Green Kids USA

Many colleges around the country are becoming more and more involved in sustainability and protecting our environment.

With over 64,00 students, The Ohio State University is one of the largest colleges in America.  The school has focused on campus-wide recycling efforts, clean energy and environmental research, green curriculum, and green building practices.

Whether it is reducing waste at their football stadium, studying global warmings effects on coral reefs, or helping communities gain access to clean water, Ohio State is making a positive difference for our planet.

Teachers/Parents – Applications for Education:

After looking through some of the school’s green initiatives, your students could create a list or short essay on similar things that could be done to help at your school or local college.  This would be a good discussion piece for class to brainstorm around.

A small project could even be started whereby your students had to create and present a plan to their classmates or peers on Earth-friendly initiatives that should be considered for your school.   Not only would your kids learn and create green plans, they would also get wonderful presentation skill practice.  That’s a win-win for sure!

How did Earth Day begin?  Who started it?  How can I help?  National Geographic has the answers with their detailed overview of Earth Day facts.

The article highlights what Earth Day is, how it began, and what you can do to help.

Teachers/Parents – Applications for Education:

While reading through this with your kids or class, you could create a KWL chart.  This chart will document what you Know, what you Want to learn about, and what was actually Learned after reading.  This chart could be done individually, in small groups, or as a whole class activity.

Additionally, after finishing, you could have your kids brainstorm and create any additional questions they’d like answers to regarding Earth Day.

Happy Earth Day!

How about celebrating with a visit to one of America’s National Parks . . .

Credit: NPS/Dan Ng

From April 21-29, the National Park Service is offering free admission to all 397 National Parks.  The free week offer is an incentive for Americans to experience and enjoy the parks as well as “take an active role in preserving these special places,” the park service website says.

Additionally, two new free apps have been released by the National Park Service to help visitors learn more about the parks.

Teachers/Parents – Applications for Education:

Taking your kids to a National Park would be awesome, and if you live close enough, enjoy your free visit this week!

For those who aren’t as close, you could use the free National Park apps and create a virtual field trip or scavenger hunt.

Finally, for higher-level learning that matches 21st century skills, consider having your kids create a marketing deal that coincides with Earth Day.  For example, they pick a business (let’s say Burger King) and they are to come up with some type of Earth Day advertising and marketing idea to attract customers.  That’s fits the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy goals to a T . . . give it a try!

Hybrid and electric vehicles are already a huge part of daily transportation, and we’re going to see more and more of these in the future.  They have so many great features, but have an issue with pedestrian safety.  That is, these vehicles are so quiet that pedestrians, bike riders, and others can’t even hear them coming.

Many different types of pedestrian warning systems have been tried to varying successes.  Here’s of the funniest and it’s from pizza maker Domino’s.

Teachers/Parents – Applications for Education:

Your students could create their own type of warning systems for hybrid and electric vehicles.  They could be serious, funny, for company vehicles, etc.   It could be written out in short essay form or a diagram, video,  and/or advertisement could be made.

Additionally, students could create a public service announcement regarding pedestrian warning systems and their importance.  This could be done with audio programs like Audacity or Vocaroo, or with video and edited on Windows Movie Maker or IMovie.  I bet they’d have a blast!

From chocolates to cards to candy, there are many ways to go green this Valentine’s Day.

Check out this Green Guide to Valentine’s Day from the Guardian to learn many unique and creative ways to help our planet.

Teachers/Parents – Applications for Education:

Your students/kids can look through the green guide and detail the specific tips they’d consider trying.   Students could brainstorm ways to spread these green tips, possibly creating a Glogster, Wiki, blog/Tumblr post on their favorites.

Additionally, you could challenge your kids to think about other holidays and create green guides for them.  For example, a green guide for Independence Day or Easter, etc.

Recycling projects work well with a variety of age groups.  Elementary kids will enjoy them as much as middle school kids will.  There’s just something magical about creating something (and making a difference too)!

The following recycling craft projects from National Geographic Kids feature simple instructions and only a limited number of materials needed.

• Recycled Beanbag Chair
• Recycled Wall Decals
• Recycled Disco Ball
• Recycled Magazine Pockets/Storage

Teachers/Parents – Applications for Education:

While it’s possible to try all four projects, you might consider having kids vote for their favorites and them group them by the results.  Data-driven success!

Additionally, kids could videotape their progress and post to a class blog or school website.  A reflection journal on things learned would also be a worthy activity.

Finally, how about asking your kids to brainstorm other possible recycled crafts they could try.  I’m sure that would make a great class discussion.

Toyota continues to add to their Prius line of hybrid cars . . . this time with the Prius C.

A new, smaller Prius hybrid will be available this spring with the highest fuel economy of any hybrid that’s not able to be plugged-in to recharge.

Estimates have the Prius C getting up to 53 mpg (miles per gallon).

Teachers/Parents – Applications for Education:

After watching the video and looking through the Prius C website, students could compare and contrast the different Prius vehicles, and even journal about which version they’d prefer to have.  Class discussion on these journals would be interesting.

Additionally, they could create questions they’d ask the Prius developers about the car and the future of hybrids.  I’d even consider having my students brainstorm what a Prius might look like in ten/twenty/thirty years.

On May 4, 2007, a monster tornado tore through the rural town of Greensburg, Kansas, killing 11 people and leaving little more than empty slabs and stacks of debris.

Thankfully, Greensburg didn’t give up.  They have rebuilt their wonderful town, and it’s stronger, bigger, better, and greener.  It’s truly an inspirational story that your students and kids would love and learn from.

Here’s a video, pictures, and a free worksheet that tell Greensburg’s story.

Additionally, here’s an updated Green Town Guide for the city.  It’s in an easy-to-read E-book with tons of real-world examples of green, Earth-friendly projects.

Teachers, after reading, there are many ways to use this E-book in your class.  Here’s a few additional ideas:

• Creating a scavenger hunt to use with it (or even better, let the kids create the town scavenger hunt!)
• Creating a “green plan” for your town using some Greensburg’s innovative projects
• Creating an interactive poster (like a Glogster) that summarizes Greensburg’s rebuilding
• Writing a letter to the mayor of Greensburg with questions about his town.  The class can then discuss some of the questions asked and even brainstorm possible answers.  To add more 21st century skills to this activity, consider using Skype and video chatting with someone from Greensburg.

Ultimately, the possibilities are endless.  I hope you enjoy using this inspiring story with your kids as much as I have.

Hybrid cars are becoming more and more commonplace on our roads.  I’m sure some of your families, friends, teachers, and neighbors drive a hybrid.  This is progress!

The next step for some car companies is to create a plug-in hybrid.   These are similar to a regular hybrid vehicle, as both use gasoline and electricity to power the motor.   However, a plug-in hybrid uses a large battery pack system that can be recharged.  Plug-in hybrids can be driven for long distances (up to 40 miles!) without using any gasoline at all.

Let’s learn more by watching some interesting videos on the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid.

Teachers and parents, after watching the videos, your students/kids could have a discussion on what they learned, complete a graphic organizer (like a K-W-L), create questions they would ask Toyota, etc.

Looking for a simple chart that details ways kids can help save energy?  The U.S. Energy Department has a kid-friendly energy chart that highlights ways we can use electricity wisely.

Teachers and parents, you might consider having kids pick a few ideas and research them more.  They could create a presentation or a skit on their selected areas.  It could be videotaped, put in a podcast, presented in front of the class or other kids, etc.  The possibilities are endless!