Green STEM
in the
Elementary Classroom
Presented at the NSTA 2015
National Conference, Chicago
March 12, 2015
10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
Laura Arndt
larndt@[Link]
303.632.5593
Green STEM
inspires and empowers learners to change the world!
McREL International can work with you to design a Green STEM lesson or program that
ignites students purpose and passion for learning.
What Is Green STEM?
GreenSTEM is relevant, problem-based lessons or programs that blend science, technology,
engineering, and math to investigate a local sustainable issue and design a solution.
What Is a Sustainable Issue?
A sustainable issue explores how to make a natural resource last, without using up or destroying
the natural resource.
Conserving natural resources and energy
Protecting the balance and health of our ecosystems
Reducing pollution, consumption, and waste
Connecting people to their local, natural environment
Common Features of Green STEM:
Relevant, engaging, problem-based learning that blends the latest best-practices in science,
technology, engineering, and math
Student-driven, sustainable projects that create innovative thinkers
Unique STEM projects that address each schools unique indoor and outdoor
environment, and broader community needs
Life-changing and empowering service-learning for students, teachers, parents, and the
community
Green job connections through partnerships and higher education
Whole-child and whole-school passion for being lifelong learners and citizen scientists
For more information, contact
Laura Arndt | STEM Consultant | larndt@[Link] | 303.632.5593
Building a Green STEM Focus
Solution, Action
Sustainable
Issue, Problem
Content Needed
S
T
E
M
[Link]@STEM_McREL
larndt@[Link]
Connecting a GreenSTEM Solution to the Sustainable Issue
Class or program: ________________________________________________
What sustainable issue will the
solution or action address?
STEM Content Connection:
What is needed?
Solution, Action:
What will the students do?
[Link]@STEM_McRELlarndt@[Link]
Green STEM Citizen Science Projects
projects in which volunteers partner with scientists to answer real-world questions.
[Link]/citscitoolkit/about/definition
Science is our most reliable system of gaining new knowledge and citizen science is the public involvement in inquiry
and discovery of new scientific knowledge. A citizen science project can involve one person or millions of people
collaborating towards a common goal. Typically, public involvement is in data collection, analysis, or reporting. The
massive collaborations that can occur through citizen science allow investigations at continental and global scales and
across decades--leading to discovery that a single scientist could never achieve on their own.
[Link]
Lists of Citizen Science Projects examples
Zooniverse: [Link]
Citizen Science Central: [Link]/citscitoolkit
Citizen Science Association: [Link]
Life Science examples
Great Backyard Bird Count: Annual 4-day winter event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting
birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are. [Link]/gbbc
Natures Notebook: National plant and animal phenology observation program with the National Phenology
Network to gather data on how plants and animals are responding to climate change and other
environmental changes. [Link]/participate/observe
Project BudBurst: Monitor plants as the seasons change and submit ecological data based on the timing of
leafing, flowering, and fruiting of plants. [Link]
Project FeederWatch: A winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community
areas, and other locales in North America. [Link]/pfw
Lost Ladybug Project: Photograph ladybugs to help scientists determine where the native species have gone
and where invasive species are spreading. [Link]/
The Great Sunflower Project: Count the number and types of pollinators, with a special focus on bees,
visiting plants (especially sunflowers). [Link]
Earth Science examples
CoCoRaHS: Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network. Measure and map daily precipitation in
your local community, with current postings for the USA available every 24 hours. [Link]
Colorado RiverWatch: Monitor water quality on a monthly basis by analyzing hardness, alkalinity, dissolved
oxygen, pH and temperature. Training required. [Link]
World Water Monitoring Day: Monitor your local waterway quality for temperature, acidity (pH), clarity
(turbidity), and dissolved oxygen as part of the World Water Monitoring ChallengeTM.
[Link]
Global Ozone Project: [Link]
Space Science examples
Globe at Night: Record the brightness of their night sky. [Link]
The Great Worldwide Star Count: For this international event, observe the sky after dark and report the stars
seen in certain constellations. [Link]/citizen_science/starcount/
For more information, email larndt@[Link]
Green STEM
inspires and empowers learners to change the world!
Resources for Green STEM Projects
EcoSchools, with National Wildlife Federation: [Link]/[Link]
Garden to Table: [Link]
Green Ribbon Schools: [Link]/[Link]
Green Schools! Investigations, with Project Learning Tree: [Link]/applyprojectlearning
treegreenschools
Greening STEM Educator Toolkit: [Link]/greeningstemeducatortoolkits
Learning Gardens: [Link]
National Farm to School Network: [Link]
Schoolyard Habitats with National Wildlife Federation: [Link]/HowtoHelp/Gardenfor
Wildlife/[Link]
US Green Building Council: Center from Green Schools: [Link]/green
[Link]
This sample list is growing quickly.
Grant Opportunities for Green STEM Projects
Colorado Schoolyard Habitat Program: [Link]/#!programs/c10d6
Community Greenspace, with Urban Resources Initiative:
[Link]
Garden ABCs (list of garden grants): [Link]/[Link]
Green Up Our School (solid waste reduction): [Link]
GreenWorks! [Link]/greenworks
Growing Safe Gardens (list of garden grants): [Link]
Home Depot Foundation: [Link]
Kids Gardening: [Link]
Lowes Toolbox for Education: [Link]
Red Apple Recycling (textiles): [Link]
Whole Foods Bag Refund Donation Program:
[Link]/sites/default/files/media/bag%20donation%20program%20appli
cation%[Link]
For more information, contact
Laura Arndt | STEM Consultant | larndt@[Link] | 303.632.5593
Green STEM
inspires and empowers learners to change the world!
ACTIVITY
Designing a Passive Solar Light That Reduces Trash
Problem
How can solar lights be added to rooms with few or no windows, and no electricity?
Why Should We Care? (brainstorm)
Natural solar light uses less electricity, so will cost less.
The room will be more useful, enjoyable, and possibly safer with better lighting.
What Do We Know? (brainstorm)
How can light get into a room?
Windows, doors, sunroof, electric lights, candles, fire
Watch online videos that describe solar tubes. Search online how solar tubes work.
How a solar tube works: [Link]/watch?v=p19B-Inro68
Installing a solar tube: [Link]/watch?v=ilWOYJENCcQ
Before and after solar tubes: [Link]/watch?v=V9jncUzOL8I
Discuss the Science and Technology of How Solar Tubes Work
Light reflection, refraction, solar energy
Apply This Knowledge to Design a Solar Light for a Different Setting
People have used this knowledge to design a solar light from a used plastic water bottle (trash),
water, a drop of bleach, and a flat piece of metal.
Engineering Challenge: Design a solar tube with a plastic water bottle.
Attach the bottle to the lid of a large closed box (model for a room) so it becomes the only
light source for the inside. Which works better, a full or empty bottle?
Use the cardstock, tape, and scissors to design a way to attach solar water bottle.
Make 2-3 peeking holes on one side of the box to look inside.
Then put several objects inside the box to visually observe the effectiveness of your solar
water bottle as a light.
For more information, contact
Laura Arndt | STEM Consultant | larndt@[Link] | 303.632.5593
Green STEM
inspires and empowers learners to change the world!
Materials
Large cardboard box (copy paper box works well)
One or two different sizes of plastic water bottles with
lid. Remove labels.
Access to water if the bottle is empty
Cardstock paper or thin 4 x 8 piece of cardboard
Duct tape or packing tape
Scissors that can cut cardstock and cardboard box
Outdoor sunlight, indoor flashlight or other light source
to simulate the sunlight
Watch (before, during, or after the engineering project)
How water bottles create cheap lighting in Philippines
[Link]/news/world-asia-pacific-14967535
A Liter of Light @ Night:
[Link]/watch?v=cQCHvO2H0_0
Solar water bottles in a Ugandan kitchen
[Link]/watch?v=JO_BOSjiv1A
Fact
In 2009, 1.317 billion people in the world were living without electricity.
[Link]/resources/energydevelopment/accesstoelectricity
Discuss the Science and Technology
How can a full plastic water bottle light a room? Light entering or exiting a water surface is bent
by refraction. Light refraction causes the light to bend while traveling through the water bottle
and exit to spread light out across the room.
Change the World
Compare these water bottle solar lights (tubes) with the more technologically complex solar
tubes available in some countries.
How has this simple inexpensive technology changed the lives of thousands, and
potentially millions, of people?
How could the water bottle solar lights be used in your own neighborhood or community?
For more information, contact
Laura Arndt | STEM Consultant | larndt@[Link] | 303.632.5593