GreenNotes
P4BL: Linking Phenomena-Based, Place-Based, Project-Based, and Problem-Based Pedagogy to Deepen Learning
By: Gerald Lieberman, Ph.D. , Jennifer Seydel, Ph.D. In a world with many critical issues in the news, teachers and students sometimes struggle to find meaning in the content they are expected to teach and learn. The Student Climate Strike, protests related to gun...
Purposeful Learning: The Intersection of Place-Based, Project-Based, and Problem-Based Learning
By: Jennifer Seydel, Ph.D. Green, healthy, and sustainable schools have a common set of practices that distinguish them from traditional schools. For each issue of the Green Schools Catalyst Quarterly, we pick one of these commonalities and use a magnifying lens to...
Four Strategies to Ensure District Leadership Buy-in for Green School Practices
Becoming a green school or district is a multi-year process that requires planning, collaboration, and lots of hard work. The most important step in this process, by far, is securing buy-in from your district’s leadership team. Their support and involvement are...
Three Ways to Think Beyond Recycling for National Recycling Day
National Recycling Day is November 15. If your school or district doesn’t have a recycling program, now’s a great time to start! If your school or district has an established program and you want to take your recycling game up a notch, here are three fun ways to do so...
Six Ways to Make Self-Care a Daily Practice for Educators
Education is a rewarding, yet exhausting profession. Educators often put students and their families first, giving of their time, energy, and resources, before meeting their own needs. This isn’t healthy or sustainable. Many passionate educators cut their careers...
Getting Started with a Schoolwide Mindfulness Program
Mental health is top of mind for many in the United States these days and schools are taking steps to support the mental health of their teachers, staff, and students. One way that schools are offering support is through the implementation of schoolwide mindfulness...
How to Distinguish Outdoor Learning from Learning Outside
Over the last several years, teachers have been shifting their classes outdoors in response to safety protocols spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been beneficial for student health and well-being for sure but learning outside could be so much more if it...
Q&A with a Network Partner: Boulder Valley School District’s Sustainable Facilities and Operations
Ghita Carroll, PhD Sustainability Coordinator, Boulder Valley School District (Boulder, Colorado) This blog post is the last in a series of Q&As that feature GSNN partners describing best practices and lessons learned on topics tied to each of the impact systems...
Go Green with Your Cleaning Routine: Starting a Green Cleaning School Program
A healthy school environment is key to supporting the well-being and academic performance of all students. Keeping schools clean and safe is essential to maintaining such an environment, especially as schools return to in-person learning. However, many...
Zero Waste 101: A Brief Guide to Adopting the Five Rs of Zero Waste at Your School
Waste reduction is a big deal for K-12 schools – and schools produce a lot of waste! To meet sustainability goals, schools may add a recycling program, or even a composting program if local infrastructure allows. Now, more schools are beginning to aim for zero waste –...