POMPANO BEACH FL (8-4-06) – How to make a recycled tree: First, count and sort empty plastic bottles, then measure the size of the trees in your own backyard. Next, paint the bottles any color you chose and last, assemble the tree in a stack formation on top of cardboard.

Sound impossible? Not to the children at Preschool South at Broward Children’s Center. The Children’s Services Council funds the preschool program through the Maximizing Out of School Time (MOST) grant and urges programs to participate in a long-term service learning project. With environmental responsibility at the forefront of social concerns, preschoolers chose an eco-friendly project.

The Super Star classroom created a sculpture of a tree using recycled water bottles. “By using recycled materials in a fun, creative way, preschoolers learn one of many ways old materials can be put to good use”, said Preschool South Director Jill Cerchione.

The children were involved in the planning, data collecting, problem solving, material gathering, designing, and implementation of the project. Working together towards a common goal required the children to cooperate with one another, take turns, and use their language cognitive and social skills.

For more than 35 years, Broward Children’s Center has been providing medical, educational, and advocacy services to infants, children, and young adults with special needs.

Contact: Thor Barraclough
954.410.4410 thorb@bcckids.org