Resources
Resources you can find below: Presentations, videos, lessons and curriculum, sample projects, checklists, resources for the different actions, documentaries and more!
Tools to Introduce the Challenge to your Classroom:
Presentation Slides for Introducing the Challenge to your class (make a copy and edit):
For classes TK-6 - Click Here!
For classes 7-12 - Click Here!
Lists of actions by grade level:
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!*
*Use the shorter checklists to help introduce the Challenge to your younger students and then use your best judgment as the educator to fill out the form which includes the full list of measures.
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:
School Waste Audit Tools from CalRecycle
Want to reduce waste at school 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
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!
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
Carbon Footprint Resources
Resilient Santa Cruz County Climate Action Portal - households create an account to learn about actions they can take to reduce their climate impact and track savings
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
Understanding Climate Change Impacts and Solutions
Resilient Santa Cruz County Climate Action Portal - Create a profile for your home on this interactive climate action platform and then choose different actions to receive calculations of energy savings and money savings related to actions local residents can take.
Project Drawdown Climate Solutions Library - Learn about Project Drawdown’s set of 93 technologies and practices that together can solve the climate crisis.
Energy Monitor: This energy monitor role can be adapted for use by departments. Energy monitors can carry out a selection activities on a regular basis to support reducing energy use.
EnRoads Climate Solutions Simulator: En-ROADS is an online simulator that provides policymakers, educators, businesses, the media, and the public with the ability to test and explore cross-sector climate solutions
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
Young Voices for the Planet - inspiring short videos of students making real change happen!
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 or Monterey Bay CUE's Student Powered Film Festival
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?
Get inspired by reading some of the Green Classroom Profiles of local Teacher Leaders here.
Coastal Watershed Council's Action Project Ideas for a 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
Learn about local biodiversity in Bay of Life: From Wind to Whales:
Curriculum Resources for TK-12 Educators based on local ecosystems and biodiversity in the Monterey Bay region - This site provides links to the iconic images from the book in slide presentations to share with students along with TK-12 education resources and local field trip programs curated to bring the themes from Bay of Life into every classroom.
Bay of Life: From Wind to Whales is a unique work of art, science, and natural history that explores the Monterey Bay region, the most significant biodiversity hotspot in North America according to the Nature Conservancy. Bay of Life creators Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom have partnered with Santa Cruz County Office of Education and a team of local environmental organizations to educate and inspire conservation across the region.