“I’m With Nature” is the theme of this year’s World Environment Day, which was celebrated globally on June 5th.

The day is a chance to raise awareness about different environmental issues that face the world today and encourage everyone to do their part in preserving our natural world.

At Malasang Primary School students found a creative and interactive way to celebrate the day by transforming their classrooms into different natural environments.

The activities, which took place over two days, were organised by a committee comprising Ms Deborah Ariku, Ms Chantal Galaua and Ms Regina Otto, who are all teachers at the school.

Various habitats were decided upon and then assigned to each of the seventeen classes, which range from grade three up to grade eight. The students learnt all about their environment, and then ventured out into nature to collect materials for their classrooms.

The students worked together to design and recreate their chosen habitat within their classrooms. Desks and chairs were moved aside to make room for plants, coral reefs, a winding riverbed, a life size pond with real fish, a copra plantation, a garden with different local vegetables and even a traditional highlands hut. Accompanying the built environments were posters with important facts about the different natural phenomena.

The students all had the opportunity to visit other classrooms to see what their peers had created. The activities for World Environment Day are part of the national curriculum and schools throughout the island also held their own Environment Day events.

The Unity Library, in Buka, is also contributing to the celebrations by holding a poster competition with the theme Mi stap wantaim nature. The competition will run for the entire month of June and is open to all members of the Unity Library. Entries should be on an A4 size paper and can be handed in to the Unity Library. Winners for the various categories will be announced at the end of the month. Visit the Unity Library Facebook page for details.

For more information about World Environment Day go to worldenvironmentday.global

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