101 Things to Do to Learn about Nature & build friendship with Nature

It is likely that when we get a free period and have to engage it, we may find ourselves in a fix as to what to do. 

As teachers, if we could think of them as an opportunity for supporting the overall development of students (some of the outcomes at foundational level, as per NEP 2020 are: good behaviour, courtsey, ethics, personal & public hygiene, teamwork, cooperation), it would be great.  Next step is what we could do in this direction. 

The best tool would be a story/anecdote, from which the students could draw lessons for their life.  This would also need an articulation of what extra we want to convey to the students beyond the syllabus. Based on that, it would be ideal, to gather such and make a compilation of them and have some of them handy with us for a session. 

The other is activities that are linked to our life on the planet - it should cater to catching the core value of sustainable living on this planet - usually expressed in terms of care for Mother Earth/our common home. There could be very simple to complex activities in this regard with the intended outcomes of increased information/awareness level/sensitivity in our dealing with the planet (utilisation, waste avoidance, reduction, generation & management etc.).  

I imagined someone approaching me and asking 'what can we do on such occasions?'.  And I thought I could easily answer, 'oh, a 101 things'.  But reflecting, I realised that it was not that easy.  Then, I took some time to put down a few simple to complex things that came to my mind, with the aforementioned intended outcomes. We could add on, build up, expand these flimsy looking tasks, depending on our imagination.

1. School Environment Policy by student council - Do's and Don'ts
2. Class environment policy by the class in the beginning of the year - do's & don'ts 
3. Class monitoring of its waste generation on a daily basis
4. Volunteers to ensure that the class is litter free - taking turns
5. Planting a vegetable plant and recording its growth
6. Exhibition of the class-vegetable-garden@home
7. Plant a flower-plant and nurture it (from sprouting to flowering)
8. Exhibition of a class-flower-garden@home
9. Survey of the plants of the campus & reporting
10. Identifying the scientific names of the plants on the campus
11. identifying common names in English of the plants on the campus
12. identifying common names in one's native tongue of the plants on the campus
13. Survey of the campus birds and other insects & reporting
14. Identifying the scientific names of the birds that frequent the campus
15. identifying common names in English of the birds that frequent the campus
16. identifying common names in one's native tongue of the birds that frequent the campus
17. Drawing the picture of the plants/plant parts (flower/fruits)
18. Drawing the picture of the birds and insects
19. Collecting pictures from the internet
20. Assessment of the power use on the campus
21. Lights on the campus
22. AC on the campus
23. Computers on the campus
24. Assessment of the possibility of reducing consumption of power on the campus
25. Discussion - how power consumption enhance global warming
26. Water consumption on the campus
27. Assessment of various utilities - per day
28. Discussion - where do we get our water from? Process. 
29. How can we reduce water wastage? 
30. How is water consumption related to climate change and global warming? 
31. Observing weather changes 
32. Daily recording of local temperature and humidity
33. Stars on the sky
34. observation of starry night
35. clue as to how to observe stars
36. Sharing of sky-watch
37. Guided sky watch on the campus - for parents and students. 
38. Listing of nature spots in the city/locality (Every class to have one trip in a year)
39. Planned and guided walk in them to observe and feel. 
40. Drawing what they saw.
41. Writing about what they saw. 
42. The trees you see on your way
43. The birds and animals that you see on your way
44. The trees and plants you find in your residential area (neighbourhood)
45. The trees and plants you can see from your house. 
46. The waste management at your home.
47. Study the waste (types) and quantity generated at your home
48. Efforts to make home 'plastic free' - tips for that. 
49. Efforts to make home 'zero waste' - proper segregation
50. List of star trees of India
51. If applicable, your star tree - with picture and its peculiarities
52. The tree you like best - picture, details. Why you like it? Its peculiarities
53. The fruit for you like Best. Its peculiarities and other details.
54. The vegetable you like Best.  Its peculiarities, and the method of growing it. 
55. 5/10/20 trees from your scripture - Bible
56. 5/10/20 trees from your scripture - Quran
57. 5/10/20 trees from your scripture - Gita/Ramayan/Mahabharat
58. 5/10/20 trees from your scripture - Guru granth sahib
59. Identify the national tree/flower/bird/animal 
60. Identify the state tree/flower/bird/animal of your state
61. Prepare a domestic manure pot to manage the domestic bio-waste 
62. Prepare a bio-compost box for the campus
63. Adopt a plant/flower bed on the campus and maintain it. 
64. Design items for decoration recycling/upcylcing/reusing waste materials
65. Scan news/newspaper for items related to nature and environment
66. Discuss one item in the class
67. clip items and make a folder
68. copy items (scan or photograph) and create an e-folder on various themes.
69. Seasons – their beginning and end
70. Festivals associated with seasons – understanding & celebration
71. Finding songs related to nature and environment
72. Learn a nature song in English
73. Learn a nature song in native language
74. Learn a nature song in national language
75. Observance of Days - Wetlands day - February 2
76. Wildlife Day - March 3
77. Sparrow day - March 20
78. Forest Day - March 21
79. World Water Day - March 22
80. Earth day - April 28
81. Health Day - May 7
82. Bicycle Day - June 3
83. Environment day - June 5
84. Ocean day - June 8
85. World Day to combat Desertification - June 17
86. International Plastic Bag Free Day - July 3
87. Ozone Day Sep. 16
88. Farmers’ day - Kisan Diwas Dec. 23 (India)
89. Campus Clean Day - weekly/monthly a class/batch taking turn to make the campus clean/litter free. 
90. Good health and well-being – study and action plan – SDG 3
91. An exhibition on...
92. Make a list of books crucial in the understanding of nature
93. Read a book and present a summary
94. List of nature movies
95. Watch a movie and present a review
96. A list of nature-movement leaders world wide
97. Present at least one leader and his/her contributions
98. Clean water and sanitation – SDG 6 discussion & action plan
99. Sustainable cities and communities – SDG 11 discussion & action plan
100. Making a public space clean (cleaner) 
101. Beautify and maintain a public place (more suited for Indian conditions)
102. Responsible consumption and production – SDG 12 discussion & action plan
103. What steps can you take to make - your clothing environment friendly
104. What steps can you take to make - Your food environment friendly
105. What steps can you take to make - Your travel environment friendly
106. What steps can you take to make - Your homes environment friendly
107. Climate Action – SDG 13 - discussion & action plan
108. Life under water – SDG 14 - discussion & action plan
109. Life on land – SDG 15 - discussion & action plan
110. Collaborations for the SDGs – SDG 17 - discussion & action plan
111. Ideas and Ideals - ZERO WASTE
112. Ideas and Ideals - CARBON NEUTRALITY
113. Ideas and Ideals - NET ZERO