Earth+Week+Plans

Earth Week Celebration
parent volunteers for next week? Bruce Wheaton (Scott's dad) Tracy Hilyard (Brenden's mom): Wants to do the green house effect talk For "slash the trash", we'll need We're also going to need:
 * a kick off pep talk on Monday (I could do this at the morning assembly, but I think it would be fun for someone to come to all the lunches and build a rivalry between the grades.) Lisa
 * We'll need a large graph that can be colored in with the weight of each day's waste.
 * Volunteers to weigh the bags after each of the 4 lunch periods. Lisa do 3rd, Zsa 5th, Jane 2nd,
 * a scale Zsa
 * Ideally, a volunteer to cheer on each lunch period and motivate them to slash their trash.
 * a brochure for the self guided greenhouse gasses tour Zsa
 * a volunteer to give the greenhouse talk during specified times --Tracy Hilliard
 * A "frame" for the shared art piece (this might be chicken wire) Neil
 * Recycled materials for the art project (can get this from Creation Station) --Jane volunteered to do this
 * Classes to do Murphy Moments every day next week (Zsa, can we borrow a copy of "50 ways kids can help the Earth"?)
 * Friday Murphy Newsletter re things to bring for shared art Lisa
 * A schedule of events in Mon Memo for staff Lisa
 * Topiary in courtyard Zsa

Video Calls: In person visits: Green moments every day Earth Week Events for Staff
 * Mark Meadows Wed, April 22 @ 9:30
 * Nancy Krupiars...
 * Anne Wiowode...
 * Mark Nixon, Monday, April 20 @ 8:40
 * Gina will help with student council kids Lisa


 * Monday Morning Meeting**: Earth Week Kick Off. Mark Nixon will answer questions kids have prepared in advance with Lisa.
 * Shared Recycled Art Piece:** There will be a chicken wire frame in the Science Lab for creating a recycled material masterpiece. Students may bring their own materials (please keep them in your room) or use materials that Jane has chosen from the Creation Station. This is a self paced activity. You may bring your students at any time during the week.
 * Video Calls (Ask the Experts)**: Sign up to bring your class to the (Diane: should we do this in multi purpose or science lab?) for a "video" interview with environmental experts. Students have already prepared questions.
 * Courtyard Topiary**: Potter Park has furnished us with a gorilla topiary. Students can install "plugs" and we can watch it grow for a while. Directions will be by the topiary. This is a great opportunity to talk about endangered species. (Self paced...come when you have time.)
 * Greenhouse Tour:** You may sign up for a tour of the greenhouse (and explanation of the greenhouse effect) or do a self paced tour. A brochure will be in the greenhouse with talking points.
 * Slash the Trash**: Trash from each of the lunch periods will be weighed and the resulting graph will hang in the cafeteria. Encourage students to bring snacks in reusable containers in your classroom as well. Are we recycling all our classroom paper???
 * Printable activities and information sheets:** are available on the shared drive. Go to TeacherShared > Green School > Earth Day Printable Info & Activity Sheets

Activity Ideas:
CELEBRATE
 * Have a solar cookout

EARTH DAY EVERY DAY
 * Have a special "Murphy Green Moment" every morning during the week of Earth Day
 * Make the "switch" to using only one set of lights in your classroom

WASTE WATCHERS
 * Collect food waste from the cafeteria, weigh it and create a graph. Have a contest to see which lunch shift can create the least amount of waste.

SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
 * Greenhouse Effect in a Jar Experiment: http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/activity/earth/earth-5.html
 * Slick Sea Spills: []

LITERATURE
 * //Aunt Ippy's Museum of Junk// by Rodney A. Greenblat
 * The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
 * //50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth// by Earth Works Group
 * //Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids// by Gail Gibbons
 * The Garbage Monster by Joni Sensel

ART CONNECTION
 * Find leaks by having students make “draft-meters” from pencils and plastic wrap.
 * Make draft worms with socks, stuffing, and fabric paint.
 * Make recycled art projects (I5's Creation Station is a great resource).

TAKE IT HOME
 * Educate students about the importance of conserving water; have them sign a "water off while you brush" pledge.

MAKE THE WORLD SMALLER
 * Invite environmental experts to "Skype" our school for 10 or 15 minutes on Earth Day. Have students prepare questions.

GO PUBLIC
 * Publish the //Murphy Green News// with student written articles and facts of interest to educate the community.
 * Have students make hallway signs to publicize energy expenses and savings as a means of growing support for conservation efforts.
 * Create signs and posters which ask drivers to turn off cars while waiting to pick up kids.
 * Include an energy saving tip in each Murphy Newsletter.
 * Pass out CFL light bulbs in exchange for pledges to replace incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient ones.

DARE OUR DISTRICT
 * Contact the District administration about having buses turn off engines while waiting too. []
 * Contact the Technology Department about setting computers to enter "sleep mode" when inactive: avoid screen savers
 * Supply the District with this article: School Operations and Maintenance:[|Best Practices for Controlling Energy Costs]