Priority Domain: Sustainable Classrooms
By Jodie Bunney
Indicator(s) to focus on: Methods to increase sustainability within classrooms
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The aim: Classrooms are largely responsible for paper usage and energy costs within schools. The Sustainable Classroom Action Plan aims to significantly reduce these costs through educating students with simple everyday usage reduction practices. Practices which will then become second nature, lowering school and household costs while minimising our global footprint. It is vital to engage students in this program from the outset to ensure practices become routine and second nature – simply another life skill.
Step 1: Meet with all teachers and the Principal to discuss methods to decrease paper use and energy consumption within classrooms. Request ideas for other areas where sustainability can be implemented on a recurring basis within classrooms. Individual teachers can implement these practices as appropriate. Discuss implementation of classroom concepts to coincide with lessons on sustainability (within curriculum guidelines), incorporating whole school approaches where possible. Discuss with Principal, the option of purchasing reams of recycled paper and rechargeable battery units and if approved, notify purchase officer. Implement roster of classes to contribute to school/class newsletter (see step 5). Timeframe: Week 2 Term 1 Responsible: Teachers, Principal and purchase officer Step 2: Teachers design lesson plans to coincide with the following steps. Sustainability lessons can be linked to whole school sustainability approaches. Some resources for lesson planning - Sustainability In Your Class Education for Sustainability Teaching Materials Adventures of Ollie Recycling Timeframe: Ongoing Responsible: Teachers Step 3: Introduce students to general recycling concepts using multimodal delivery options. Discuss methods of classroom recycling. Target paper and energy reduction methods. Record student’s suggestions/ideas. Discuss other approaches to sustainability used within the school. Designate a tray/box or similar recycled vessel for paper with only one side used. This can be utilised for art, crafts, note taking, drawing, drafts and games. Another box can be used for paper with both sides and may be used be used as garden mulch or go to the recycling point at your school. A box can also be designated for magazines and wrapping paper for use in art lessons and for decorative purposes. Encourage students to decorate boxes and design labels using recycled magazine images etc. Boxes and labels can be replaced as necessary. Revisit suggestions/ideas and implement where possible. Organise a weekly roster for students to tidy boxes and remove recyclable paper to designated location. There are countless resources available to assist engaging students in sustainability practices and concepts - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Lessons Adventures of Ollie Following the Paper Trail What happens to your recycling? The Majesty Plastic Bag Let's Go Green Kids! Timeframe: Implementation - Weeks 3 and 4, Term 1. Practice will be ongoing. Responsible: Teachers, students. Step 4: Discuss energy use with a focus on classroom methods to reduce consumption. Record student’s suggestions/ideas. Implement policies
Revisit student’s suggestions/ideas and implement appropriately where possible. Throughout the changing seasons, create a table on whiteboard in half hourly intervals to check lighting/cooling/heating requirements as a guide to settings required throughout the day. The teacher should create a final table of details for various seasons and adjust settings as required. Organise a daily roster for students to ensure electronic equipment is turned off at end of day. Students can design and create small reminder posters about reducing energy consumption and display them in relevant areas. Signs may be replaced as necessary. Timeframe: Week 6, Term 1 – implementation ongoing Responsible: Teachers, students Step 5: Field trips and visits from an Environmental Officer or community groups/members with knowledge in sustainability areas may be arranged to give students first-hand experience and knowledge of the need for sustainable practices and/or the impacts of sustainability being ignored. Virtual field trips are an option if location dictates a problem in attending a facility nearby. Timeframe: Week 2-4, Term 2 Responsible: Teacher, administration staff to arrange buses etc. Step 6: Students design and produce a promotional package including a poster for display on the classroom door citing ways they are assisting the sustainability of their school; a flyer to be distributed to families and community organisations; and contributions towards a ‘3 quick tips section’ in school/class newsletters on every day hints for sustainability. Newsletters should be delivered electronically where possible to reduce paper usage. Timeframe: Week 4-6, Term 2, newsletter ongoing Responsible: Students, administration staff (school newsletter production) |
What agencies, organizations, or individuals need to be involved?
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What resources will be needed and how could you obtain these resources?
Recycled boxes or similar, old magazines, glue/tape for paper separation, items to be donated by staff/families/community members.
Rechargeable batteries/units, obtained through school budget, P&C and/or donated by local businesses. |
How will you track progress and know you have succeeded?
Teachers will recognise levels of student interaction with concepts implemented throughout the classroom on a daily basis and reinforce sustainability strategies where needed. Teachers should discuss with parents during visits to the class or at end of term interviews, any noticeable changes in student’s approaches to paper and energy waste within the home to gauge success in educating on sustainability practices on an everyday basis. |
References
Banjanin, J. (Artist). (n.d.). Computer Ready for Hybrid Sleep. [Image]. Retrieved from http://www.123rf.com/
Digital by Design. (Artists). Turn of the lights: door hanger. [Image]. Retrieved from http://www.daniellesplace.com/index.html
Elements and principles of art pizza. Retrieved from http://cre8tivedaze.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/relief-sculpture-grade-6.html
GTL Finanacing. (Artists). (2016). Reducing Energy Costs. [Image]. Retrieved from http://www.gtleddistribution.com/about-
us/financing/
Kids Talking. [Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://maxwellportfolio.blogspot.com.au/
Lumo Energy. 3 Simple tips for saving energy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://lumoenergy.com.au/blog/christmas-checklist
Make something. How to make paper (out of recycled paper). (2015). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=RR_218EtLJU
Ollie Saves the Planet. [Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.olliesworld.com/index.html
Pinterest. The World’s Catalogue of Ideas. Field Trips. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5911043240248973/
St. Francis Cabrini Church. (2015). Meeting for all Teachers, Aides and Principals. Retrieved from
http://stfrancescabrininoh.com/event/meeting-for-all-teachers-aides-principals/
Twinkl, Eco and Recycling Reduce Reuse Recycle Poster. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-4254-eco-and-
recycling-reduce-reuse-recycling-poster
Whole School Sustainability. [Image]. (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://blogs.educationscotland.gov.uk/globalcitizenship/2014/06/12/learning-for-sustainability-scotland-cpd-course-friday-
september-26th-2014/
Banjanin, J. (Artist). (n.d.). Computer Ready for Hybrid Sleep. [Image]. Retrieved from http://www.123rf.com/
Digital by Design. (Artists). Turn of the lights: door hanger. [Image]. Retrieved from http://www.daniellesplace.com/index.html
Elements and principles of art pizza. Retrieved from http://cre8tivedaze.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/relief-sculpture-grade-6.html
GTL Finanacing. (Artists). (2016). Reducing Energy Costs. [Image]. Retrieved from http://www.gtleddistribution.com/about-
us/financing/
Kids Talking. [Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://maxwellportfolio.blogspot.com.au/
Lumo Energy. 3 Simple tips for saving energy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://lumoenergy.com.au/blog/christmas-checklist
Make something. How to make paper (out of recycled paper). (2015). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=RR_218EtLJU
Ollie Saves the Planet. [Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.olliesworld.com/index.html
Pinterest. The World’s Catalogue of Ideas. Field Trips. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5911043240248973/
St. Francis Cabrini Church. (2015). Meeting for all Teachers, Aides and Principals. Retrieved from
http://stfrancescabrininoh.com/event/meeting-for-all-teachers-aides-principals/
Twinkl, Eco and Recycling Reduce Reuse Recycle Poster. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-t-4254-eco-and-
recycling-reduce-reuse-recycling-poster
Whole School Sustainability. [Image]. (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://blogs.educationscotland.gov.uk/globalcitizenship/2014/06/12/learning-for-sustainability-scotland-cpd-course-friday-
september-26th-2014/