Civic Engagement Lesson: Green Schools Audit
Lesson Plan
3 hoursGrades9, 10Social Studies
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Written by Olivia Dulany
About this lesson
In this civic engagement lesson, students explore Green Ribbon Schools, audit their own school’s practices, and write sustainability proposals.
Inquire: Students reflect on their experience of climate change education and sustainability practices at their school.
Investigate: Students learn how schools across the country have implemented the three pillars of Green Ribbon Schools and then participate in a “tour” to evaluate their own school.
Inspire: Students create and present a proposal for an action to improve their school’s sustainability.
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Suggestions
- This lesson aligns with Hawai’i’s Nā Hopena A‘o HĀ-BREATH Framework.
- This lesson can be taught in the context of an ELA unit on persuasive writing, a social studies unit on civic engagement, or following a science lesson on climate change.
- The Investigate and Inspire section can be completed on subsequent days or class periods.
- This lesson can be implemented by a student environmental club.
- The proposals in the lesson can contribute towards a school completing the Green Ribbon Schools Award application.
Prerequisites
- Students should have familiarity with climate change and environmental sustainability. Students who need more background can watch this video about reducing personal carbon emissions or complete this lesson on calculating the carbon footprint of a household.
- Teacher should have an awareness of the school’s current sustainability practices in order to guide students and some familiarity with the Green Ribbon Schools initiative.
Differentiation
- As an alternative to the Green Ribbon Schools criteria, or for settings outside the United States, students can use the four pillars of action of the Greening Education Partnership (greening schools, greening curriculum, greening teacher training and education system’s capacities, and greening communities) to evaluate their own school. Students can also reflect on how their school can enact the UNESCO declaration at COP28 to commit to “targeted action” to adapt, mitigate, and invest.
- During the school tour in the Inspire section, students can interview school employees such as cafeteria workers, maintenance workers, and administration about the materials and systems currently in place, and options and ideas for improved sustainability.
- Multiple sections of a class can complete this lesson, each taking a different section of the school.
- Instead of a presentation, students can write a persuasive letter to their principal.
From the scientist review
The lesson gives students the opportunity to prioritize and come up with ideas for greening their communities and school policies while keeping in mind the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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About the teacher writer
Olivia Dulany
K-12 teacher
Olivia Dulany holds a Master of Education from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Olivia has four years of teaching experience in English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Special Education, teaching both general and special education students in grades 2–3 and 9–10.
