Willis Lane Elementary Greenprint - 2012/2013

By:

Cornerstone: Eco-Campus

Category: Energy

Energy Master/Energy Audit

Building on last years, "Last Out, Lights Out" program, we will attempt to use minimal energy school wide by reducing our energy usage on a particular day in spring.

The purpose is of this activity is to reduce our energy usage for the day compared with the same day
the previous year and to increase energy consumption awareness in our school’s staff and students.

The whole school is involved in this energy saving activity.

The amount of energy used is recorded through the Keller school district’s energy audit, which
compares the previous year’s monthly usage to the current year’s monthly usage.

No budget will be necessary for this project.

The activity will take place in the spring of 2013 and will be dependant on weather.

Category: Recycle/Waste

We CAN Recycle Program

In conjunction with our annual Willis Lane Recycles Week, The students will decorate large, recycled cans that will be placed in the center on the cafeteria tables each day. The students sitting at that table will place their recyclables in the can when they are finished with their lunch. Each classroom will have one recycle representative for the day/week that is in charge of the cans and will then empty the cans into the appropriate school recycling bin. The recycle representatives will also help remind students to recycle and what can and cannot be recycled.

The purpose of this activity is to promote recycling and also to create awareness in all students as to what can be recycled.

The whole school will be involved in this activity.

We will photograph students participating in the recycling effort.

There is no need for a budget since the cans were donated by a local restaurant and the students will decorate the cans using scraps from their classroom recycling bins.

The cans will be decorated before Recyling Week which will occur November 12-16th and the recycling program will occur throughout the school year.

4^thgrade Trash Pick Up Walk

During this activity, the 4th grade students will walk to the local park, Bear Creek Park, and will
pick up trash and litter along the way.

The purpose of this activity is to help clean up our community and to create an awareness in our
students about the environment and the effects of littering.

The school's 4^th grade students will be involved in this activity.

The activity will be recorded through photos.

There is no budget needed as we will use donated materials and supplies from the school

This project will occur on one day in May and will be dependant on weather.

Category: Green Spaces

Willis Lane Outdoor Learning Facility (WOLF) Improvement

Furthering the deweeding, replanting, and restoration of our Willis Lane Outdoor Learning Facility (WOLF) from last year, we plan to continue to maintain and improve this green space for our students.

The goal of the activity is to improve an outdoor, educational space where students can learn about
plants and nature.

Keller area Girl Scout and Cub Scouts, any student and parent volunteers, and the PTA will help maintain
the WOLF.  Assistance from the local Home Depot will be solicited as well.

We will photograph the area to provide documentation of the improvements.

The budget will be $100 for plants and supplies.

Maintenance of the area began in September, 2012 and will continue throughout the year.

 

Cornerstone: Health, Fitness and Nutrition

Category: Healthy Lifestyles

NO Sugar Drink Day

For this activity we will host a "No Sugar Drink Day" in which all students and staff will be encouraged to drink either milk or water in lieu of drinks that contains sugar for the duration of the day.

The purpose of this day is to promote healthy living and getting everyone to consider the healthy
alternatives to sugary drinks.

The entire staff and student body will be involved in this day.

The activity will be recorded through photographs and documented through the receipt from cafeteria
showing how much milk (and lack of sugary drinks) and water were purchased.

No budget is required.

This activity will occur in the spring of 2013.

International Walk to School Day

For the 3rd year now, we will encourage students to participate in International Walk to School Day.

The goal of the activity
is to promote increased physical activity and reduced traffic congestion and pollution.

Willis Lane students, parents, and the PTA will be involved in this event.

We will photograph students walking to and from school.

No budget is necessary for this event.

Walk to School Day occurred October 3, 2012.

Category: Fitness & Physical Education

Morning Mile

This will be our second year to offer the "Morning Mile" at our school. The Morning Mile is a before school walking/running program designed to let students begin each day in an active, healthy, and fun way.

The purpose of this program is to fight childhood obesity, increase the physical activity levels of school children, and help students focus once the school day begins.

Student, parents, and teachers will be involved in this program.

The activity will be recorded through photos, student sign-in sheets, and recorded miles.

The budget will be $500 for supplies, rewards, and materials.

The Morning Mile will be offered each school morning, weather permitting. It began Sept. 17th, 2012 will
run throughout the end of the school year.

Family Fitness Night

At this event Willis Lane families will be invited to participate in stations that promote fitness
and collaboration.

The goal is to promote fitness and show how it can be a fun family activity.

Willis Lane families and staff will be involved in the event.

We will document the event through photos and a survey of parent feedback.

The budget will be $200 for supplies.

This event will take place in January, 2013.

Outdoor Physical Education

The PE teacher will take students outside for their PE class whenever the weather is permitting.

The purpose of this initiative is for students to have extra room to manuver and allow the students
to experience the outdoors as a classroom.

All students and PE teachers are involved in this activity.

This activity will be recorded through photos and lesson plans.

No additional budget is required to implement this program.

This will occur throughout the year when weather is permitting.

 

Cornerstone: Nature Adventure

Category: Exploration and Play

Nature Center Field Trip

The 4^th grade students will take a field trip to Bob Jones Nature Center to attend classes to learn about the roles of forests and prairies in ecology, biodiversity, and climate change.

The purpose of this field trip is to create an awareness of the importance of preserving our forests and prairies and how they contribute to ecology.

The 4th grade students and staff will particpate in this trip.

The activity will be recorded through journal entries and photos.

The budget is $1,000 for this activity as the students must be transported to the facility.

The field trip will take place in the spring of 2013.

Kindergarten Farm Field Trip

The Kindergarten students will take a field trip to a local farm to learn about farm animals and also to see the crops and the process the farmers go through from planting to selling/sending to the grocery stores.

All sections of the Kindergarten class will be involved.

The purpose of the activity is to give the students an understanding of what farms provide to our lives while supporting the TEKS.

The trip will be documented through journal entries and photos.

The budget will be $700, which includes transportation to the farm.

This trip will occur in spring, 2013.

 

Cornerstone:Natural Classrooms

Category: Stewardship

Earth Friendly Announcements

This is the second year that we will provide earth friendly tips and facts as part of the morning announcements.

The purpose of the announcements is to encourage students and faculty to be earth friendly by relaying tips and facts about recycling and water & energy conservation.

All students and staff members will watch the morning announcements.

The activity will be recorded through photographs and documenting announcements read.

There will be no budget for this activity.

The announcements will begin November 5, 2012 and will continue on a weekly basis throughout the
school year.

One World Challenge Contest

In conjunction with the Texas PTA, we will facilitate the One World Challenge contest with the theme of “Plug-In to Nature”.

The purpose of the activity is to encourage students to create a submission applicable to the theme through a public service announcement, essay, or visual entry.

The contest will be open to all students at Willis Lane Elementary and facilitated by the PTA.

We will post photos and/or videos of all award winning submissions.

The budget will be $30 for shipping and paper for contest guidelines and entry forms.

The contest rules will be distributed in Jan., 2013 with a deadline of Feb. 29, 2013 for all submission.

WillisLane Earth Week Celebration

We will promote Earth friendly activities throughout the week such as:

Display reminders in the cafeteria about ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Promote a waste free lunch and snack week and the use it again challenge (reuse something 3 times throughout the week).

Encourage each class to adopt an earth week project. Examples include school grounds clean up, plant
a tree, learn how to make recycled paper, make bird houses, or a lesson plan covering The Lorax.

Make our campus greener by planting a new tree or installing a rain barrel.

The purpose of the activity is empower students to become environmental stewards within the context of their own lives.

Willis Lane students, parents, staff, and the PTA will be involved in this event.

We will photograph/video weekly events and grade level projects.

The budget will be $10 for paper and supplies to promote the event and up to an additonal $150 for a new tree or rain barrel.

Earth Week will occur in April, 2013.

 Category: Nature Curricula

Learning Outdoors

Each class will participate in a class that is taught outdoors and uses resources from the outdoors (weather it is clouds,
plants, US map painted on sidewalk etc).

The purpose of this activity is to help teachers and students see the value and what can learned from our environment and the outdoors.

All classes at the school will participate.

Journal reflections and photos will document this activity.

There will be no budget for this activity.

The Outdoor Learning will occur in the Spring of 2013.

Category: Field Investigation

1^st Grade Soil Study

A master gardener will speak to the students about the different soils, how they are used and their importance to our
environment.

The purpose of the activity is to create an awareness in the importance of soil and our environment and what it does for the cycle of life.

All first grade students and teachers will be involved in this study.

Science journal entries and photos will document the study.

No budget is required for this activity.

The project will occur in December 2012.