SANTA MARIA - A wild lesson in recycling taught by a bear!
The Principal at Upward Bound Preschool in Santa Maria wanted to go green and bought re-usable cups, but students threw them away. Their teacher came up with a fun, smart, and simple way to save.
Now, they feed the bear. They created a wooden bear. Children toss the cups in the bear's mouth and they are caught in a box on the back.
The bear is saving cups and saving the school money. Principal Molly Williams Munger says they save 300 to 400 dollars a year just by cutting out the paper cups.
No Dishwashers needed! The children actually enjoy washing the cups.
Parents are also encouraged to bring items for recycling. The preschool uses they money to buy extra school supplies.
The Preschool Food Initiative though the Orfalea Foundation is working to educate pre-schools about recycling and about the importance of healthy school food.
Funding from the Orfalea Foundation is only available to schools in Santa Barbara County, but the information is *FREE* to all schools who want to copy the model.
For more information go to www.PreschoolFood.org
