledge Forms for every student in your class. Conduct a class discussion about any kind of environmental issues. Encourage students to share ideas about what the environment means to them and ways they can help both at school and at home. Ask each student to pledge three things he or she can do to help the environment. Have the students fill out their pledges on the Pledge Forms. Pledges can be anything from turning the water off while brushing your teeth to collecting cans for recycling. Continue to foster discussions and follow up by readdressing the students' pledges over a period of time-which ones did they complete? What was the impact of their completion? Remember to tie the lesson plans and conversations back to your region's content standards and guidelines. Your adventure can stop here or you continue to the Class Project Competition!
Part 2: Enter the Class Project Competition! 
The project is a whole class project. The topic is completely up to you and your class: sky's the limit! Put the whammy on water pollution, compost like crazy, help save energy. Select an issue, help your class dig deeply into the subject, and take action for improvement. Use the project as a caveat to teach content standards and guidelines for all areas of curriculum. For example, if your class builds a natural butterfly habit, help your students with native vs. non-native plants, how to determine perimeter of the area, and how to write a letter of persuasion to a local hardware shop for sponsorship.
The class must develop and submit its project for evaluation on a region-wide basis. Projects are evaluated on environmental relevance, student learning, changes in practices and attitudes, community involvement, lasting benefits to students, school and /or community, and originality. |
