New Resources Corner
Below are tools and programs that we think you may find interesting to incoroporate into your curriculum and school culture. If you come across any brilliant resources please email admin@cloudinstitute.org
NEW: Water Champions Service Learning Project
We are happy to announce the EPA's new Water Champions program which aims to promote service learning tied to water conservation. Is this something you would like to do in your classroom? If so, please contact Walter Schoepf. You can also view some of EPA's water conservation educational materials here.
Student Activity: Pencils: A Classroom Commons
This is the story of how one classroom learns how not to take an everyday classroom tool for granted, in order to promote a sustainable school environment. This project was created by Betsy Kates, third grade teacher at George Washington Elementary School in the Lakeland Central School District. After participating in the Education for Sustainability Curriculum Project at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES, she was inspired to write and produce this podcast during an inservice training in her district. Her son, Gabe, is the narrator.
We’re All Connected Map
Very little of the world's land can now be thought of as inaccessible, according to a new map of connectedness. The maps are based on a model which calculated how long it would take to travel to the nearest city of 50,000 or more people by land or water. This map is a great visual to showing how we are indeed, all connected.
Sustainable Schools Special Section (from District Administration Magazine)
A few stories on what schools are doing around the country.
Student Climate Song Campaign
We thought you might like to know about kidEarth’s “100 Generations” song -- an international global warming song California 6th grader Aitan Grossman wrote for children all over the world to sing to raise awareness about the climate change. Aitan’s made it easy - the song’s notes, lyrics and instrumental tracks are on kidEarth’s website (www.kidearth.us). Students can use Aitan’s words or write their own and, if they want to join voices together with others around the world, they can post a “100 Generations” music video to go along with those already on kidEarth’s video page.
Jessie-Ruth is the core leader of the Vermont Sustainable Heating Initiative (VSHI), a group of students representing 200-plus youth from 26 high schools. In 2004, Jessie-Ruth rose to a teacher’s challenge to create an energy conservation plan; her proposal to transition the school’s oil boiler to a woodchip boiler fueled by local products was adopted by the school board. After learning that Vermont does not have the forest capacity to heat the population with wood alone, VSHI wanted to facilitate the transition to heating with locally produced biomass energy crops. Jessie-Ruth and VSHI wrote a persuasive statewide plan to develop Vermont’s 100,000 acres of underutilized land to grow prairie grass that could be pelletized and provide all of Vermont’s home heating needs. VHSI estimates the program’s financial returns could eventually reach up to $1.3 billion. However, Jessie-Ruth believes the returns will be greater than just money. “Locally produced energy will develop a greater sense of community in Vermont towns,” she said. “Our fuel will come from our own backyards and will offer a stable and affordable price to all Vermonters.” VSHI is currently running a pilot project in which it is transitioning low-income family homes in the community to pellet stoves.
The Golden Apple Awards
Offers schools in NYC recognition for documenting their model school recycling programs, waste prevention initiatives, or beautification projects.
Prince's Rainforest Project
We had the wonderful opportunity to partner with the Prince's Rainforest Project and develop a lesson gallery for all K-12 lessons that address our world's rainforests and/or climate change. You can download lessons from the gallery or share your own. Check out this beautfiul song written by 5th grade science students at Marin Country Day School. Watch the video.
Lost Generation Video
Only 2 minutes but the message the student delivers is impactful and inspiring. We too believe there is hope.
