The activity below is taken from Global Kids, written by Homa Savet Tavanagar and illustrated by Sophie Fatus.
Plastic waste can impact life on land, in the air and in oceans, lakes, rivers and streams.
Rwanda, known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, is serious about preventing plastic pollution. It was the first country in the world to ban all single-use plastic bags. People who break the rules there must pay a fine.
In this activity, children can talk with their families or classmates and agree on some new plastic rules, like taking reusable bags when shopping, packing lunches in reusable containers and/or refusing plastic straws when offered (if possible). Whenever someone breaks one of the plastic rules, they place a small fine in the Plastics Penalty Pot.
Materials needed:
- Clean, empty jar
- White paper
- Pencils, pens or paint
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
Steps:
1. Cut a piece of paper to fit around your jar. Write a label on the paper: “Plastics Penalty Pot.”
2. Decorate the paper. Rwanda is known for the bold graphic designs woven into traditional agaseke (ogg-ah-SEK-ay, baskets like the ones below). Try drawing a similar pattern on your paper.
3. Glue or tape the paper to your jar.
4. Agree on some new plastic rules with your family or classmates, like packing lunches in reusable containers. Whenever someone breaks one of the plastic rules, they place a small fine in the Plastics Penalty Pot.
Tip for teachers: in a classroom setting you can use something symbolic like “buttons” as money for the fines. The idea is not to make individual children feel they are being punished (especially for things coming from home that are out of their control), but rather, as a group, to try to keep the penalty pot free from filling up with fines.
Watch Michele from ‘Storytime with Michele’ make a Penalty Pot
About Global Kids, written by Homa Sabet Tavangar and illustrated by Sophie Fatus
Winner of the Silver Tillywig Award!
Discover Global Kids, your new favorite tool for raising global citizens both inside and beyond the classroom! Developed by global education expert Homa Tavangar and the creators of Barefoot Books’ bestselling Mindful Kids deck, Global Kids includes 50+ hands-on activities divided into 5 categories to teach children about crafts, food, games, festivals and ways of helping others around the world.
Bright artwork by Sophie Fatus, illustrator of the bestselling Yoga Pretzels deck, make the steps on each card easy to follow. With its sturdy and flexible deck format, Global Kids offers educators, librarians, parents and caregivers alike an interactive, powerful resource for raising the next generation of global citizens.
Learn more about sustainability:
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