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December 2011 News
 On behalf of Green Schools, we wish you a Happy Holidays!
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Interact With Green Schools!
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SILVER LEVEL
Business Members
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| Greetings! | 
Consider giving a gift to Green Schools this holiday season!
It's not too late to make a tax-deductable donation for 2011 to Green Schools.
Green Schools' mission is to create healthier/"greener" learning environments in schools & communities.
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Green Schools Green Chemistry Day
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January 14, 2012, 3:00pm-4:30pm Beyond Benign Headquarters 100 Research Drive Wilmington, MA Students will construct a dye-sensitized solar cell using materials such as blackberries. During the process students learn about how the materials, product and process meet the cost, safety and performance criteria of green chemistry technology. After construction is complete, students measure the voltage output of their solar cells and discuss how the technology is continuing to emerge.
This program is open to student ambassadors and other interested students as well.
Sponsored by Green Schools & Beyond Benign
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| Who is Your 2012 Healthy Schools Hero? |  Do you know someone whose sense of responsibility, inspirational leadership, and exemplary persistence and courage protects children from school hazards and unhealthy school conditions?
In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the March 18 1937 Texas School Explosion, let's make March 18 an annual day to bring the lessons of the 1937 Texas School Explosion to your community and to celebrate the leadership for safety that can save lives.
The worst school disaster in American history, the 1937 Texas School Explosion, was a gas explosion that killed over 300 people, mostly students, just minutes before the end of the day in their new state-of-the-art public school. No expense had been spared except when it came to safety.
Lessons Learned. Lives Saved. The Healthy Kids Healthy Schools Hero Award was created as an annual opportunity to inspire leadership and partnerships to protect children from the chemical hazards and unhealthy conditions in today's schools. Read about Heroes 2011 - 2005.
Send your 2012 hero's name, email/phone #, and your hero's story by February 15, 2012 to Ellie Goldberg at healthykids@rcn.com
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EcoOrchards
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Help a school save money while going green (such as trays and food)
EcoOrchards environmentally friendly products are made from sugarcane plant fibers (dregs), a renewable natural resource known as Bagasse. Utilizing natural resources means less destruction to our forests and a significant reduction in harmful toxic waste from plastics and styrofoam. Concerns about the health of our global environment are growing faster than ever, and EcoOrchards is committed to reversing that trend.
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The Lorax Needs YOUR Help!
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Ted Wells and his fourth grader students from the Park School in Brookline, MA are working on a new green project...
The Lorax movie coming out in March has no educational materials on its movie website and minimal environmental messaging in the trailer and story description. That's not the Lorax we know from Dr. Suess's classic book! So the group wrote a letter of concern at Change.org to try to get shake up and wake up some producers in Hollywood. "Put the heart back into the Lorax! Let the Lorax speak for the trees!"
If the students can get enough signatures, perhaps they'll update the movie website with something that empowers the millions who will visit there.
It's easy to sign! Better yet, pass on to friends or Facebook! We need your help.
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Upcoming Webinar
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Going Green through the Curriculum Webinar
Wednesday January, 18, 2012
7pm EST- 8:30pm EST
This past October, the National Environmental Education Foundation in partnership with the National Education Association Foundation and Green Schools National Conference launched the first of a series of three webinars to help educators around the country learn from experts and peers how to green their schools and curriculum. Webinar participants will interact live with national experts and teachers who are transforming their schools for the 21st Century. For those of you who would like to revisit the topics covered in the first two webinars, you can download the audio files below. |
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Green Games and Apps
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While environmental education involves getting students outside to experience their local environment first-hand, technology such as apps, video and computer games can serve as fun and compelling tools to help reinforce core environmental topics. Many organizations are developing new games and apps that educate students about environmental issues. For example, the National STEM Video Game Challenge is a multi-year competition to motivate interest in STEM by tapping into students' natural passion for video games. We have pulled together some great free resources you may like to check out:
This newly developed free mobile app from ARKive engages students in a series of quick-fire mini-games to reveal the identity of some of the world's most endangered animals.
The Marine Debris Tracker mobile app allows users to help make a difference by checking in when they find trash on the nation's coastlines or in our waterways.
MiniMonos is a virtual world for children who love to play and love the planet. Kids quickly establish a connection between their actions and the natural environment and play games that help them make a positive difference.
Energy Hog is an online game developed by the Alliance to Save Energy that allows students to identify and get rid of hogs that pig out on energy, in the process discovering how to use energy wisely.
What's your favorite environmental education game or app to use in the classroom? Let us know by emailing: eeweek@neefusa.org.
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Green Schools Will be Presenting at the 2nd Annual Green Schools National Conference
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February 27-29, 2012 Denver, Colorado Growing Green & Healthy Schools for All Children Don't miss the only national gathering of K-12 leaders and educators coming together to make their schools and districts green & healthy centers of academic excellence. - IDENTIFY ways to save money by "Going Green"
- DISCOVER new and diverse funding sources for your green schools projects
- SHOP the Green Marketplace for products & services at special discounted rates
- NETWORK with like-minded peers from across the country
- FIND schools and organizations to partner with on projects and grants.
- EXPERIENCE exciting new resources for your students and staff
This conference will also be the most comprehensive resource for districts and schools who want to be eligible for the prestigious new U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Award Program and other green-related building and academic certification programs. To Register Using the Special Massachusetts Affiliate Discount Code: - Go to http://www.greenschoolsnationalconference.org
- Scroll Down and click on Register Online
- Click on Affiliate Rates
- When asked for a discount code: massgreenschools
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Sincerely,
Robin Organ
Founder and Executive Director
Green Schools
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