Cromlix had litter and compost this year as our house responsibility. We decided that we were going to focus on emptying the bins at least twice a week and getting a new litter bin and a better compost bin. We also would like to teach the nursery children about composting, litter and the three R’s Reduce, Reuse and recycle  

 We have tried to change the way people think about litter and compost, and so far we think we are succeeding. Everyone in the school is willing to empty the bins if asked the younger ones sometimes join in with out being asked.

This year in eco mornings we have done lots of activities including

• Cleaning out the compost bins.
• Making and producing Bee bags
• Making decorations for our carol concert.
• We made things out of news papers.
• A woman from Keep Scotland beautiful called Emily came to talk to us about litter and composting.
• We learnt how to make objects from reusing litter including wallets (made from juice cartons) and a tea light holder (made from an old can)
• We also empty the bins on the house days.
• How litter harms animals.
• We made a litter trophy to present to the tidiest class.
• Campaigning to stop people dropping litter by posters and leaflets.
• Trying to get litter bins and litter picks.
• Litter pick around community.
• Making bird feeders by reusing objects.

Plans for next year
We would like to organise fun experiments which younger children would like, the older children could help the younger ones.

By Kirsty and Jamie P7

On our last house morning we went on a litter pick around Dunblane. At first there was hardly litter any because Stirling council litter pickers had just been, but as we went up towards the Braeport centre and Holme hill we found lots of the rubbish of  which was disposed of properly and will certainly be a help to the community.

 For the rest of the morning we made bird feeders out of tetra packs which was great fun as well as doing the not so fun job of empting the bins .We hope everyone in Cromlix enjoys all the house mornings and helping the environment to be a better and more eco friendly place.

On our third and final eco morning for this year Cromlix were very busy making things. First of all most of us stayed inside and made some stars to decorate the garden, while some of us braved the freezing cold and emptied the bins. Unfortunately the lid of the bin had frozen to the bin but eventually it came off. After we had emptied the bins and made lovely stars we had a special visitor.

Emily who works for Keep Scotland Beautiful came in and talked to us about the ever growing problem of global warming. Then she taught us to make some amazing wallets made of only old juice cartons. They worked very well and were surprisingly strong. This was definitely one of our best eco mornings and everyone put in a lot of effort. 

On our second eco morning we all brought news papers in to make something with. People made all sorts of thing from a hat to a boat and even a hedgehog. The best ideas and designs were put on display outside the office. It was great fun and we all enjoyed doing it.

Some other people made posters to advertise the new eco bags. We hope you will buy lots of the bags because they are lovely and very well designed. Sophie and Rachel wrote letters for people to fill out for the bee bags which you can bring into school.

We also put up posters to stop people littering.

Next eco morning Emily will be coming to talk to us about how to be even more eco friendly. We will also be making a bird feeder out of recyclables and paint animals and things on rocks.

On the 2^nd of October 2009 Cromlix had their first house  Eco morning. In Cromlix we:

• Cleaned out the bins. The bins had mud all over them so we cleaned them inside and out. They were very dirty and smelly but it was great fun and a huge percentage of Cromlix wanted to do it.
• Designed a logo for a bag to be sold at the Christmas Grotto. Mrs Paterson was the Judge and she chose Catriona’s Bee Eco design.
• Drew posters about what goes in a bin. And about dropping litter.
• Played a recycling game on the computer.

Our new responsibility is Litter and compost.

Washing the compost bins