Green Squad You are the “Green Squad”. Take a look at these images that might be seen around a school building. What environmental “issues” or problems do you see in these pictures?

Google image labeled for noncommercial use

Fertilizing a yard Google image labeled for noncommercial use

Google images labeled for noncommercial use

Google images labeled for noncommercial use.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA. Photography ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 3 May 2016.  http://quest.eb.com/search/300_1828161/1/300_1828161/cite

Google image for noncommercial use

As a Green Squad member, you are a Preservation Problem Solver As a Green Squad member, you are a Preservation Problem Solver. This means that your job is to protect and maintain our environment and natural resources. What are our natural resources? Water, air, soil, minerals, animals, and plants – these are things from our environment that we need to meet our needs. Some resources are limited and must be used wisely. Our actions can extend or limit our natural resources.

Mess (what is wrong or missing) What might happen as a result? Today we will identify resources within our school building that are being wasted. We will then work together using the Creative Problem Solving process to solve a real environmental problem. Area of School Mess (what is wrong or missing) What might happen as a result? How can I fix it?   Classroom Cafeteria Bathroom Outside

Now that we have walked around our school, let’s compare the messes we found around our school to the pictures we looked at earlier.

Turn and talk…based on what we have seen and discussed, what do you think the issue might be in each picture? The exhaust from a bus contains up to 200 times more soot than exhaust from a car! Most school buses run on diesel fuel which causes much more pollution that the gas used in cars. All that extra pollution makes the air dirtier and also makes it harder for us to breath. Exhaust from the bus causes air pollution; the exhaust from a bus contains up to 200 times more soot than exhaust from a car! Most school buses run on diesel fuel which causes much more pollution that the gas used in cars. All that extra pollution makes the air dirtier and also makes it harder for us to breath. Solution – But you can reduce your exposure to diesel exhaust and help your school switch to cleaner new buses or replace exhaust system Google image labeled for noncommercial use

Pesticides are dangerous and they can stay in the environment a long time. Five years after a lawn is a sprayed with pesticides, they can still be in the dirt! To keep weeds and bugs away, schools may spray the lawn with pesticides. But these chemicals don’t stay put. They get into the dirt, air and water, where they can harm wildlife and people. They can also get on our hands, feet or clothes or we can track the into our school on the bottom of our shoes. Fertilizing a yard Pesticides are dangerous and they can stay in the environment a long time. Five years after a lawn is a sprayed with pesticides, they can still be in the dirt! To keep weeds and bugs away, schools may spray the lawn with pesticides. But these chemicals don’t stay put. They get into the dirt, air and water, where they can harm wildlife and people. They can also get on our hands, feet or clothes or we can track the into our school on the bottom of our shoes. Google image labeled for noncommercial use

We go through lots of paper at school. You probably know that trees are cut down to make paper. But did you know that paper-making factories are some of the world’s worst polluters? We go through lots of paper at school. You probably know that trees are cut down to make paper. But did you know that paper-making factories are some of the world’s worst polluters? Recycling a single ton of paper (200 pounds) saves 17 trees! All three images are Google images labeled for noncommercial use Recycling a single ton of paper (2,000 pounds) saves 17 trees!

More than half of the energy that goes into a computer is wasted More than half of the energy that goes into a computer is wasted. Instead of helping you do your work, it turns into heat. No one is using this computer lab, but it is still on and using energy. Schools have lots of equipment, from fax machines to copiers to printers. Imagine how much energy they waste when they are not used right. Google images labeled for noncommercial use. More than half of the energy that goes into a computer is wasted. Instead of helping you do your work, it turns into heat. No one is using this computer lab, but the computers are still on and using energy.

We produce a lot of waste in the cafeteria We produce a lot of waste in the cafeteria. If it is not reused or recycled, this waste fills up our landfills which leads to pollution. How can we reuse and recycle in the cafeteria? We produce a lot of waste in the cafeteria. If it is not reused or recycled, this waste fills up our landfills which leads to pollution. How can we reuse and recycle in the cafeteria? Solution – use lunchboxes with containers instead of paper and plastic bags, use a thermos instead of a plastic water bottle, use plastic trays instead of Styrofoam trays, recycle all materials that we can, create a compost pile of uneaten food. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 3 May 2016.  http://quest.eb.com/search/300_1828161/1/300_1828161/cite

Leaving the lights on when no one is in the room wastes energy Leaving the lights on when no one is in the room wastes energy. Many lightbulbs used in schools burn out frequently and need to be replaced. Leaving the lights on when no one is in the room wastes energy. Many lightbulbs used in schools burn out frequently and need to be replaced. Solution: turn out lights, use CFL or LED lights Google image for noncommercial use

Leaving water running is wasteful when it is not being used Leaving water running is wasteful when it is not being used. Clogging sinks with paper towels wastes paper products while also causing damage to the pipes and water system. Leaving water running is wasteful when it is not being used. Clogging sinks with paper towels wastes paper products while also causing damage to the pipes and water system.

Your turn… Now that we have done some exploring, which issue/mess would you like to investigate further?

All images taken from Google with permission to use for noncommercial use or from Britannica Images. The NRDC’s (Natural Resources Defense Council) retired “Green Squad” interactive was referenced for the text included in this document.