Education for Sustainability: Activity Book

This activity book of 7 related activities is centered on the issue of single-use plastic bags. It takes K-2 children on a journey of investigation and evaluation to find a more sustainable alternative. The set of activities ends with designing their own alternative to single-use plastic bags based on their investigation.

This book was designed and illustrated as part of the M.S. in Communication Design Design Advocacy course at Pratt Institute where the class worked with The Interdependence Project to address public awareness about the harmful effects of single-use plastic bags. The activities were written by Vanessa Sequeira - a special educator and reading therapist. The book is now part of the 'Plastic Bag Mandala Project' and is available to schools, non-profits and other institutions.

Customized workshops are offered in schools based on the books individual activities that engage children in an inquiry based learning experience to understand sustainable systems. Workshops in making upcycled tote bags, exploring decomposition and studying natural forces in the dissemination of waste, have been offered in public and private schools in New York and New Jersey.