green schools, healthy schools

Green Schools, Healthy SchoolsGreen Schools, Healthy Schools

Jeff Ledermann, MDE Environmental and Outdoor Education Coordinator

Dan Tranter, MDH Indoor Air Unit Supervisor

“Leading for educational excellence and equity. Every day for every one.”

Workshop AgendaWorkshop Agenda

• What is a Green School?

• Green Ribbon Schools

• Environmental and Outdoor Education

• Green Buildings and Environmental Health

• Resources and Questions

education.state.mn.us

Recognizing Achievement Recognizing Achievement Towards Three Pillars: Towards Three Pillars: • Green Buildings• Health and Safety• Environmental

Education

SelectionSelection• Evaluators from advisory group

• Based on national scoring rubric

• Minnesota finalists will be chosen

• Up to four schools and one district recommended to US-ED by Feb. 15• one must be private • one must be “disadvantaged”

• April 22 – U.S. Department of Education announces awards

• June 3 – Green Ribbon Schools Awards ceremony in Washington, DC

education.state.mn.us 5

We’ve Got a ProblemWe’ve Got a Problem

DefinitionsDefinitions

• Environmental Education – UN Belgrade Charter, 1975 – develop citizens that understand and support solving environmental problems (knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors)

• Outdoor Education – happens outdoors, experiential, skills, nature connections


State Goal of Environmental LiteracyState Goal of Environmental Literacy

Minnesota Statute § 115A.073 (1990) ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GOALS(a) Pupils and citizens should be able to apply informed decision-making processes to maintain a sustainable lifestyle. In order to do so, citizens should:

(1) understand ecological systems;(2) understand the cause and effect relationship between human attitudes and behavior and the environment;(3) be able to evaluate alternative responses to environmental issues before deciding on alternative courses of action; and(4) understand the effects of multiple uses of the environment.

(b) Pupils and citizens shall have access to information and experiences needed to make informed decisions about actions to take on environmental issues


Outdoor Experiences Critical to Attitudes Outdoor Experiences Critical to Attitudes and Behaviors that Protect the Environmentand Behaviors that Protect the Environment

• People that participate in nature-based outdoor activities as children are more likely to have attitudes favorable toward the environment and engage in behaviors that are protective of the environment (Wells and Lekies, 2006).


• Additionally, experience out-of-doors builds creativity, physical competence, social skills, environmental knowledge, confidence and problem-solving (Chawla, 2006).

““Nature Deficit Disorder” – Richard LouvNature Deficit Disorder” – Richard Louv

• Declining childhood health• Children age 8-18 spend 6.4

hours/day in front of a screen• Children spend 30 minutes/week

outside in unstructured activity• Almost 38 percent of Minnesota

adults have a below-average level of knowledge about the environment.

• Only eight percent received an A grade


Environment-based Learning Boosts Environment-based Learning Boosts Achievement – TEST SCORESAchievement – TEST SCORES

• Students demonstrate improved achievement when receiving school instruction that uses the environment as an integrating context for learning.

• Studies have shown that students scored as well or better on standardized measures in reading, math and language. This approach also has been shown to foster cooperative learning and civic responsibility (SEER, 2005).


Environment-based Learning – Environment-based Learning – Results From Current MDE PilotResults From Current MDE Pilot

• Training and mini-grants for six Minnesota schools, 2011-13

• After only a few months, students and teachers in pilot report the project has somewhat increased:– their academic engagement– environmental sensitivity – and understanding of

ecological systems


Other Academic BenefitsOther Academic Benefits

• Real-world

• Inter-disciplinary

• More student engagement - better attendance

• Children and Nature Network– http://

www.childrenandnature.org/


Health Benefits – Active StudentsHealth Benefits – Active Students

• Increases physical activity, which is supported by Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Active School Day Strategy– Focused students

– Enhanced academics

– Fewer classroom disruptions

– A learning style that helps those bodily/kinesthetic learners

– FUN!


Other Benefits - JobsOther Benefits - Jobs

• Prepare students for jobs in the Green Economy


Other Benefits – Saving MoneyOther Benefits – Saving Money

• Green Schools Save $$

• Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) program saving many districts over $100,000/year.


Improving the Learning Environment:Improving the Learning Environment:Changing the ContextChanging the Context

• Same objectives (standards-based) – different location or different theme

• Adapting or replacing lessons – NOT ADDING


Contact Information Contact Information

Jeff Ledermann, MDE Environmental and Outdoor

Education Coordinator Green Ribbon Schools

Coordinator [email protected]

651-582-8602


green schools, healthy schools

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