The Team: The STEAM TEAM is made up of 4th and 5th graders at Arlington Elementary. They run over 20 different programs by taking leadership roles. There are 15 teachers on the STEAM Taskforce that mentor these students with these different programs. Upcoming programs for school year 2021-2022 include: Beekeeping, Chickens, Aquaculture, Wind/Solar Power and many more! Documented attendance for STEAM Team Meetings
Sustainability Ambassador
Sustainability Plan (Green School 1.3.2)
Original 11/15/2020- Updated 3/31/2021
Email Communication (Green School 1.3.2)
Emails to staff regarding energy reduction, environmental virtual field trips and sustainable programs.
Greening the Air! (Green School 2.7)
Grade-Level: PK-5 Activity Title: Greening the Air Subject: Air Quality Teacher(s): All staff When: Everyday Number of Students: All students Description: With the return to in person learning, our staff decided to create an initiative to get green in every room of the school. We successfully potted and distributed 25 citronella plants. Every individual working in the school received a plant for their workspace. Here is to healthier air, less inside insects and a beautiful smell! Documentation: Images
Curriculum & Instruction
Pandemic Programming (Green School 1.1)
Thus far, 89 hours of curriculum and instruction on environmental topics. I attended, facilitated and documented each session. Sample images below. For more information please visit: Objective 1: Environmental Education. This year's logged instruction starts at the top by grade-level.
Green Grant Implementation
School Garden (Green School 2.5)
The school garden has been only used once since we have moved into our new school building. The time was long overdue to gather a student 5th grade team to monitor and work on the garden. The first 18 beds are cared for by the 5th graders. The remaining 14 beds are split up amongst the other grades and some of them are allocated to partnerships. These images are when we planted 18 beds worth of spring veggies!
Lettuce Grow (Green School 3.1)
The Lettuce Grow program provides green grants to obtain, construct and sustain indoor growing systems for schools. Currently we are unable to get into the building for educational use. The system is too large to transport and maintenance is too high to run without students present. The initial materials were funded by a small grant from the company. Expansion on the project will be funded by the GHSC grant.
Global Gardens Club- City High Students (Green School 1.1)
We are currently working with high school students to implement peer gardening. This will be held in march. They met with our students and the STEAM team. They went over their project and timeline. Below is the example, but more info is located in 1.1. The materials needed for instruction will be provided by the program. The tools needed for the garden will be funded by the GHSC grant.
Chicken Incubation (Green School 1.1)
Our Kindergarten group is piloting chicken incubation in the classroom. We are monitoring the program through each step to collect data on effectiveness. If found to be effective and engaging, GHSC grant money will be used to purchase supplies to hatch chicks annually.
Other Activities
Water Bottles for All! (Green School 2.1)
Grade-Level: All grades Activity Title: Water Bottles Subject: Reducing water foundation waste by using re-usable water bottles by all in-person students. Teacher(s): Thompson, West, Hunter, Thomas When: Spring 2021 Number of Students: 200 Description: Our students waste a lot of water using the water foundations in the traditional way. We decided to purchase and personalize water bottles for the students to reduce water waste. This also will double to help with reducing plastic bottle use in the school as well. Students were all provided one upon returning to in-person learning.
Spray Bottles & Biodegradable Materials (Green School 2.7)
Grade-Level: All grades Activity Title: Rethinking our Cleaning Supplies Subject: Using more sustainable equipment when cleaning Teacher(s): All returning staff members When: Spring 2021 Number of Students: 200 Description: Staff will use spray bottles to pre-mix cleaning supplies and biodegradable paper towels when cleaning in the classroom. We will not use single-wipe based products for regularly cleaning as it is wasteful.
Yoga in the Yard (Green School 2.7)
Grade-Level: PK-5 Activity Title: Yoga Subject: Body and Mind Health (SEL) Teacher(s): All Grade Levels When: Everyday Number of Students: All in-person students Description: With the return to in person learning, our staff decided to provide a yoga mat to each student in the school. We are encouraging teachers to go outside to do yoga and eat lunch at least once a week. More if they would like to spend more time outside. We encourage all teachers to use the yoga mats for educational purposes as well and get the children outside for outdoor learning. Documentation: Images
Nature Playground- Loyola University (Green School 3.1)
In conjunction with Loyola University, Arlington piloted a program to establish a simple nature playground on the front lawn of Arlington. This area will be used by all, but specifically the PreK through 2nd Grade classes to facilitate outdoor learning in all forms.
Arlington Clean-Up: Spring 2021 (Green School 2.3)
Grade-Level: All Grades Activity Title: Spring Grounds Clean-Up Subject: Waste Reduction Teacher(s): All Staff When: April 12th-April 16th Number of Students: 200 Description: All members of the school community will sign up to go outside and clean up areas of the school grounds on a schedule. They will be spaced out and will have social distancing requirements met. They will clean up different areas of the school and by doing so, the entire school grounds will get cleaned up.
Project Lead the Way Training (Green School 1.2.2)
Activity Title: Project Lead The Way Subject: Curriculum Training Teacher(s): Thompson, A.Wright, K.Wright, Hamele, Barrett, Scott, Castro When: Summer 2020 Number of Teachers: 7 Description: Teachers were trained and certified in the PLTW curriculum which includes multiple units on environmental and outdoor education topics. The teachers were part of a plan to implement one unit in this years teaching. We are working on implementing this now and ensuring we meet our goal. Evidence below of the training experience.
Free Little Library (Green School 3.1)
Access to multicultral books with emphasis on environmental and STEAM selections. We installed a Little Free Library on-campus for our students and community use.