The last activity in the series of four has individuals determine steps they can take to reduce their carbon footprints and then analyze their schools' recycling programs. Through a sustainability audit, they identify how and where their schools can lower their carbon footprints and in groups, present their findings to their teachers, principals, parents, or schools. 

Concepts

carbon footprints, human impact on the environment, school environment

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Involve the principal in the audits by having groups meet with him/her to share their collected data
• For groups to be most effective, keep them at two to three pupils

Classroom Considerations

• Amount of time to research, levels of classes, and length of presentations all affect the duration of this activity

Pros

• Lesson provides the audit checklists, background information, individual worksheets, a rubric for presentations, and links to other useful websites
• Great activity to get classes thinking beyond themselves and how their communities can change for the better

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.2