Lesson+Content+Areas

Sustainable sites, __Our Footprint on Society__.
 * what is sustainability
 * how green buildings can impact the environment in a positive way
 * how to survey the local environment
 * conduct sustainability evaluations of their existing home and school
 * investigate and share low and no-cost solutions that will reduce carbon footprint
 * Alternative transportation
 * Capstone sustainability project based learning activity

Water Efficiency, __Go Green to Keep it Clean:__
 * how to reduce and reuse water
 * track the use of water in buildings.
 * determine the quality of water locally
 * determine if unhealthy situations exist in rivers, streams and ponds and identify causes and solutions.
 * Capstone efficiency project based learning activity

Energy, and Atmosphere. __Energy is Everything__:
 * learn about current uses of energy production methods
 * global warming and climate change
 * how green buildings can significantly reduce the negative impact on greenhouse gas emissions
 * learn about energy audits, alternative energy sources and the politics that drive continued use of current method
 * Capstone energy project based learning activity

Materials and Resources. __Reduce, Reuse and Recycle__:
 * learn about waste management, regionally produced products, conservation and financial savings
 * learn about new materials that are being produced using recycled content recycling programs
 * local and global resources, populations and various other factors that will impact how and where we live in the future
 * Cradle to Cradle
 * Capstone recycling project based learning activity

Indoor Environmental Quality: __A Healthy Place to Live, Learn, and Play__:
 * investigate the science, technology and the benefits from the increased quality of indoor air
 * lighting, acoustics and temperature control
 * green cleaning and green hygiene (Spruce Industries and GoJo Co.)
 * students begin to assess and address these topics and develop an action plan to collect data, analyze and implement changes in their home, school and community
 * Capstone environmental project based learning activity


 * Unit 6.** Innovation and Design Process: __Time to Design__.

Students take on the role of LEED Accredited Professionals and other team members needed to design a green building and contribute to a sustainable design. Using what they learned cumulatively in the other lessons, students will work through the process of LEED. Their design will focus on having the least amount of impact to the environment and to the inhabitants that will occupy the building. This can be accomplished as a design challenge or competition. At every level of a curriculum design extension activities should place attention on group work to resemble the charette process which is all the team members working together from the beginning of a project to ensure maximum sustainability. Capstone projects can be integrated at the Middle School and High School levels. High School students can serve as mentors to Middle School students. Educators are encouraged to work with University level students, Emerging Green Builders or LEED Accredited Professionals from the USGBC as mentors.