Roxie Recycle has message of ‘green’
Students learn about environmental issues

BY JENNIFER GRISWOLD

Published: November 25, 2008

NORMAN — Like most caped crusaders, Sue Madole has two sides.

Second-grade teacher Sue Madole created a character called Roxie Recycle to teach children about recycling and other environmental issues. PHOTO BY JACONNA AGUIRRE, THE OKLAHOMAN

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She spends her days as a Norman elementary school teacher. But, she’s also an environmental warrior, and when she starts talking green, her alter ego comes out.

Madole has taken her passion for environmental education to a whole new level this year by creating a superhero character called Roxie Recycle to teach kids about environmental issues. She debuted Roxie at a Truman Elementary School assembly earlier this month, and plans to continue using the character to spread her save-the-planet message.

"It’s about trying to create an awareness a little bit at a time to make us as green as we can be,” Madole said.

With a costume made of recycled materials, Madole uses her outfit as a teaching tool to show kids items that can be recycled and to discuss Norman’s curbside recycling program.

Madole and a friend dug through their recycling bins to get stuff to make the costume. Boxes, cans and plastic bottles were used to create it.

She got the idea for Roxie after reading several books about recycling to her students. Madole’s second-grade class helped her come up with the name for the character.

To Madole, it’s a fun way to teach kids an important lesson. "I hope this gives students an awareness of the difference they can make in the environment,” she said. "I wish we could get all of Norman on the bandwagon.

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