Earth Day - Saturday, April 22
I will never forget the first official Earth Day which took place on April 22, 1970. I was a sophomore in high school (10th grade). The group of students I was with that day went to the city park, adjacent to the zoo, in Victoria, Texas. We began picking up trash. We FILLED several full-size city garbage trucks! My whole body was stiff and sore the next day, and I forever began extremely sensitive to "littering".
Earth Day is now about much more than picking up trash! According to the Earth Day Network over 1 billion people in 192 countries participate in Earth Day events, making it the largest civic observance in the world.
Now is the time to begin planning your PBL21 unit for Earth Day. Your entire school can use the theme of Earth Day, and then various grade levels or SLCs (Smaller Learning Communities) could select a theme of their own choosing which supports the overall Earth Day theme. For example, one group may want to focus on the issue of Sustainability. Another group might want to focus on Economic issues related to environmental issues, another on Green Buildings, or Living Buildings, or Green City Design. Another may want to focus on designing and implementing a Garden Project. Another may choose a Service Learning project benefiting the community. Another may want to look at Earth Day on a global scale and collaborate with some classrooms in other countries. For example, here are some possibilities I gave to a rabbi teaching 5th grade in Israel for a project based on the world famous Baha'i Gardens.
Here are some resources to help you and your students participate in Earth Day in a meaningful way. Additionally, you can "mouse over" the Resources tab on this site to find many more resources.
Earth Day is now about much more than picking up trash! According to the Earth Day Network over 1 billion people in 192 countries participate in Earth Day events, making it the largest civic observance in the world.
Now is the time to begin planning your PBL21 unit for Earth Day. Your entire school can use the theme of Earth Day, and then various grade levels or SLCs (Smaller Learning Communities) could select a theme of their own choosing which supports the overall Earth Day theme. For example, one group may want to focus on the issue of Sustainability. Another group might want to focus on Economic issues related to environmental issues, another on Green Buildings, or Living Buildings, or Green City Design. Another may want to focus on designing and implementing a Garden Project. Another may choose a Service Learning project benefiting the community. Another may want to look at Earth Day on a global scale and collaborate with some classrooms in other countries. For example, here are some possibilities I gave to a rabbi teaching 5th grade in Israel for a project based on the world famous Baha'i Gardens.
Here are some resources to help you and your students participate in Earth Day in a meaningful way. Additionally, you can "mouse over" the Resources tab on this site to find many more resources.
- Here is a free K-12 Toolkit - How your school can get involved in Earth Day. Read about Earth Day - the History of a Movement.
- My Patch of Earth
- The Waldorf School of Baltimore has excellent resources, lesson ideas and activities for children of all ages - and adults!
- Exercises for Fostering Ecoliteracy - excellent resource!
- Ten Judaic Teachings on Judaism and the Environment
- National Environmental Education Week
- This Rainforest CLASSROOM Scoop.it page is packed with excellent resources!
- Green Building - excellent resources including Energy, Transportation, Green Buildings and Cities of the Future
- "Green" Children's Literature - many of these titles could be the basis for designing a wonderful PBL21 unit that teaches concepts related to environmental studies, etc.
- "Green" Teacher Recommended Reading
Professional Development
Enroll for either of these online courses or have them brought to your site. Learn how to create 21st century, high level project-based learning.
* PBL21 - Designing the 21st Century Classroom - the next step in the evolution of project-based learning!
* Greening the Classroom
* PBL21 - Designing the 21st Century Classroom - the next step in the evolution of project-based learning!
* Greening the Classroom