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How Green is Your School?
June 14, 2007
The first act of awe, when man was struck with the beauty or wonder of Nature, was the first spiritual experience.
-Henryk Skolimowski
-Henryk Skolimowski
On a recent flight, I ran across an article, "Growing Green Schools," in United's Hemispheres Magazine (May 2007). Here are some interesting excerpts from that article...
- "Studies by the Heshong Mahone Group found that students who had classrooms with natural light, superior indoor air quality, and outdoor views, had 10 percent to 21 percent higher learning rates and test scores compared with students in classrooms with minimal natural daylight and outdoor views. "
- "Traditional building materials can release gases linked to headaches, colds, asthma, and weakened immune systems. Green, sustainable schools ... are constructed with alternative materials such as low- and zero-volatile organic compound paints, cabinetry made from wheat (rather than formaldahyde-laced particle board), and natural linoleum flooring made from jute and linseed oil (rather than dioxin-packed vinyl)."
- "... green schools have lower overhead costs. A 2006 study by Capital E found that, on average, green schools use 33 percent less energy and 32 percent less water than standard schools. Best of all, green doesn't require a huge investment: sustainable schools have been built on standard school budgets."
Exchange Resource on Nature Education
Exchange's newest resource, the Learning with Nature Idea Book, provides a wealth of ideas on how to start reconnecting the children in your program with the natural world. The book, which was prepared by Nancy and John Rosenow, two of the leaders in the Nature Action Collaborative for Children, is available for review and purchase on our website.
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The Institute for Early Childhood
Leadership & Professional Development
has an advanced degree (M.Ed.) for you if you aspire to become an Administrative Leader!
Johnson & Wales University, School of Education
Comments (8)
Displaying 5 of 8 Comments [ View all ]the grand child care center[naeyc accredited]
chicago, ill, United States
Recently I'm visiting India and it's monsoon season going on over here.. as it was raining I happened to see across from my place some kids-[1st grader? ]coming out from class room [may be the school was over?]and started to play in the rain.. the next thing i saw was rows of paper boats in that puddle! The same school has lots of activities going on out door which reminds me of my day care center in Chicago.. I'll implement some of the ideas in my center ..It is true that kids should learn to be connected with nature.. they WILL learn -if we teach them! Thanks for bringing up the topic.It takes a VISION to see a tree in a seed.
the grand child care center[naeyc accredited]
chicago, ill, United States
Recently I'm visiting India - and it is the monsoon season in the state of Gujarat and across from my place there is a school..I happened to see a nice scene which I'll like to share with the world- it started to rain and I saw the kids[may be from 1st grade ?]-came out from [may be the school was over?] but they were playing in the rain .. the next thing I saw they were putting paper boats.. in that school ground puddle.. the same school kids I see coming out of the class rooms and do the different activities... that reminds me of my day care center in Chicago... i may take some of the ideas and implement in my center..it is very true that children should be connected to nature - and if we teach, they WILL learn!
PVUSD
Phoenix, AZ, United States
I teach elementary art in a school for children with emotional disabilities. I have their hands on real clay, wooden implements, real flowers & if they need something to hold, I give them a sea shell instead of a stuffed animal. We use real sticks, leaves & stones in our collages. I don't have any windows in my room, but I have living plants and a fish tank for them to feel alive with. We don't start out green, but with a little effort, we get green results.
Montclair State University
North Plainfield, NJ, United States
I am very excited to read this article and think that we must all continue to help children as well as adults understand the "greening" process. The "gray" process is what children are use to seeing in many parts of the U.S. and the world, especially in highly industrialized cities.
Emissions from automobiles, trucks, trains, planes and smoke stacks, as well as cigarettes.
I wrote a play called "Little Red Riding Hood-The ecological version" which addresses, for young children, the issues of recycling, picking up garbage, not littering, and"keeping the green grass under my feet, missing the air that smells so sweet". It leads into a wonderful discussion of why this is so important and how kids can get involved.
So, I was very happy to see that this is being addressed again, in a slightly different vein. Hooray!!
Liz K
United States
How true it is that natural environments enlighten and enrich the lives around them. We are a new school that is trying to be as green as possible. Without knowing it, the builder has installed high efficiency furnaces, natural light spectrum and we intend to paint useful the lowest vo paint available. The area surrounding the building is being landscaped with plants and trees and we plan to have both a butterfly garden and vegetable garden for the children. I am looking for suppliers of paper that we can recycle for projects, as well as employing a nutrionist for organic and healthy foods. I am hoping the staff, children and parents will all benefit from these ideas.
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