Students are shown musical demonstration and storybook on things that animals need to survive- shelter, sunlight, water, and food. Class takes outdoor walk and are asked to give examples on the needs that were discussed.

Students learned about the different ways we travel, and the impact that fossil fuels have on our air quality and CO2 emissions. We discussed hot air balloons as a more environmentally friendly way to travel in comparison to airplanes that have emit enormous amounts of CO2. Students created their hot air balloon art to help keep our skies and our climate safe.

Sent as a SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Lesson to all teachers in these grade levels to be presented to students. Students learned what food waste is, and how food waste negatively impacts our environment. They learned two strategies for reducing food waste at school and at home. Students complete "Top Leftover Chef" thinking of ways to make leftovers into a new meal, reducing waste

Students read the books “It’s our garden" and " How did that get in my lunchbox” about gardening, composting and the growth cycle of a seed. Then students went outside to the field to see where we could potentially build a school garden.

Students had outside class to classify and learn about types of Clouds. They made observations of the clouds in the sky and used sidewalk chalk to draw their observations and discuss what they observed.

Students learned about the life cycle of a butterfly, then demonstrated their own understanding about its stages in art class. Students were then encouraged to see if they can find any of the stages (egg, caterpillar, larvae, butterfly) outside.

Students learned about different types of rock and how to classify them. They then went outside and used their knowledge to find various types of rocks. In art class, students designed their rocks during Peace Week with positive messages. These rocks will later be used to beautify the school grounds.

Students participated in school-based field trip provided by the staff from the William S. Schmidt Center. There were three rotations: Stream Ecology, Schoolyard Report Card, and Team Building. The Stream Ecology lesson included a watershed model that demonstrated how water pollution is introduced into our waterways. Then students conducted a macroinvertebrate study. The School Yard Report Card lesson had students grade their school on erosion, trash, and wildlife habitat. Then students brainstormed ideas for how they could take action to improve the impact that their school has on the environment in one of the three areas.

Ms Jhanna Levin paid our school a visit on 11/14/23 and addressed all members of our staff. We were made aware of the importance of Green School certification and the application process, activities to participate in the program, and ways to incorporate environmental learning into the curriculum.

Good Neighbor Day is a community-wide day of service in Greater College Park. The collaborative partnership is hosted by the University of Maryland, The City of College Park, and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Students and their families were invited to volunteer their time at Hollywood ES.

Edoctrina certificate of completion for Environmental Literacy Lesson Planning

Our Principal Mr. Johnson attended this training to understand the application process, and add instructional resources the the Hollywood Elementary teaching toolbox. Edoctrina certificate of completion for Maryland Green School training completed on 8/23/23

Students designed posters to help our school waste less water. They posted the signs at water fountains and sinks around the school.

Each class has a designated classroom energy helper, whose duties are to ensure lights are off when we leave the classroom for lunch, specials, and the end of the day. They also are responsible for making sure the board is shut off when leaving for the day.

Students designed light switch covers to help remind everyone to turn off the lights and save energy.

We have an active Recycling Club at Hollywood Elementary! Students meet twice a week to make sure that classes are recycling in each class as well as at lunch. Our students are responsible for making sure that our recycling makes it to the correct dumpster so that we reduce the amount of waste that we send to the landfill.

Students come up with reminders, fun facts, and cool Green ideas that are shared out in our School Announcements.

Students and volunteers beautified our courtyard by removing invasives and planting new shrubs and flowers.

We have started the planning phase of this project. Our goal is to create an outdoor classroom that will provide authentic learning opportunities for all grades. This project has been funded by the Community Schools program, and we are working with an amazing partner Nema's Gardens to bring our vision to life! Our PreK students and teachers have been involved in designing the mud kitchen and raised garden beds. Our hope is that installation can take place over the summer, so that we can start the 2024-25 school year with gardening classes, and lots of outdoor learning!

Students wanted to remind parents to turn off their engines while waiting for dismissal. They designed signs to post along the drop off route.

Good Neighbor Day is a community-wide day of service in Greater College Park. The collaborative partnership is hosted by the University of Maryland, The City of College Park, and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Students and their families were invited to volunteer service and garden at Hollywood Elementary as well as many other sites throughout the College Park community.

Nemas Gardens will be helping us design, build, and use our SEL Wellness Garden. Nemas Garden will be focusing their attention on PreK to start, and then each year we will be increasing our focus to include another grade, eventually including the whole school.

The University of Maryland's Child Development Center hosts a toy drive around the holidays to donate to organizations in College Park, including Hollywood Elementary.