About the Green Classroom Challenge

This program encourages students to work together to “green” their classroom by choosing to make a commitment to specific sustainable behaviors. A list of potential actions is provided for teachers and students to review and choose from.

Participating educators have overwhelming reported that the program:

--helps students feel recognized for their sustainable actions

--fosters positive emotions around climate change and sustainability

100% of teachers say they would participate in the challenge again and recommend it to colleagues!

How the Program Works

The Green Classroom Challenge is designed to include everyone! In order to get recognition as a green classroom, teachers and students decide on actions to take and then submit a simple form to share the sustainable practices that they are committed to.

The form includes:

Part 1: Class Information (# of students, grade level, etc.)

Part 2: Sustainable practices your class ALREADY practices (to see the full list of actions click here)

Part 3: Five new actions your class is committing to take during this school year

This program is open to all classrooms TK-12! Resources to introduce the challenge are provided on the resource page. Once the form is submitted, teachers receive a certificate to hang in their classroom recognizing the class for their efforts and indicating the new actions the classroom community is committed to. At year end, teachers complete a reflection form to help us track collective impacts and challenge participants are invited to attend the Santa Cruz County Green Classroom Celebration and Recognition event on Sunday April 27th. Classrooms may also be contacted for spotlight articles to highlight unique innovations and celebrate our progress toward "every classroom a green classroom!"