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Title - Do Something about... the Environment 10-Day Unit
Lesson 5: How Green is your School
By - Jordyn Wells/Do Something, Inc./www.dosomething.org
Primary Subject - Science
Secondary Subjects - Social Studies, Language Arts, Other
Grade Level - 7-12
Unit Information:
Lesson 5: How Green is your School
Goal:
- To learn about how schools can participate in energy conservation
Standards:
- Geography Standard 18: Understands global development and environmental issues
- Language Arts Standard 2: Uses the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of writing
- Arts and Communication Standard 4: Understands ways in which the human experience is transmitted and reflected in the arts and communication
Vocabulary:
- LEED rating system: Benchmark used to design, construct and operate green buildings
Procedure:
1. Heat-it up: Have students look around the classroom and list everything they see in the classroom that uses energy. How energy efficient do they think their school is? How much energy/resources are wasted daily? Discuss with students how higher heating costs have made some school districts think twice about school trips and the number of days class is in session.
See http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec05/gascosts_11-21.html for further information.
2. Provide Background:
3. Introduce students to the LEED rating system.Ask students if they were going to look at how green a building is, what factors would they investigate? Gather a list from the students and then introduce them to the rating system developed by LEED. Compare the student rating system against LEED. Did they include everything on this list? Did they mention components that were not included in LEED? "The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System" is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings." (US Green Building Council). LEED has developed a rating system for schools. This rating system looks at elements such as air quality, cleaning and chemical use, water efficiency, recycling, exterior maintenance and system maintenance to meet high energy performance standards (from US Green Building Council).
You can go to http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19 for more information about the LEED rating system.
4. Introduce students to one energy-saving concept called green roofs."A green roof is a roof or building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil, or a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. This does not refer to roofs which are merely colored green, as with green shingles. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems." (www.wickipedia.com)
See http://www.greenroofs.com/ for more information about the pros and cons of making roofs green.
5. Synthesize: Have students develop their own plan for a "Green School". They can draw out the plans and write a brief explanation of their ideas for their green school. Students should focus on the following questions:
- What innovations could they design in the architecture?
- How could the curriculum/student activities support an ecological design?
- Why should the city give public money to building a new school?
How efficient are "Green Schools"?
Students can read about other Green schools:
- http://www.usgbc.org/News/USGBCInTheNewsDetails.aspx?ID=3043
- http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec06/green_12-26.html - Schools across the nation that are taking steps to being more green
6. Take Action: Have students continue working in their action groups.
Other Activities:
- Math/ Civics: Have students develop a survey to measure how green their school is? Share the results with the student body.
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