One of the most fascinating aspects of environmental education is that children do not learn to love nature through long lectures. They learn by exploring, experiencing, and discovering for themselves that even the things we often consider “waste” can begin a new journey.
At Hanoi Star – Hai Phong Campus, that journey began with something as familiar as an empty Yakult bottle. In the hands of the London Kindergarten class, these used containers were transformed into cheerful little bees. More than a creative classroom activity, each finished craft became a meaningful learning moment, encouraging children to see the world from a different perspective. Instead of viewing a used item as waste, they learned to recognize its value and its potential for a new purpose.
This is also how the Green School philosophy is nurtured at Hanoi Star – Hai Phong Campus. From Kindergarten through K12, students engage in age-appropriate experiences that naturally foster environmental awareness. While our youngest learners take their first steps through recycling and creative reuse activities, students in higher grades continue the journey by planting trees, sorting waste, recycling materials, leading environmental projects, and promoting sustainable practices within the wider community.
Guiding students throughout this journey are our dedicated teachers. Beyond designing meaningful learning experiences, they lead by example through everyday actions caring for green spaces, practicing waste separation, conserving water and electricity, encouraging reuse, and maintaining a clean, sustainable learning environment. As a result, lessons about environmental responsibility extend far beyond the classroom and gradually become part of students’ daily habits.
At Hanoi Star – Hai Phong Campus, Green School is not defined by a series of isolated environmental activities. It is built through the collective commitment of the entire school community. When students of all ages learn through hands-on experiences, teachers model sustainable practices, and every member contributes through small but meaningful actions each day, Green School evolves beyond a program to become a defining part of the school’s culture, laying the foundation for responsible citizens who are ready to create a more sustainable future.
—
This article is part of “Green In Action”, a content series sharing Green Actions across EQuest member units under EQuest’s Green School standards: Understand Right – Act Real – Live Green.
