Q. My child's second-grade class worked on a "going green" project last year. He loved it! We would like to continue his enthusiasm. Any ideas how we can do this at home as a fun family project?

A. What a great idea for family time -- and a fine way to reinforce environmental awareness for your child! Here are some age-appropriate ideas:

• Recycle, recycle, recycle. Set up separate bins in your home for recyclable plastics, cans, newspapers, etc. Check with your community to deterwmine what is recyclable and to learn the pick-up schedule. If your community doesn't require (or offer to pick up) recycling, check the locations of local recycling centers where you can drop off recyclables. For example, collect aluminum cans at home and from neighbors and take them to an aluminum recycler. You might donate any money you receive for the cans to a local charity.

• Volunteer for a local community's clean-up days -- to help remove litter and other debris -- or see what volunteer opportunities a local environmental nonprofit organization might have for your family.

• Make your grocery shopping trip a "green" scavenger hunt. Look for products that use recycled material for packaging; for instance, items like cereals and crackers often have that information right on the package. Cut down on products in aerosol cans, which are less likely to be recyclable. In addition, many products such as laundry detergents are now being sold in concentrated forms to reduce the amount of plastic packaging. Make a commitment to making most of your purchases environmentally friendly. And either reuse plastic bags from past shopping trips, or invest in permanent cloth shopping bags you'll use indefinitely.

• Teach your son easy ways of saving energy in your home. Turning lights off when they're not needed, recycling computer paper, closing the refrigerator door right away, or making sure not to leave the water running while brushing teeth are easily understandable ways to protect natural resources.

• Learn about political candidates who support environmentalism. Research and discuss candidates' track records and their plans for improving the environment.

• Plant vegetables, flowers, or even a tree in your yard. They benefit the environment, especially if you limit the use of chemicals and pesticides.

Document "going green" by taking pictures of your activities and creating a scrapbook as a family. It's a terrific way for your son to share the experience with friends and extended family -- and you'll be capturing good memories.