Green schools

Almost one million Minnesota children and thousands of adults spend a significant portion of their days in K-12 school buildings. Find information about creating an environmentally healthy school and educational resources about environmental issues.

Schools

From kindergarten through high school, a typical child spends up to 15,000 hours in the classroom. By incorporating sustainable practices, school administrators and facilities staff can help reduce operating costs and environmental impacts, while promoting a healthy environment for students and staff.

• Helping schools reduce pollution
• Green building for schools
• Integrated Pest Management; Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• School bus retrofits and idle reduction
• Environmentally preferable purchasing
• Waste Reduction Awareness Program (Jeffers Foundation) - An initiative to assist elementary schools reduce lunchroom waste
• Digging Deep through School Trash - A waste composition analysis
• High Performance Schools for Higher Performing Students

Educators

The goal for environmental education is to develop an environmentally literate citizenry. Find resources for both formal and nonformal educators.

• SEEK - Sharing Environmental Education Knowledge - Minnesota's interactive directory of environmental education resources.

• Psychology of Sustainable Behavior. Research-based tips from psychology that will help empower people in making choices and change behaviors, making environmental improvements a reality.

• A GreenPrint for Minnesota - State plan for environmental education, third edition
  The GreenPrint is a ten-year plan that offers guidance to individuals, organizations and agencies that deliver or support environmental education (EE) in Minnesota.

• Environmental Literacy Scope and Sequence
  The Scope and Sequence is a tool for educators that provides a systems approach to environmental education in Minnesota.

• Minnesota Report Cards on Environmental Literacy
  This research reviews results of statewide surveys concerning environmental literacy of adults in Minnesota. Using these findings, educators can review, adapt, and develop efforts that can better serve their audiences.

• Natural Wonders - A guide to early childhood for environmental educators
  This is a tool to aid environmental educators in designing developmentally appropriate programs and activities for early childhood. (2002)

• Multi-cultural educational resources
  Environmental education is for people of all cultures, including those for whom English is not the native language. These workbooks are intended for students in English as a second language (ESL) and limited English proficiency (LEP) classes.

• Household hazardous waste learning trunk

Students

Learn how you can help prevent pollution and conserve resources.

• Student guide to environmental information
• Frogs for kids
• Environmental coloring sheets

Resources 

• SEEK - Sharing Environmental Education Knowledge: Minnesota's interactive directory of environmental education resources.
• What's in My Neighborhood: Access a wide variety of environmental information about your community.
• Living Green 365: A monthly e-newsletter to help you make choices and take action to lead a healthier and more sustainable life, 365 days a year.
• Citizen water monitoring: Become a citizen lake or stream volunteer and help gather vital information about the health of our water resources.
• Financial assistance: Grants and loans
• Current Air Quality Index