Subjects
Arts & Humanities
--Language Arts
Health
--Environmental
Science
--Physical Science
----Earth Science
----Environmental
Social Studies
--Civics
--Current Events
--Economics
Vocational Education
--Business
Grade
Grades 2 and up
News Content
Making classrooms "greener" can have a positive impact on student health and learning. Click for a printable copy of this News for You story.
Anticipation Guide
What are some ways in which people are making our planet a "greener" place to live? Pose that question to students and record their variety of responses on chart paper or a black/white board. Then ask them to place a star (*) next to any of the ideas that relate to making their school a greener place to work and learn.
News Words
Next, introduce these words that appear in the News Word Box on the student printable page: programmed, idle, neutral, benefit, insulate, and odor. Discuss the meanings of any of those words that might be unfamiliar. Then ask students to use one of those words to complete each of these sentences:
Read the News
Click for a printable version of this week's news story Classrooms Are Growing Greener.
More Facts to Share
You might share these additional facts with students after they have read this week's news story.
American Modular Systems (AMS) of Manteca, California, has debuted a line of Gen7 green classrooms [view video above] that claim to lower environmental footprints and operating costs while increasing student test scores by 20 percent. Gen 7 classrooms feature a high amount of recycled and recyclable materials; "harvest" natural daylight as much as possible; and include denim insulation that helps make them more energy-efficient and soundproof. All construction is done off-site so as not to affect any existing school environment. A Gen7 classroom can be built and installed in less than 90 days. AMS estimates that its green buildings can save school districts as much as $100,000 annually. In addition, Tony Sarich, vice president of operations for AMS, said, "Green schools enjoy 20 percent higher test scores, fewer absences, and lower healthcare costs."
School construction makes up 27 percent of the U.S. construction market. Building a school that complies with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards costs 2 percent (or $3 per square foot) more upfront. On the back end, green schools use up to 30 percent less energy, 30 to 50 percent less water, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent compared to traditionally built schools. [source] The same source notes that
According to one estimate, more than 85 percent of student and teacher time is spent indoors, so improving indoor air conditions will reduce absences due to respiratory illness. In order to create a greener environment, many districts and manufacturers have turned to low-volatile organic compound (VOC) paints to improve indoor air quality.
School leaders and students are helping to create greener environments by doing some of these things:
An anti-idling campaign launched by sixth-graders at Morningside Elementary in Millcreek, Utah, is reaping real-life lessons. Teacher Patti White's 29 students penned an anti-idling resolution that Rep. Carol Moss successfully sponsored through Utah's legislature. Gov. Gary Herbert conducted a ceremonial signing of HJR5 at the Utah State Capitol.
Additional Resources
Use the News
Print out this week's Use the News printable activity page for students. Or use the questions on that page to check student comprehension.
Activity Page Answer Key
Reading Comprehension. 1.T, 2.F, 3.F, 4.T, 5.T, 6.T, 7.T, 8.F, 9.T, 10.T.
Language Practice: Word Use. 1.b, 2.d, 3.b, 4.c, 5.c.
Reading Comprehension: Whats the Main Idea? d. Schools are making an effort to go green so kids can learn and feel better.
Assessment
Use the Use the News printable activity page as an assessment (answers above). Or have students work on their own (in their journals) or in their small groups to respond to the Think About the News questions on the news story page.
Lesson Plan Source
Education World
National Standards
LANGUAGE ARTS: English
GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.1 Reading for Perspective
NL-ENG.K-12.2 Reading for Understanding
NL-ENG.K-12.7 Evaluating Data
NL-ENG.K-12.8 Developing Research Skills
NL-ENG.K-12.11 Participating in Society
NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH: Health
GRADES K - 4
NPH-H.K-4.3 Reducing Health Risks
NPH-H.K-4.4 Health Influences
NPH-H.K-4.5 Using Communication Skills to Promote Health
NPH-H.K-4.7 Health Advocacy
GRADES 5 - 8
NPH-H.5-8.3 Reducing Health Risks
NPH-H.5-8.4 Health Influences
NPH-H.5-8.5 Using Communication Skills to Promote Health
NPH-H.5-8.7 Health Advocacy
GRADES 9 - 12
NPH-H.9-12.3 Reducing Health Risks
NPH-H.9-12.4 Health Influences
NPH-H.9-12.5 Using Communication Skills to Promote Health
NPH-H.9-12.7 Health Advocacy
SCIENCE
GRADES K - 4
NS.K-4.1 Science as Inquiry
NS.K-4.2 Physical Science
NS.K-4.3 Life Science
NS.K-4.4 Earth and Space Science
NS.K-4.5 Science and Technology
NS.K-4.6 Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
GRADES 5 - 8
NS.5-8.1 Science as Inquiry
NS.5-8.2 Physical Science
NS.5-8.3 Life Science
NS.5-8.4 Earth and Space Science
NS.5-8.5 Science and Technology
NS.5-8.6 Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
GRADES 9 - 12
NS.9-12.1 Science as Inquiry
NS.9-12.2 Physical Science
NS.9-12.3 Life Science
NS.9-12.4 Earth and Space Science
NS.9-12.5 Science and Technology
NS.9-12.6 Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Civics
GRADES K - 4
NSS-C.K-4.2 Values and Principles of Democracy
NSS-C.K-4.5 Roles of the Citizen
GRADES 5 - 8
NSS-C.5-8.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government
NSS-C.5-8.3 Principles of Democracy
NSS-C.5-8.5 Roles of the Citizen
GRADES 9 - 12
NSS-C.9-12.1 Civic Life, Politics, and Government
NSS-C.9-12.3 Principles of Democracy
NSS-C.9-12.5 Roles of the Citizen
SOCIAL SCIENCES: Economics
GRADES K - 4
NSS-EC.K-4.2 Effective Decision Making
GRADES 5 - 8
NSS-EC.5-8.1 Productive Resources
NSS-EC.5-8.2 Effective Decision Making
GRADES 9 - 12
NSS-EC.9-12.1 Productive Resources
NSS-EC.9-12.2 Effective Decision Making
TECHNOLOGY
GRADES K - 12
NT.K-12.1 Basic Operations and Concepts
NT.K-12.2 Social, Ethical, and Human Issues
See recent news stories in Education World's News Story of the Week Archive.
Article by Gary Hopkins
Education World®
Copyright © 2010 Education World
Updated 11/28/2012