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Welcome to the interactive page for kids,
parents and teachers!
Students for Solar Schools
 Students for Solar Schools (SSS) is a student-run campaign that empowers high school students to
create a successful solar energy initiative at their campus. Adding to the remarkability of this milestone for young green patriots, not only is SSS run by students, its founder, seventeen-year-old Adam Raudonis, is a student himself at Westlake High School in southern California.
Currently, their main project is fundraising for solar panels on Adam’s school, Westlake High School. So far, from activities ranging from placing collection jars in classes to applying for online grants, they have been able to raise exactly $2,000. Their goal is to obtain $5,800 for a 2.8kW solar panel array and online monitoring system that could be connected to classrooms and the school's website. The main purpose for Students for Solar Schools extends beyond just one high school. Through the website Adam created: www.studentsforsolarschools.org, they’re looking to build a network of teens at several schools across the country that are all working towards getting solar at their schools.
The project was inspired by California's landmark global warming resolution AB32, which effectively targets homes and businesses but leaves out the state’s public school system. Since its creation
in November, Students for Solar Schools has started chapters at seven high school campuses, raised several thousand dollars for panels and gained approval at Westlake High. Their website and forum allow the schools to work together on materials such as pitch pamphlets and petitions. They seek to help the environment by reducing fossil fuel emissions with solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems and the schools by saving them thousands of dollars a month on energy bills.
If you would like to start a program at your school or would just like to ask any school solar-related questions please email Adam at adam.raudonis@gmail.com or call him at 818-438-1900.
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Meet the Greens and Learn Cool Ways to Protect the Planet!
From the people who brought Arthur and Curious George to TV, Meet the Greens was created for the Internet as a place for kids to learn about green sustainable living. Izz, Dex, Granny, Mrs. Greener and other green-minded characters invite kids along on their animated adventures and engage them in becoming proactive in caring for the environment. It’s no wonder that Green Business named Meet the Greens one of the “10 best environmental sites on the web.”
Find out what the Greens are up to next by visiting them here.
Check out the Kids' Corner at Ecology.com
Through comics, cartoons, videos, fun games and more Kids' Corner on Ecology.com provides a wide source of information to inform and educate kids on how to protect our environment. Kids, you can team up with Captain Seaweed to help protect our world’s oceans or visit the wetland habitat to pick up tips on what you can do to slow down climate change!
Visit the Kids' Corner here |
For Parents – New Green Toy Line at Toys "R" Us
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The big news at this year's American International Toy Fair in February was that, next to high-tech and web toys, green toys are the fastest growing category in the industy. And by green toys we are not referring strictly to Incredible Hulk action figures or cuddly stuffed green turtles, but instead toys made from eco-friendly, nontoxic processes and materials.
Parents of school-age children are undoubtedly the happiest about the surge in eco-friendly toys. With millions of toys recalled over the last year due to chemical or lead poisoning hazards (over a million by Fisher Price in one month alone), the change is deemed necessary by parents who have used their influence as consumers to demand higher standards from toymakers. Parents want what’s safe for their children—they want green toys.
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So it comes to no surprise that one of the biggest names in toys is setting up their tent and joining the green toy camp. On April 1, Toys "R" Us announced the launch of a new line of environmentally friendly toys. The new toys will hit stores April 22, just in time to celebrate Earth Day--the kids' way!
The company has put their iconic flipped "R" to good use. The new line of toys will be branded with a leaf, and the "R" inside. The leaf will then be encircled by the words "Recycle, Renew, Reuse, Re-think." The packaging will be made of at least 70% recycled material.
All of the wood toys will be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which identify the wood as sourced from well-managed forests. The wood line includes a variety of cars and trucks, a shape sorter and alphabet blocks. These toys vary in price from $9.99 to $24.99.
The stuffed animals and organic cotton dolls will be made from unprocessed, unbleached and untreated cotton. Meanwhile they will be brightly dyed by using all natural or water-based dyes. A variety of soft, fury and fun creatures will be available including, a monkey, bunny, lamb, and teddy bear; the dolls will be available in assorted colors as well. The line will retail at $14.99.
For the Young Green Patriot nothing could be better than news of the mainstream turning a cleaner shade of green. Good news Toys "R" Us!
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The Edible Schoolyard – From Seed To Table
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The students of Samuel J. Green Charter School in New Orleans and Martin Luther King Junior Middle School in Berkeley, CA are now proudly part of the slow food (as opposed to fast food) movement—thanks to Alice Waters and her Edible Schoolyard program.
The Edible Schoolyard provides urban public school students with a one-acre organic garden and a kitchen classroom. Using food systems as an educational concept, students learn how to grow, harvest, and prepare nutritious seasonal produce.
Children learn about the connection between what they eat and where it comes from, with the goals of fostering environmental stewardship and revolutionizing the school lunch program. Linking garden and kitchen activities with classroom lessons using ecological principles, students develop a deep understanding and appreciation of how nature sustains life.
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Click here for A Free Guide for Creating School Gardens as Outdoor Classrooms.
Click here to read more about the program in New Orleans.
Click here to read more about the program in Berkeley.
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Young Patriot Competitions!
In the 2008-09 school year, we will have friendly competitions and feature individual kids and classrooms who are making a difference as young Green Patriot™ Americans!
If you are an elementary, junior high, or high school teacher and would like to participate, please contact us at info@greenpatriot.us
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Cool Ideas for Teachers from National Geographic
How do we teach our kids to be Green Patriots? In 2005, National Geographic and Ford Motor Company teamed together to develop a terrific in-school lesson plan for teachers to use with students of almost all ages. Some of their best ideas include environmental improvement projects for schools ranging from recycling and replacing incandescent light bulbs to carpooling and organic gardening. Click here to visit the National Geographic site.
Lesson Plans from PBS Eeko World
PBS Kids Go has created Eco-Lesson plans for Grades K-4 that focus on language arts, science, social studies, mathematics and the arts. They focus on promoting creativity and critical thinking while helping kids learn how to be Green Patriot environmentalists. Be sure to visit their unique Eeko World Lesson Plans site to learn more.
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