Tips for Schools
Examples of Actions
Environmental education is an important part of Baltic Sea work. Teaching environmental topics increases young residents’ awareness of how their own actions affect the local environment. Schools can also examine everyday choices, such as energy and water use, recycling, and the use of harmful substances. Below, you can read a brief overview of themes that schools or organisations working with children and young people can focus on. If your school needs support in planning actions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We aim to connect you with a suitable partner from our school network to support your work.
Caring for the School’s Local Environment
The school yard and nearby areas offer excellent opportunities for concrete nature actions. Organise litter clean-up events and invasive species removal days – these can easily be integrated into subjects such as physical education or biology.
Also explore whether biodiversity could be enhanced in the school yard. Plant pollinator-friendly native plants or build insect hotels together with students. This helps students understand how they can support nature in their own local environment. Share successful experiences with other classes and nearby schools. Concrete results, such as “nine bags of litter collected” or “three square metres of meadow established”, can inspire many.
You can find more practical tips for different subjects here:
- Innostu Itämerestä (Know the Baltic Sea, in Finnish)
A Sustainable School Day: Meals, Procurement, and Waste
Daily choices at school have a direct impact on water bodies. Favour plant-based options in school meals and sustainably sourced fish. Explain to students how their own eating habits affect the environment. You can also encourage reducing food waste, for example through playful competitions. Organising class-level food waste monitoring is one practical approach.
In procurement, prioritise eco-labelled products and avoid single-use tableware on excursions. For example, each student can bring their own reusable outdoor dining set from home. Waste sorting and composting of biowaste are also easy ways to reduce environmental pressure. These actions should be integrated into everyday school practices.
School Culture and Engaging Families
Protecting the Baltic Sea should be integrated into teaching and the overall school culture. Organise theme days, project weeks or competitions where students, for example, develop their own Baltic Sea actions. You can also make use of digital footprint calculators to assess the school’s carbon or water footprint.
Communicate the results through the school’s communication channels so that guardians and the local community can see the school’s sustainability work. In this way, the school acts as an example and inspires families to take action as well.
You can find more practical tips for different subjects here:
- Innostu Itämerestä (Know the Baltic Sea, in Finnish)
