LISTEN UP! WHAT IS UP? GOT GREEN?
Deer Creek Middle School Green Team (http://dcmsgreenteam.shutterfly.com/) Details
It started as a Science Club, but for the last two years the team has concentrated efforts in recyling (paper, plastic and cans). They meet once a month for an hour after school on Wednesdays from 3:00 - 4:30.) They welcome a SKYPE conversation to present their finding and share their experience with the Casady Challenge 20/20 Green Team.
$20 memberships cover the cost of an eighth grade field trip at the end of the year. Movie field trips for sixth and seventh grades (Disney Earth last year, Disney Oceans, this year). The group has grown exponentiallialy in the last three years.
Green School Pilot Program Investigations:
Eighth Grade: Energy Audit-Used the tool kit. Completed Project Learning Tree handouts. Wish they have had more guidance on how to use the tools, but they read instructions and completed their audit.
Seventh Grade: Air Quality
Sixth Grade: Water Quality
Eight Grade Process
Ms. Kristy Vandorn (vabdornk@deercreek.k12.ok.us) and Ms. Bess Bridges (bridgesb@deercreek.k12.ok.us)were with the Green Team 8th grade class finalizing their energy audit questionaires. The questionaires came from the Project Learning Tree website and were completed in two after school club periods.
After investigations were completed. The group discussed their findings and possible suggestions for improvement. Then, they completed, "individually" their action plan: Based on the information you found out from your investigation, what recommendations do you have for the school to reduce its energy use.. Individual forms were placed in their Green School Pilot Program Portfolio.
A fun teacher guided sharing time followed the written work. Some ideas were:
1. Leave windows open...not possible
2. Unplug electronics and power sources on non-working days and weekends...doable
3. Student energy patrols...unplugging the electronics with administrator approval..doable on non working days and weekends> Phanthom theory proven***
4. Turn off the lights when not in the library...making laminated signs for classrooms
5. Use lemons to power the school...creative...maybe not possible
6. See where heat scapes...fix areas...doable
7. Check air filters...change them more often...buy better quality filters...doable
8. Lights...are we using energy efficient light bulbs? doable...costly
Students made posters of their findings for their big group presentation. Students joined the other grades for grade presentations
Green School Pilot Program Presentations
Sixth Grade: % of waste and recyling at their school and % of food waste
Seveth Grade: Measured temperature, humidity, mold and water spots.
Eight Grade: Energy audit. Electrical appliances ON, OFF, Plugged, Unplugged!
After the presentations were finished, students placed their posters around school. The eighth grade made sure the posters were properly hanged and a very productive, fun, relevant and engaging meeting ended.
***Phanthom Energy Theory (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/03/is_phantom_ener.php) : Many of the electronic devices in your home stay on, even when they're "off." Chargers for cell phones, digital cameras, power tools and other gadgets draw energy even when they're not in use. Appliances like televisions, computer monitors and DVD players can also draw power whenever they're plugged into an outlet. All together, "phantom energy" use account for about 5 percent of an individual's home's electricity use.
You can take some simple steps to reduce the financial and environmental impact from these "vampire" appliances. Unplugging devices is the simplest way to solve the problem, but can be a hassle. Plugging a couple of your devices into a surge protector that can be clicked on and off can make things easier.
When you're shopping for a new device, check out this online database of products rated by their standby energy use from the Federal Energy Management Program at the U.S. Department of Energy. And devices that have the Energy Star label from the Environmental Protection Agency will use less energy when they're in or out of use.
How To Green Your Electricity: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/green-electricity/
To start "semester of service" Casady Challenge 20/20 received from Deer Creek
Green School Tool KitCasady School through Carmen Clay received from Ms. Kristy Vandorn and Ms. Bess Bridges the Green School Pilot Program Tool Kit to be used in the Casady Challenge 20/20 semester of service investigation. Challenge 20/20 students have chosen to ‘unofficially” follow the Pilot program guidelines for Casady’s Challenge 20/20 project this year along with awarness of carbon footprint and water conservation.
Teachers and students will decide how far they want to follow the guidelines provided by Project Learning Tree using the Green School Tool Kit to do an energy audit of a room, a building or the entire school.
1 Shower Flow Gauge
1 Lux and Light Meter
1 Weight Recycling Devise
1 Thermometer
11 Kill-A-Watt Meters
1 Infrared Thermother
1 Indoor Air Quality Monitor
Carmen Clay
Kristy Vandorn and Bess BridgesJanuary 27, 2010: Deer Creek Schools are finished with their energy audit.Paper with handwritten signatures available.
Project Learning Tree School InvestigationsMiddle School-High School
http://65.109.144.97/GreenSchools!/Energy%20Middle%20&%20HS%204-24-09.pdf
Elementary – Draft
http://65.109.144.97/GreenSchools!/Energy%20Elementary%204-24-09.pdf
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