School Programs - highlights
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Youth ARTS + MEDIA
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ARTS + ACTION |
2017-18 - Program Highlights
Plastic Free Waters
Zero Waste Schools
2016-17 - Program Highlights
ARTS+ACTION Zero Waste Schools
Community Arts + Media for Trash Free Waters (see more ->)
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2015-16 Program Highlights
ARTS+ACTION Zero Waste Schools
Youth Arts + Media for Trash Free Waters
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ARTS + MEDIA school programs at MS 246 K Walt Whitman & PS 34 M -> Watch all the amazing student-made videos: on YouTube here -> on Vimeo here -> |
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ZERO WASTE PRE-K and K classrooms
pilot program The Cafeteria Culture team in partnership with PS 15 K Pre K and K teachers led a zero waste classroom pilot program. We tested our original Pre-K and K sorting songs and sorting games with the school's youngest students. They are doing a fantastic job with compsoting thier food scraps, sorting thier recyclables and reducing garbage.
PS 15 K is a designated Zero Waste school as part of New York City's Zero Waste Schools Initiative. We are very happy to be continuing this effort, working with NYC Department of Education Office of Sustainability and GrowNYC at this school. |
2014-15
ARTS + MEDIA
for Climate Action
Program Highlights
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"We were so impressed that children in the program so naturally described the Socratic dialogues as part of their process. The discussions demonstrated that the project deeply considered the role of democratic citizenship as part of its principles and an impressive level of learning at an early age. We think it’s so important that this STEM learning has specific advocacy actions that go with it. " - Judges for the 2015 UL Innovative Education Award
2013-14
ARTS + ACTION
Cafeteria Waste Reduction
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Youth Media for Climate Action
Program Highlights
Environmental Quality Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
![]() PS/MS 7 and Global Tech Prep, Manhattan (D4) Students decreased cafeteria curbside garbage from 10 bags per day to just 1 bag per day on the launch day of our program! On ZERO-WASTE CHALLENGE DAY, both schools combined had only 1.5 pounds of garbage. Cafeteria Culture piloted our first community organization collaboration with CIVITAS, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life in East Harlem and the Upper East Side. The CafCu team trained CIVITAS adult volunteers to lead our Cafeteria Waste Reduction program. Our mutual goal is to expand this program to other public schools in East Harlem and the Upper East Side, empowering students with hands-on recycling education that can be taken home ZERO WASTE LUNCH CHALLENGESTUDENTS ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE
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Eighth grade students from MS 246 Walt Whitman worked in teams on production of 11 short PSA type videos. Students presented finished videos at screening at the US Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Office.
After School ARTS+ACTION
CURBSIDE COMPOST MESSAGING Students at PS 167 The Parkway School (Brooklyn) learned about compost then, students worked in groups to design and paint moving messages on the school's organic totes (aka rolling compost bins). (read more ->) |
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2012-13
ARTS+ACTION Cafeteria Waste Reduction
Program Highlights
Student Rangers oversee all recycling, composting, and sorting in the cafeteria.
They take ownership of the program!

Student Cafeteria Rangers from PS 63 Manhattan - The Star Academy.
The Neighborhood School / PS 63, Manhattan-
Students dramatically increased waste diversion rates from 3% to 85%, decreased cafeteria curbside garbage from 9 bags per day to 1.5 bags per day, and composted all food waste locally!
PS 221 Crown Heights, Brooklyn - (A Seeds in the Middle School)
Fifth graders designed and constructed fantastic giant puppets made from hundreds of used plastic foam lunch trays and performed an original play about plastic ocean pollution.
All students, including Kindergarten and Special Needs classes, oversee cafeteria recycling, composting and sorting.
PS 20, Lower East Side, Manhattan-
Student Rangers reduced cafeteria garbage from 14 bags to just 4! Second Graders learned about Climate Change and built a giant polar bear puppet.
The ARTS+ACTION Cafeteria Waste Reduction program is in-cafeteria and classroom program, providing urgently needed school cafeteria solid waste reduction education, including sorting, food scrap composting and food packaging recycling. This version is designed for grades pre K-8 and is based on our previous success. The primary program goal is to increase school cafeteria solid waste diversion rates up to 80% by the following methods:
Students dramatically increased waste diversion rates from 3% to 85%, decreased cafeteria curbside garbage from 9 bags per day to 1.5 bags per day, and composted all food waste locally!
PS 221 Crown Heights, Brooklyn - (A Seeds in the Middle School)
Fifth graders designed and constructed fantastic giant puppets made from hundreds of used plastic foam lunch trays and performed an original play about plastic ocean pollution.
All students, including Kindergarten and Special Needs classes, oversee cafeteria recycling, composting and sorting.
PS 20, Lower East Side, Manhattan-
Student Rangers reduced cafeteria garbage from 14 bags to just 4! Second Graders learned about Climate Change and built a giant polar bear puppet.
The ARTS+ACTION Cafeteria Waste Reduction program is in-cafeteria and classroom program, providing urgently needed school cafeteria solid waste reduction education, including sorting, food scrap composting and food packaging recycling. This version is designed for grades pre K-8 and is based on our previous success. The primary program goal is to increase school cafeteria solid waste diversion rates up to 80% by the following methods:
- Empowering student to be Cafeteria Rangers or Monitors;
- Teaching students both the how and why of garbage reduction; and
- Leading students in the creation of entertaining messaging “campaigns” (such as designing giant puppets or animated shorts) to engage students and staff on the topic of garbage.
Cafeteria Ranger TrainingsTraining starts with “ Garbology 101” lessons in each classroom. All students and teachers first learn “why” sorting in the cafeteria is so important and how our massive amounts of garbage connect to environmental justice and climate change issues. Students practice recycling and sorting basics through songs and games and then engage in hands-on, real-world problem solving during the lunch period as leaders in their cafeteria. Student Cafeteria Rangers oversee all recycling, composting, waste sorting, as well as learn how to conduct waste audits. This strategy has been hugely successful, and also can help to foster positive community spirit of respect in the cafeteria.
Learn More > |
Make Change WorkshopsIn-class, interdisciplinary workshops are taught to a 1st - 8th grade classes. Lesson Units include: students as advocates - taking action to promote a zero waste culture; math - using real school waste audit date; Change Makers in American history; and Socratic discussions (asking questions such as, ”Is achieving a zero waste New York City by 2030 possible?”). The culminating project is the design of an entertaining messaging “campaign,” such as the construction of large puppets or an installation in order to gain buy-in from the entire school and neighboring community on the topic of garbage reduction. Workshops may also include student video documentation - students learn how to use video cameras and how to conduct project related interviews.
. Learn More > |