Primary School Sustainability Assemblies

Each school year, we place a new focus on our assemblies (school meetings: all children and teachers gather several times a month). In the past, these have included cultural festivals and the 17 SDGs; now we focus on raising awareness of environmental and democratic issues. In the 2024–2025 school year, each class took responsibility for researching, preparing and conducting a school-wide assembly on a sustainability topic. In the 2025–2026 school year, it was time for democracy topics.

Through these assemblies, students not only deepened their own knowledge, but also encouraged their classmates to think critically about how everyday decisions affect our planet, what democracy means, and how we can live democracy. The process promoted teamwork, creativity, and public speaking, while strengthening our shared sense of responsibility for the environment and democratic participation.

The assemblies addressed a variety of topics, including:

Climate change and its effects

Sustainable and renewable energy sources

Local shopping – the journey of food and its impact on the environment

Reducing your carbon footprint

The benefits of trees and forests

The role of bees and pollinators

Water conservation

Reducing plastic waste

The importance of recycling

Earth Day celebrations

The dangers of rubbish

Protection of endangered animals

Disinformation / fake news

Freedom of the press

Freedom of expression

Right to demonstrate

Right to vote

Democratic institutions

Years 1 and 2 read books on the subject of democracy, e.g. ‘Democracy for dinosaurs’, ‘If I were prime minister’ and other titles.

These assemblies have helped create a stronger culture of environmental awareness across our school community, ensuring that sustainability remains at the heart of our learning and daily actions.

November 2025: Year 1 T-shirt upcycling workshop

Year One had a fun opportunity to up-cycle an old t-shirt. The students had to bring an old t-shirt to school and we used it to make a shopping bag. We cut the t-shirt and used a sewing machine to close the bag 🛍️ ♻️ The students were very inspired after this lesson and they enjoyed using the extra material to make other items e.g bracelets and head bands.

February and October 2025: Year 4 Trip to Klimahaus…

In February 2025 and October 2025, our Year 4 classes visited the Klimahaus in Bremerhaven for an exciting educational experience about climate and geography. The students explored the interactive exhibits, traveling through different climate zones along the 8th longitude, from the icy Arctic to the humid tropics, including experiencing the temperatures in these different zones. They engaged in hands-on activities that demonstrated the effects of climate change and how different regions adapt to their environments. The visit provided a fun and immersive way to learn about weather patterns, ecosystems, and sustainability. Students also discovered practical ways to protect the planet, such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and making eco-friendly choices in daily life.

September 2025: Sustainability week

Our primary school celebrated sustainability week from Monday 22nd September – Friday 26th September. As part of this week, we held a Trashion Show, students were encouraged to make a part of an outfit out of rubbish, or wear a piece of clothing that had been bought second hand, or had been up cycled.

September 2025: Waste – Too Good to Throw Away

On Friday, 19th September, as part of our sustainability education, pupils took part in a workshop on waste separation and recycling (Umweltbildung – Abfallvermeidung – Ressourcenschutz). Our Year 2’s worked on upcycling using waste materials. The session highlighted how everyday materials such as paper, metal, and plastics can be recycled, and how small the amount of residual waste can be when sorting is done carefully.

Students learned how waste prevention and recycling are key methods of conserving resources. They explored material cycles, such as the journey of plastics through recycling processes, and discussed practical strategies for reducing waste in their daily lives.

The workshop also introduced students to regional waste disposal and recycling systems, helping them understand how these processes work locally and why their individual actions make a difference.

By the end of the session, pupils gained not only knowledge about recycling but also a deeper appreciation for the idea that much of our waste is too good to throw away and can be given a second life through responsible consumption and disposal.