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Completed: Plastic Free Waikiki

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"I currently teach in a second grade classroom at a public school in Honolulu, HI. This "aluminum water bottle" project aims at educating every student at Waikiki Elementary about the true cost (from raw materials to end recycling) and implications of plastic bottles. Our overall goal is to educate ... " MORE
"I currently teach in a second grade classroom at a public school in Honolulu, HI. This "aluminum water bottle" project aims at educating every student at Waikiki Elementary about the true cost (from raw materials to end recycling) and implications of plastic bottles. Our overall goal is to educate students on plastic's effects on our environment and give them tools to become "Waikiki plastic free" by using environment friendly items such as stainless-steel water bottles. We would like to begin this project with the new incoming class of K-6 students.

This project is needed because plastic bottles are being wasted in mass amounts. Every student at Waikiki is asked to bring a water bottle to class everyday due to the hot climate. We polled some of the teachers at Waikiki and they estimated about half of the students in their class bring a plastic disposable water bottle every day. With approximately 550 people (assuming these plastic-using students are bringing a new bottle each day), about 275 plastic bottles could be possibly thrown away each day. If we could supply students with stainless-steel water bottles at the beginning of the year, they could leave these at school and simply refill them daily, eliminating the waste of plastic bottles. Students could also use these water bottles throughout their elementary school years.

Student teachers (already in existence at Waikiki) have volunteered to be trained to educate classes about the true cost of plastic- the process from raw materials to recycling the waste. A specific lesson plan will be designed for them to use with each classroom at Waikiki focusing on the topic of humans impact on the environment (Benchmark SC.ENV.5.2 Assess the effect of human actions on an environmental system). After this lesson plan, the stainless-steel water bottles will be distributed to the students and teacher. We are hoping that students will take this information home and share it with their families.

Our ultimate goal for this project is to get families to reduce waste through education. We aim to help our students understand the reduce-reuse-recycle process and how much energy it takes to create plastic bottles and then recycle them again. We will teach them to make better choices that they will share with their parents and siblings at home. If we could ultimately eliminate the usage of disposable plastic water bottles that our students are bringing to school and replace them with stainless-steel bottles, this alone would be a tremendous success.

Your help will ensure that my students and their families understand the importance of human actions to the environment and give them an important tool (aluminum bottles) as a starting point to make a difference!

My students need aluminum water bottles to replace the plastic bottles they bring to school and then throw away each day, in turn incorporating a lesson plan which educates students on the life of a plastic bottle. The cost of this proposal is $505, which includes shipping for any materials requested and fulfillment ?."

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Mrs. B. sent this note after the project was fully funded:

Oct 31, 2009
Dear JPMorgan Chase, Justin, Christine, Danialle, coleen and Anonymous Donor, 
We cannot thank you enough for your generous donations towards our project. It is great to see that people care so much about our school and the environment. "Donors Choose" has been such a helpful tool for my classroom and wouldn't be possible without caring people such as yourselves.
These waterbottle canteens will get LOTS of use! Thank you for enabling our students to learn more about taking care of our environment in a constructive and fun way!

With gratitude,
Mrs. B.

On Nov 11, 2009, Mrs. B. followed this note with student letters sent via mail to the donor who completed this project, and to donors who gave $100 or more.

Photos coming soon!

Live Updates
Reviewed the project essay and sent follow-up questions if needed.
Ellen C. (associate) on Aug 17, 2009
Verified the cost of the requested resources and posted this project.
Ellen C. (associate) on Aug 17, 2009
"I gave to this project because I believe children are the earth's best hope for thriving again. We need them to set the example for the rest of the world."
Christine from McLean, VA gave in support of Hawaii on Sep 7, 2009
"JPMorgan Chase is pleased to support early literacy, math and science projects!"
JPMorgan Chase from San Francisco, CA gave on Sep 15, 2009
"I gave to this project because recycling & education are important. I wanted to give back to the schools in the only place I call home. Mahalo "
coleen from California gave on Sep 18, 2009
"I helped because I'm a strong believer in Environment Science education."
Danialle from Hawaii gave on Oct 21, 2009
A donor gave on Oct 28, 2009
Justin from Woodbridge, VA gave in support of Justin on Oct 30, 2009
Project fully funded!
Happy news on Oct 30, 2009
The teacher Mrs. B. on Oct 31, 2009
Purchased the resources for Mrs. B.'s classroom and notified the school principal of delivery.
Ellen C. (associate) on Nov 2, 2009
Packaged the thank-you letters written by Mrs. B.'s students and sent them on to the eligible donor(s).
Melissa Z. (staff member) on Nov 11, 2009
Please notify our staff of any messages or photos of concern.
Funded!
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