HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: Dave Street's Middle School program is an interactive workshop/presentation designed to inspire young people to take responsibility for what they do to the world around them and to help create a clean , healthy world. Audience Size: Dave offers small group workshops or a large group presentation.
Small Group Workshops: These are designed to work best with a target audience of thirty five to fifty students. Generally, it's designed to be conducted in conjunction with the science classes.
The workshop begins with a motivational introduction on how the students are young leaders who make a difference in the world. Dave then presents scientific information in terms of the impact people have previously had on the world. Then the students break into small groups for specific assignments, which are then read aloud and reacted to. Dave then presents more relevant material and summarizes the theme. It ends with the students having their leadership qualities affirmed.
Large Group Presentations: Again, Dave begins with a motivational presentation. He then presents information in a manner which clearly illustrates the affect we all have on the world around us and the consequences of our behavior. This also ends with the students having their leadership qualities affirmed.
Dave can taper his presentations to your needs.
MAIN TOPICS
Although the general theme of all Dave's program's is how young people can make a positive impact on the planet, he has different presentations emphasizing various main themes. These include:
1) THE GLOBAL CONNECTION - This illustrates how the everyday things we do in our neighborhoods affect global conditions like global warming and destruction of the Rainforest and how these phenomenon, in turn, affect the quality of our lives.
2) STOPPING THE NEXT EXTINCTION - This includes lessons to be learned from the extinction of creatures like the Dodo Bird and the Passenger Pigeon as well as a look at current endangered species. It includes examples of how human behavior has contributed to previous extinctions, such as sailors bringing rats and pigs around the world. It also explains the connection between the welfare of endangered animals and our health.
3) A PAIN IN THE DRAIN - This traces how litter from our sidewalks end up in our waters as well as how good habits like not littering and recycling keep our communities clean. The program is on the NJ DEP's list of 'suggested programs' for young people to see as part of the New Jersey Clean Communities program.
4) IT'S ALL CONNECTED - This offers a brief overview of all of Dave's work: giving an example of one extinct animal, one global problem and connecting them to problems like littering and solutions like recycling.
5) SUSTAIN AND DEVELOP - This illustrates the concept of 'Sustainable Development' and how to create products in a way that still sustains the environment.
CLASS PROJECT SUGGESTIONS
1) LITTER PREVENTION: The first is not littering, and participating in various clean-ups in our community,at our beaches at our roadsides. By taking responsibility for every piece of paper, bottle cap, etc. that we use we help build a strong foundation for ourselves as environmentally responsible citizens.
2) RECYCLING: By recycling, we help to conserve our natural resources, such as forests, mountains, etc. that would otherwise have to be cut down, mined, etc. Every piece of paper we keep recycling represents a tree that doesn't have to be cut down, helping to preserve it as a habitat for the creatures that live in it. Aluminum cans are mostly made from bauxite, an ore that has to be mined from the ground. It also has been found in the Rainforests. Therefore, every aluminum can we recycle represents a piece of ground somewhere that doesn't have to be dug up, preserving it for the animals that might use it as a habitat.