Los Angeles County Department of Public Works

Teaching children how to become “Environmental Defenders”

Challenge:

Engage children to be environmental leaders

Children can be remarkably competent human beings, and given the chance and the tools, they can be strong partners – even leaders – in protecting our environment. The challenge was to rouse their natural enthusiasm, and teach them why and how to defend the environment.

Key Strategies:

Educate and motivate through entertainment “Edutainment”

Systematically schedule shows at elementary schools in the County to reach all K – 6^th graders

Create classroom materials that invite children to continually be active in protecting the environment

• The Rogers Group created a high energy, school assembly show called “The Environmental Defenders Rock the Planet Tour” that targets kindergarteners through sixth-graders. The show features two live actors who interact with the audience and with four Environmental Defenders brought to life in a story presented through DVD large-screen projection. Combining music, sing-along songs and audience games, the program teaches about reducing, reusing, and recycling, and preventing pollution. The program and materials correlate to California teaching standards and are free to all Los Angeles County elementary schools.
• Environmental Defender activities were designed to emphasize personal responsibility and empowerment, and focus on the little things kids can do every day how easy it is to recycle, create less waste, and not litter.
• Materials were created to keep the kids singing long after the curtain closed. Teachers are given materials and activities on a CD to bring the discussion, the songs, and bonus interactive activities into the classroom year-round. Families could also download materials from the Environmental Defenders Web site.

Results:

More than 650,000 children report they are doing more to protect the environment and telling others about it as well

• In five years more than 1.1 million elementary school children at more than 2,000 L.A. County elementary schools became Environmental Defenders.
• Surveys of teachers and principals rank the show at 4.8 (out of 5 possible) and thousands of letters of appreciation were received.
• Kids were surveyed before and immediately after each assembly, and we then caught up with the kids nine weeks later:
• 80 percent reported talking with their family or friends about what they learned from the show
• 60 percent of kids said they were doing more to protect the environment