Plastic bags take 500 - 1,000 years to biodegrade, and they are made from a nonrenewable natural resource - oil. Each time someone uses a reusable bag instead of paper or plastic grocery bags, our Earth's resources are being conserved. The first graders explained all of this to shoppers in a note attached to the bag. The note also included a "green tip" (for example, "Shut off the water when you are brushing your teeth to save water.") and a matching drawing. The entire first grade walked to Morton Williams Supermarket on Madison Avenue to deliver the bags that were then given to shoppers at the store.

Story and photos provided by Camille Ehrenberg