The Bus Stops
Here: The Case for Biodiesel in School Buses... pp. 9-11
by Steven T. Rao
Everyday, nearly 26 million students in the U.S. and Canada take
the bus to school, and nearly 90% of these buses are powered by
diesel fuel, whose emissions have been linked to asthma, cancer,
premature death, neurobehaviorial impairment, memory loss and
many other health problems. Steven Rao's article makes the case
for the use of biodiesel fuel as a safer, cleaner, biodegradable
and economical alternative to diesel fuel. The fuel is growing in
popularity, and several school districts throughout North America
have already converted their school bus fleets to a biodiesel
blend.
Why Teach About Biodiesel?... pp. 13-14
by Richard Lawrence
Educators have an important role to play in promoting the
transition away from fossil fuels by teaching about the need for
alternative forms of energy and the options that are available.
Richard Lawrence's article offers ideas about how to incorporate
lessons about biodiesel fuel across the curriculum, including
information about how to produce in your own classroom. Internet
sites about biodiesel are included at the end of the article.
From Bean to Beetle: Soy-powered Learning at Oak Forest High
School... pp. 15
by Gail Littlejohn
Biodiesel is fueling the engines of learning at Oak Forest High
School in Oak Forest, Illinois, where teachers of plant science,
chemistry, physics and technology have joined forces in an
interdisciplinary research project focused on using soybean oil
as an environment-friendly fuel.
Asphalt Artisans: Creating a Community Eco-map on the
Playground... pp. 16-19
by Paul Fieldhouse and Lisa Bunkowsky
Describes an multidisciplinary eco-count project, in which
students, teachers, parents and other volunteers painted an
eco-map of their neighbourhood on their school's playground. The
map included elements of the green environment, built
environment, transport environment, living environment and litter
and recycling. The Windsor Green project at once promoted
learning about the local environment and urban ecology, helped to
beautify the school and provided students with a giant game board
right on their playground.
Hooked On Hummingbirds... pp. 20-27
by Kim Bailey
Hummingbird Quiz...pp. 23
Territorial Tactics...pp. 23
Migration Mishaps (game)...pp. 24-25
Design a Hummingbird Flower...pp. 26-27
Kim Bailey provides readers with a variety of ways to invite
hummingbirds into your schoolyard. The article includes a quiz,
active tag game, board game and resource section.
Environmental History: If Trees Could Talk...pp.28-31
by Marsha Alibrandi, Lucy Lafitte, Cheryl Oakes and Steven
Anderson
Arboreal Archives: Documenting Trees in Your Schoolyard...pp.
32
A School Tree Ordinance...pp. 33
Environmental history is a new field that can be defined as
"the history of human interaction with the natural
world". Literally "hands-on history",
environmental history combines investigations of the natural
environment with studies of material culture in order to create a
deeper understanding of human-land relationships. The authors
provide an introduction to this new subject, as well as a list of
resources for further information. The two activities that
accompany the article, "Arboreal Archives" and "A
School Tree Ordinance" offer good places to begin an
investigation of the environmental history of your school.
The Caboose Hike: Enhancing Outdoor Learning... pp.
35-37
by Gloria Seirs
Naturalist-guide Gloria Seirs offers sage advice and clever
techniques to make nature hikes both more enjoyable and more
effective educational experience for students of all ages.
Regaining
Paradise: Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles... pp. 38-40
by Michele Martin
The Wildlife Clubs of Seychelles is a non-governmental volunteer
organization in that island state that seeks involve young people
in conservation. There is now a club in almost every primary and
secondary school, as well as in several post secondary schools
throughout Seychelles, where students engage in a range of
activities such as recycling, habitat restoration in school
grounds, tree planting, creative writing and artwork, hiking,
snorkeling, visits to nature reserves and different island,
research projects and exhibitions.
Inside
the Internet: Population Studies on the Web... p. 41
A column by Katharine Isbell
And as always, over 20 innovative, new educational resources are profiled and evaluated in this issue of Green Teacher.
