Objective 1: Systemic Sustainability
Curriculum and Instruction, Professional Development, Sustainable Schools, and Celebration
1.1 Curriculum and Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
The CYC has six classroom that correspond with the colors of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, etc) The Blue Room is the only kindergarten room all others are preschool rooms ages 3 - 4. The curriculum is based on project work where children spend at least two months on a a worthwhile topic. Below you will see examples of environmental education from each of the six classrooms.
Red- Junkyard field trip and Yoga, Orange - Apple and Plant studies - Yellow Food study - Green Garden study - Blue Sports Study - Green Committee , Purple - Worm study, Summer Camp Studies- Energy Study, Rivers and Pond Study
Curriculum and Instruction, Professional Development, Sustainable Schools, and Celebration
1.1 Curriculum and Instruction: Environmental Issue Instruction
The CYC has six classroom that correspond with the colors of the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, etc) The Blue Room is the only kindergarten room all others are preschool rooms ages 3 - 4. The curriculum is based on project work where children spend at least two months on a a worthwhile topic. Below you will see examples of environmental education from each of the six classrooms.
Red- Junkyard field trip and Yoga, Orange - Apple and Plant studies - Yellow Food study - Green Garden study - Blue Sports Study - Green Committee , Purple - Worm study, Summer Camp Studies- Energy Study, Rivers and Pond Study
1.2 Professional Development
Demonstrate the staff is actively preparing to support your school’s environmental literacy plan to help fulfill the state’s environmental literacy requirement AND that all school knows about the MAEOE Maryland Green School process
1.2.1 All staff is aware of the Green School application process
August 2018- During the CYC first faculty meeting of the year, Vera Wiest talked to teachers about the process to renew their Maryland Green School award. See the agenda on page 2. All teachers and administrators signed a pledge to commit to it on the school's "Green Message board.
Our intent to reapply was also announced to parents and the greater community through the CYC Face Book page.
1.2.2 At least 10% of teachers have participated in Environmental Education PD within the last 4 years.
January 20, 2017- All teachers gather at nap time to collectively do the lesson for a MSDE lesson on Outdoor Education through PennState Extensions .
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June 10, 2018 Three teachers, Michelle Slough, Cici Fowler, and Vera Wiest, attended the Nature Preschool Conference at Irvine Nature Center. They learned songs, games, and activities to do outside or with nature.
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March 3, 2017 All but one teacher attended "Growing Up Wild" a workshop from the National Aquarium that gave the teachers many wonderful ideas to bring concepts of nature into the classroom and beyond. Each attendee received a large book with activities to use.
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1.2.3 Additional Professional Development
Please see agenda from the August 2018 staff meeting above to see Kristen Bowman's class given to all teachers on Mindfulness Yoga in the classroom. November 20, 2018 - Naeyc Convention Washington DC Each teacher and all administration at the CYC took at a minimum 12 credit hours of sessions at the National Association for the Education of Young Children's annual convention. Many were associated with environmental learning which included Math in the Outdoors, A look at Forest Schools in Germany, Sensory concerns for making sure children have the opportunity to move, and many more. April 13, 2019 - Five teachers went to Irvine Nature Center for it's annual Nature Preschool Conference. Wiest, Miller, Person, Hart, and Fowler attended. Workshops included, Guided Hikes, Natural Playthings, Map-making in a Forest Kindergarten etc. See images here. |
1.3 Sustainable Schools
1.3.1 School-Wide Environmental Behavior Changes
Demonstrate the steps your school has taken school-wide to make your school green.
This year the CYC received the UMD's Platinum Green Office Award. The CYC has been the recipient of the University of Maryland's Gold Green Office Award for the past five years which includes:
- Commitment to using electronic files instead of paper when applicable
- Sharing of resources instead of always buying new
- Salad Bar Mondays the first Monday of the month
- Waste Free Meeting
- Use of washable dishes
- Collect plastic bags and film and return to store for recycling
- Food leftover from hot lunch is often served for afternoon snack to limit food waste. Other leftovers are offered to families at the end of the day.
- CYC Parent Teacher Partnership - The PTP works to eliminate trash from PTP meetings and events. Minutes are written on a dry erase board and food is served on compostable plates. During the annual International Picnic the PTP used all washable plates with the teachers taking turns to wash plates.
1.3.2 Systemic Partnership
Demonstrate one partnership within the school system that supports an aspect of the Maryland Green School Program. This partnership needs to reach beyond your individual school to the “higher” or Central Office level.
Our systemic partner is The University of Maryland's Office of Sustainability which has committed to help us through the Gold Green Office award, planning environmental talks and activities for the adults and children. They were instrumental during our 2018 summer camp study on energy, teaching the children about renewable energy and arranging fieldtrips on campus. See the email.
1.4 Celebration
2010 - 2019 Maryland Day- The whole community
2014 - 2018 Global Hand Washing Day- All classrooms
2015 - 2019 Denton Green Fest- All families and the UMD community
2010 - 2019 Maryland Day- The whole community
2014 - 2018 Global Hand Washing Day- All classrooms
2015 - 2019 Denton Green Fest- All families and the UMD community