Resources
Organize a Green Team
See these sites for more information:
> Center for Green Schools www.centerforgreenschools.org
> Go Green Initiative www.gogreeninitiative.org
> Green Education Foundation www.greeneducationfoundation.org
> Green Schools Initiative www.greenschools.net
> Green Your School www1.eere.energy.gov/education/school_buildings.html
Nation Wildlife Federation - Energy Pathway
Schools are the largest energy consumers in many municipalities. But up to 30 percent of that energy is used inefficiently or unnecessarily. Schools can significantly cut energy use, resulting in financial savings and reduced environmental impact, while engaging in science, technology, engineering and math concepts.
The Center for Green Schools
This U.S. Green Building Council site promotes the greening of existing schools. Resources include an interactive diagram showing what makes a school green. Links to K–12, green educator curricula are found at: http://centerforgreenschools.org/
Charles Edison Fund
This site offers easy-to-perform, science-teaching experiments for grades 4–12. These projects focus on conservation, alternative energy sources, static electricity, energy for the future, and environmental experiments. There is also information about the Edison Awards Program for student participation in scientific projects.
DOE/EERE: Energy Basics
This DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy page provides basic information about renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies
DOE/EERE: Energy Education & Workforce Development: Green Your School
This Department of Energy page provides links to programs that can help improve energy efficiency of school buildings, campuses, and buses.
Lesson Plans for Teaching Sustainability
Imagine what your classroom could look like if students were engaged in sustainability learning.
What can sustainability look like in schools? A typical “green” school saves $100,000 annually on operating costs through conservation efforts such as water-efficient fixtures, energy-efficient and motion sensor lighting, and designs that maximize daylight. With these savings, a school could hire at least one new teacher, buy 200 computers, or purchase 5,000 textbooks.
Lesson Plan Ideas
Grades Pre-K-2:
- Why are trees important for people?
- The Giving and Receiving Tree by Green Education Foundation
- The Giving and Receiving Tree by Green Education Foundation
- Where does water go when it goes "away" after a storm?
- Water in the Desert by the National Park Service
Grades 3-5:
- What resources do I use on a daily basis? Which are rapidly renewable and not renewable?
- Energy Activity Book by Green Education Foundation
- What are some changes we could make to our school to use the sun in a smarter way
- Cooking with the Sun by the City & County of San Francisco
Grades 6-8:
- What is a carbon footprint, and what is my carbon footprint?
- Calculating Your Foodometer by Green Education Foundation
- What other creatures live on our school property? What might have lived here 200 or 2000 years ago?
- Introduction to Invasive Species by National Geographic
Grades 9-12:
- How can biofuel become a cost-competitive alternative to fossil fuels?
- Cell Wall Recipe: A Lesson in Biofuels by Green Education Foundation
- Cell Wall Recipe: A Lesson in Biofuels by Green Education Foundation
- How could pollution be regulated to promote environmental justice?
- Seeking Environmental Justice by Maryland EnviroHealth Connections