![Student with Assistant making a bird feeder](https://www.treloar.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Planet-Earth-games-bird-feeders-21.jpg)
Planet Earth Games
Last half term, Treloar College staff and students were taking part in the Planet Earth Games. Each class is working on five challenges, and the evidence will be later submitted to be judged against other colleges that are taking part.
Following this three-month-long competition, Treloar College came eighth!
But what are Planet Earth Games?
Planet Earth Games – Colleges take place January to April 2023. All further education institutions across the UK that are taking part will be challenged to organise sustainable activities within their colleges.
Each College had to appoint Climate Champions from students to lead their participation and organise activities around sustainable themes of:
• Carbon Reduction
• Energy
• Travel
• Food
• Waste Reduction
• Connecting to Nature
• Conservation
Choosing five out of seven themes above, each college is responsible for organising the activities and submitting their evidence to organisers by 14 April. More information on Planet Earth Games website.
The challenges that Treloar’s students have taken or will be taking part are:
Energy Challenge – Students will be participating in an outdoor workout session.
Food Challenge – At the start of Match, students had a cooking lesson during which they were trying plant-based food and discussing pros and cons of plant-based diet and products.
Connecting to Nature Challenge – Each class is organising a guided nature walk where they will be learning new things about local biodiversity.
As part of the Conservation Challenge, College class, G97, made bee house designs using a computer programme, SmartDraw. Students learnt how to draw basic shapes to scale bird feeders.
It was a good experience, I had to play around with different shapes. So I’ve done a few designs before settling on a design.
While G97 were busy with the Bee House research, class M19 focused on making bird feeders using seeds, pinecones and lard. This kind of activity is a perfect way for our students to experience different textures.
The students really enjoyed the session and asked if they could make some more another time. They were intrigued as to what else you can use lard for and some were surprised that it could be added to food such as potatoes to crispen them up for roasting.
Waste Reduction Challenge – On 29th March, College students held a clothes swap. All the clothes were sorted by size and laid out on the tables by students. Both students and staff were invited to donate their clothes and attend the swap.
![plant-based food on the table](https://www.treloar.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/plant-based-food-300x200.jpg)
Food Challenge – students were trying plant-based products
![Student with Assistant making a bird feeder](https://www.treloar.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Planet-Earth-games-bird-feeders-17-300x200.jpg)
Conservation Challenge – making bee bird feeders
![Group of students and assistants making bird feeders](https://www.treloar.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Planet-Earth-games-bird-feeders-9-300x200.jpg)
Conservation Challenge – making bee bird feeders