Transcript A Green School - greenschoolsforteachers

Leading A Sustainable School
Why should we?
The government would like every
school to be a sustainable school by
2020
What is a Green School?
A Green School:
– Improves education through hands-on, real-world learning about energy,
energy efficiency and sustainability
– Strengthens schools by saving money on energy costs
– Creates a healthy environment
– Is committed to implementing practices consistent with sustainable
living, conservation of resources, waste reduction, recycling and
increased reliance on renewable energy.
Green schools
Care for oneself, for each other (across cultures, distances and generations),
and for the environment (far and near).
They care about :
• The energy and water it
consumes
• The waste it produces
• The food it serves
• The traffic it attracts
• The difficulties faced by
people living in its community
and in other parts of the world.
This means integrating high
standards of achievement and
behavior with:
• The goals of healthy living
• Environmental awareness
• Community engagement
• Citizenship
Why green the curriculum?
• Combines existing Environmental Education with the systems of a building
operation and maintenance
• Promotes habit changes throughout the district and the community
• Inspires and engages students to be part of the process for greening the
school (a project based learning approach)
• Help impact Global Warming and Climate Change
G
reen Schools become the focal point of the
community serving as a multi-purpose
facility and educating the next generation of
environmental stewards and promoting the
next generation of green collar workers
green school Mission Statement
Holland Township’s Green School initiative:
A school building or facility that creates a healthy
environment that improves education through
hands-on real world learning, while saving
energy and resources to maximize financial
efficiency.
Green School Kick off….. School Spirit Day
September 21
• What is sustainability
• How green buildings can impact the environment in a positive way
• How to survey the local environment
• Conduct sustainability evaluations of their existing home and school
• Investigate and share low and no-cost solutions that will lessen their carbon footprint
• Alternative transportation
Green Schools Curriculum Framework
• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
School Site Investigation
• Environmental Quality and outdoor
environment
• Waste and Recycling
• Energy and Atmosphere
(Watt Watchers Energy audit
• Water (Water assessment)
Use the school building and grounds as a teaching tool and provide
hands-on real world learning for Holland Township students
Each grade level will chose one unit that compliments existing curriculum
K-4 and 5-8
•Teachers will green one lesson that is already taught and will incorporate the
grade level "Green Theme" by May 1st
•Once the grade has chosen a theme, use the following as a guide:
Unit 1. Water Efficiency: Go Green to Keep it Clean
• How to reduce and reuse water
• Track the use of water in buildings.
• Determine the quality of water locally
• Determine if unhealthy situations exist in rivers, streams and ponds
and identify causes and solutions.
Unit 2. Energy, and Atmosphere: Energy is Everything
• Learn about current uses of energy production methods
• Global warming and climate change
• How green buildings can significantly reduce the negative impact on greenhouse gas
emissions
• Learn about energy audits, alternative energy sources and the politics that drive
continued use of current method
Unit 3. Materials and Resources: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
• Learn about waste management, regionally produced products, conservation and
financial savings
• Learn about new materials that are being produced using recycled content recycling
programs
• Local and global resources, populations and various other factors that will impact how
and where we live in the future
• Cradle to Cradle (Life cycle of a product) Can it be reused or recycled
Unit 4. Indoor /Outdoor Environmental Quality:
A Healthy Place to Live, Learn, and Play
• Investigate the science, technology and the benefits from the increased quality of
indoor air
• Investigate and maintain the outdoor green spaces
• Lighting, acoustics and temperature control
• Green cleaning and green hygiene (Spruce Industries and GoJo Co. etc)
• Students begin to assess and address these topics and develop an action plan to
collect data, analyze and implement changes in their home, school and community
Week of activities on the themes of
environmental awareness and
sustainability
• The week would take place after testing.
• Diverse activities will help develop students’
understanding of sustainability and foster 21st century
skills.
• Will help to motivate and engage the students in real-life
issues.
Teachers
• Green one of your lessons that you already teach to
incorporate the grade level “Green Theme” by May 1st
• Submit with your lesson plan and tag as a green lesson
Green week – one week after testing
The week will be devoted to green education and
sustainability. Each content area will teach one green
lesson during the week. Example: Monday/Math, Tuesday/LA,
Wednesday/SS, Thursday/Science, Friday/Students will learn how
to do an at home energy audit.
• Zero waste lunch
• Suggestions for other activities (Staff/Student input)
Resources and curriculum ideas
1. www.nj.gov/dep/opppc/epp.htm
2. The anti-bottle www.vapur.us/store/5l.html
could be a fundraiser
3. www.greenschoolsforteachers.wikispaces.com
4.http://greenschoolsforteachers.wikispaces.com/file/view/Greening+Existing+schools+project+guide.pdf
5.http://greenschoolsforteachers.wikispaces.com/file/view/Green+Existing+Building+workbook.pdf
6.http://www.nationalcollege.org.uk/index/leadershiplibrary/leadingschools/sustainableschools/leading-a-sustainable-school/leadership-skills-and-characteristics.htm
7. www.energyhog.com teacher and student guide
8. www.smartlittlehouse.com sells nontoxic products..example. paint and building supplies
Resources and curriculum ideas
10. Stem Watt Watchers NJ K-12 Free Interdisciplinary workshops for students and
lessons http://www.wilsoned.com/backup/Specialinfo.html
11.http://www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/kids/ Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution)
12.http://www.ase.org/resources The Latest in Energy Efficiency
13.http://www.facingthefuture.org/Curriculum/DownloadFreeCurriculum/tabid/114/
Default.aspx for free lesson plans
14. Sample UBD cross curriculum Green unit
http://greenschoolsforteachers.wikispaces.com/file/detail/Live+Green_+Live+L
onger.doc
15.www.getecube.com eCube sells a product that goes over a thermostat in commercial
refrigerators. This reduces energy consumption by (10-30%)
16. www.agreenernj.com offers a skylight solution that has a solar powered, GPS
tracking mirror.
17.www.shawcontractgroup.com cradle to cradel products
PLC
Create a PLC Committee for Green Schools Initiatives
that will work with administration and building supervisor to develop analysis
tools, research what is available, low cost or no cost solutions, benchmark
actual savings to the school.
•What sustainable practices are currently in your school or community?
• What curriculum in your school addresses sustainability?
• Who would be the key stakeholders in your community to establishing a
network of support to make your school green?
• How would your community benefit by going green?
• What resources and support would you need to go green?
• Did you know that Holland Township Community now has a Green Team?