Resources
Resources
Resources for Introducing the Challenge to your Classrooms:
Checklists for Walking through with your students:
Checklist with all measures for 6th-12th Graders - Click Here!
Checklist with easier-to-understand wordings (some measures excluded) for 2nd-5th Graders - Click Here!
Checklist with a few easy measures for TK, K, and 1st Grade Students - Click Here!
You can use the shorter checklists to help introduce the Challenge to your younger students, without getting into confusing details that they may not understand. You can then use your best judgment as the educator to fill out the harder measures on the form.
Presentation Slides for Introducing the Challenge to your class:
For classes TK-6 - Click Here!
For classes 7-12 - Click Here!
More Resources for introducing the Challenge to your class:
Find videos and more to help introduce the Green Class Challenge to your students HERE
Resources by Action Areas:
Waste Reduction Resources:
Want to reduce waste at events? Check out these suggested Zero Waste Event Guidelines
Wondering what goes into your different waste bins? Here are the waste management contacts for each region of Santa Cruz county
School Waste Audit Tools from CalRecycle
Carbon Footprint Resources
Classroom Energy Monitor: Energy monitors can carry out a selection activities on a regular basis such as checking classroom temperatures and checking to see if lights and electrical equipment are left on during lunch
Working toward Green Schools Certification
Green Detectives Lessons to engage 3-5th grade students in gathering information for Santa Cruz County Green Schools Program
Resources to support working with students outdoors
How to Teach Nature Journaling (free download or use the website guidance)
Collaborative Nature Scavenger Hunt - use this in pairs and then share whole group!
Bay of Life Project - this site provides access to photos in the Bay of Life, the work of world-renowned photographer Frans Lanting and pairs photo themes with instructional resources and local field trips curated to match the book themes. Bay of Life tells the story of biodiversity in the Monterey Bay Region on land and at sea.
Resources to support working with students outdoors: BEETLES Guide to Engaging and Managing Students in Outdoor Learning, Life Lab's How can I possible manage 30 kids outdoors? tip sheet
National Outdoor Learning Library - comprehensive information on greening school grounds and taking learning outdoors
Resources for Understanding Environmental Justice and Sustainability
Exploring Environmental Justice in Santa Cruz County : Virtual Town Hall Recording - see the youtube description for links to jump to different parts of the program.
Collection of articles on the intersection of environmental justice and environmental racism
Tools for civic engagement
State Seal of Civic Engagement Environmental Literacy Implementation Guide
Board resolution template developed by Santa Cruz County Youth for Environmental Action
Suggested videos or documentaries
2020-2021 Santa Cruz County Youth for Environmental Action Summit (virtual - use the links in the youtube description to jump to different sections of the agenda)
Create your own video! Enter it in one of these contests: California Coastal Commission's Climate Video Challenge, Monterey Bay CUE's Student Powered Film Festival, Seymour Center's Climate Smart Actions Video Challenge
Data Maps of local environmental impacts and community demographics
Looking for Volunteer Opportunities?
Environteers - Environmental volunteer opportunities in Santa Cruz County
Planning to lead your students in an Action Project?
See the Green Classroom Profiles of local Teacher Leaders below!
Coastal Watershed Council's Action Project Ideas for Heathy Watershed
Action Project Examples from Bay Backpack
NOAA Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEE) Teacher Planning Tools
Resources on Nature Connection Benefits to Health :
Mental Health Benefits of Nature from NAMI California
Families in Nature Together's 4 Ways to Practice Self-Care in Nature with accompanying Recorded Infographic
NEEF Infographic - Children & Nature
Green Classroom Profiles
Interested in classroom action projects? Check out the Teacher Leadership Institute for Sustainability and explore the profiles of local teachers and their Green Classroom action projects!