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Green Schools, Healthy Schools. Jeff Ledermann, MDE Environmental and Outdoor Education Coordinator Dan Tranter, MDH Indoor Air Unit Supervisor. Workshop Agenda. What is a Green School? Green Ribbon Schools Environmental and Outdoor Education Green Buildings and Environmental Health
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Green Schools, Healthy Schools Jeff Ledermann, MDE Environmental and Outdoor Education Coordinator Dan Tranter, MDH Indoor Air Unit Supervisor “Leading for educational excellence and equity. Every day for every one.”
Workshop Agenda education.state.mn.us • What is a Green School? • Green Ribbon Schools • Environmental and Outdoor Education • Green Buildings and Environmental Health • Resources and Questions
Recognizing Achievement Towards Three Pillars: Green Buildings Health and Safety Environmental Education
Selection Evaluators from advisory group Based on national scoring rubric Minnesota finalists will be chosen Up to four schools and one district recommended to US-ED by Feb. 15 one must be private one must be “disadvantaged” April 22 – U.S. Department of Education announces awards June 3 – Green Ribbon Schools Awards ceremony in Washington, DC
We’ve Got a Problem education.state.mn.us
Definitions education.state.mn.us • Environmental Education – UN Belgrade Charter, 1975 – develop citizens that understand and support solving environmental problems (knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors) • Outdoor Education – happens outdoors, experiential, skills, nature connections
State Goal of Environmental Literacy education.state.mn.us Minnesota Statute § 115A.073 (1990) ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GOALS (a) Pupils and citizens should be able to apply informed decision-making processes to maintain a sustainable lifestyle. In order to do so, citizens should: (1) understand ecological systems; (2) understand the cause and effect relationship between human attitudes and behavior and the environment; (3) be able to evaluate alternative responses to environmental issues before deciding on alternative courses of action; and (4) understand the effects of multiple uses of the environment. (b) Pupils and citizens shall have access to information and experiences needed to make informed decisions about actions to take on environmental issues
Outdoor Experiences Critical to Attitudes and Behaviors that Protect the Environment • Additionally, experience out-of-doors builds creativity, physical competence, social skills, environmental knowledge, confidence and problem-solving (Chawla, 2006). education.state.mn.us People that participate in nature-based outdoor activities as children are more likely to have attitudes favorable toward the environment and engage in behaviors that are protective of the environment (Wells and Lekies, 2006).
“Nature Deficit Disorder” – Richard Louv education.state.mn.us Declining childhood health Children age 8-18 spend 6.4 hours/day in front of a screen Children spend 30 minutes/week outside in unstructured activity Almost 38 percent of Minnesota adults have a below-average level of knowledge about the environment. Only eight percent received an A grade
Environment-based Learning Boosts Achievement – TEST SCORES education.state.mn.us Students demonstrate improved achievement when receiving school instruction that uses the environment as an integrating context for learning. Studies have shown that students scored as well or better on standardized measures in reading, math and language. This approach also has been shown to foster cooperative learning and civic responsibility (SEER, 2005).
Environment-based Learning – Results From Current MDE Pilot education.state.mn.us • Training and mini-grants for six Minnesota schools, 2011-13 • After only a few months, students and teachers in pilot report the project has somewhat increased: • their academic engagement • environmental sensitivity • and understanding of ecological systems
Other Academic Benefits education.state.mn.us • Real-world • Inter-disciplinary • More student engagement - better attendance • Children and Nature Network • http://www.childrenandnature.org/
Health Benefits – Active Students education.state.mn.us • Increases physical activity, which is supported by Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Active School Day Strategy • Focused students • Enhanced academics • Fewer classroom disruptions • A learning style that helps those bodily/kinesthetic learners • FUN!
Other Benefits - Jobs education.state.mn.us • Prepare students for jobs in the Green Economy
Other Benefits – Saving Money education.state.mn.us • Green Schools Save $$ • Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) program saving many districts over $100,000/year.
Improving the Learning Environment:Changing the Context education.state.mn.us Same objectives (standards-based) – different location or different theme Adapting or replacing lessons – NOT ADDING
Contact Information education.state.mn.us • Jeff Ledermann, MDE • Environmental and Outdoor Education Coordinator • Green Ribbon Schools Coordinator • jeff.ledermann@state.mn.us • 651-582-8602