Green Schools PBL Cleaning Products

Name of PBL:Health/Language Based Project for Cleaning Products

Name of Author:WG and SP

Grade Level and Content Area: Elementary School Health and or Language Arts

LEED Category: Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)

Background: Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell,Excerpts from Silent Springby Rachel Carlson, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss used to start discussions about chemicals as poisons and dangerous compared to those that are helpful. Read real labels to see what is in actual cleaning products.

Relevance: The students have complained about and have had allergic reactions to some of the products used in cleaning the school. The products are not green and we want to move the thinking onto changing to those types of products andsubsequently improve health.

Objectives:

-Students will research green products so that better products can be used to improve their health and environment at home and at school. Health 2.1/Language Arts 3.2

The Scenario: The cleaning products being used in our schools are not green and they are causing health problems. We want to research and come up with alternate products that would meet cleaning needs without causing or irritating health problems.

Implementation Time Frame: 5 lesson periods

National and State Curriculum Content Standards

21st Century Skills: Learning and Innovation Skills

Life and Career Skills

Technology and Media Skills

Core Subject 21st Century Skills

Green Collar Careers:Green Environmental Auditor

Product(s):The students will research and come up with a list of alternative “green” cleaning products that will eliminate the allergens and poisons in our school environment.

Intended audience for this PBL: This student generated list will go to the maintenance staff and school administration and home to parents.

Assessment:

Content/Task Rubrics, Oral and Technology Presentation.

Materials and Resources:

The Lorax by Doctor Seuss

Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell

Excerpts from Silent Spring by Rachel Carlson

Computers and the following identified websites:

PowerPoint and Web Presentations

Environmental Education: Health and Science Curriculum

Connections to Other Content Areas:

Technology and media presentation, PowerPoint and Wiki Presentations

Language Arts/literacy, Research and written report or picture list of their findings

Driving Questions:

What environmentally green products can be used in our school to decrease health issues and promote a green environment?

Instructional Strategies: Research and Problems Based Learning

Implementation Plan:

  • Engagement: The Lorax by Dr.Seuss, Yellow Taxi song and interpretation by Joni Mitchell, Segments of Silent Spring by Rachel Carlson
  • Exploration: Students will research and compare non-green and green cleaning products
  • Explanation: Broken into groups the students can compare products and check for pollutants and green contents.
  • ElaborationStudents will make lists of green products and provide an explanation of why these products would be a better choice for the environment either at home or at school.
  • Evaluation: Rubric to evaluate student choices and substantiate their findings.

Technology Integration:

Smartboard, PowerPoint presentations, and Website exploration

Network Collaboration:Research on Websites

Partnership/Community ConnectionGreen Industry Professionals on line

Location of Project/Learning Environment:

Classroom, Janitor Supply Closet, visit to the local food market

Special Documents

Parent permission form for a trip to the food store

Accommodations for Special Needs or unique situations that need to be considered for this instructional design: Shared Reading out loud and mixed grouping accommodations

Safety Accommodations: Bottles should be empty and any actual products would be handled by the teacher or janitors only.

Additional Resources and Supplemental Environmental Education activities to support learning:

See above list of Internet sites, and books under Engagement and Materials and Resources

References: Above listed websites and attached evaluation checklist.

Project Checklist

Names of group members: ______

  1. List cleaning products that are not green:

______

______

  1. List cleaning products that are green:

______

  1. List harmful ingredients in un-green products:

______

  1. Write a statement of why it makes sense to use green products to improve environmental health.

______

______

______

______

______

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