Students completed a school yard evaluation to determine areas that needed support with erosion prevention. The 6th graders researched possible solutions to prevent or reduce the amount of sediment that eroded. They then worked in groups to develop and design a plan for our school yard habitat.

Students researched climate and weather and collected relevant data for our school. Students then researched how Earth's systems are impacted by climate change. Students then conducted school yard report cards for our school community. The student researched why some areas are disproportionally affected by climate change. The culminating experience is a field trip where students investigated mitigation and adaptations to climate resiliency.

Students investigated how the water quality affects the duckweed plant. Students developed and carried out the investigation and then analyzed the results. They then examine our water quality for the Patapsco River and determined how the environment was affected by the water quality.

Students were given the Blue Heron Town project where each student group was given one perspective on how the town utilizes the land. Students reached the causes and effects of how their perspective impacts the land and the environment. As a culminating experience, students developed a research project that examined; the current water quality, the effects of pollution on the food web, sources of pollution, and the overall consensus. As an extension project, they investigated our current land use in Maryland and how they could make a positive impact on our local ecosystem.

Students investigated how excess CO2 impacts the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay. in conjunction with learning about the pH of the water, students examine oyster shells, researched and conducted an investigation of the chemical equations that oysters use to develop their shells, and finally conducted an experiment on how excess CO2 affects the pH levels.

Students investigated how pollution affects the quality of the air. Each group researched one of the deadly 6 molecules that are present in our atmosphere. Students presented how the chemical was added to the atmosphere, the chemical equations, and how we could reduce the number of chemicals in the atmosphere. As a culminating experience, students developed a presentation to present at our Environmental Day and how our community could have a positive impact on the quality of our air in our community.

Staff was present at PIP planning meetings and time was devoted to covering our Green School Application. We discussed where we have been, which initiatives we've already incorporated, and where were are planning on going. We discussed our staff initiatives and what staff could do to decrease our energy consumption. We were charged with two actionable items that all staff could work to improve throughout the year.

Patapsco, in conjunction with Howard County conservancy, presented where we are as a nation with climate change and how we can make a productive impact on the environment within our classroom. Teachers worked in groups to develop a list of ideas, alongside experiences at the Conservancy. Teachers walked away with ideas and a charge of how they could integrate conservation efforts within their classrooms.

Throughout the evening celebration our community participated in the following events:

• Tree Planting and Students speakers on our environmental impact and ways to use energy sustainably
• Music being played that included music in the environment
• Supporting your health with basketball and soccer
• Planting plants into the Patapsco Garden and beautifying our outside space.
• Presentation from the Howard County Library on Environmental Programs and Books offered at the library
• Planting of Native seeds to take home and plant in our communities own garden
• Mt Hebron environmental club and efforts for conservation and energy usage
• Master Gardeners presentation on composting

Design and Execute a plan to remove litter from Schoolyard – Environmental Club collected litter on school grounds prior to the litter reaching the Patapsco River. This is completed multiple times throughout the year.

Research and Design an erosion control project to reduce the amount of erosion on the school grounds. They conducted an experiment to determine the most effective method to reduce erosion. As a culminating experience, they developed a model of their recommendation for the area.

Green Team designed switch plate covers to encourage energy conservation by turning off lights when the classroom is empty. The green team also went around and turned off lights when staff/students were not in their rooms.

Green Team participated in an energy audit with HCPSS and examined the data to see where all of the energy is used within the school building. Students conducted an investigation on phantom energy and how much wattage is used to charge Chromebooks, presenters, and air purifiers.

Green Team Researching and reporting out Energy Saving Tips for the morning announcements. Energy Saving Tips are also included in the Knightly Newsletter for our community.

6th Grade math students conducted an analysis of solar power. Mathematicians calculated how much energy was saved by installing solar panels in their homes.

Students self-selected which reading they preferred to learn more about climate change. Students completed the reading and then assesses their understanding through CommonLit.

Green Team designing instructional posters for school-wide usage of recycling bins. Green Team regularly monitors and manages the school recycle bins within the classrooms. When the students walked around, they noticed that many students were not using the recycle bins properly, so they developed a Kahoot for other students to play during Knight time to review what materials should be recycled within the classroom.

Students repurposed the use of materials in art projects in their art classes. As a culminating experience, students developed & decorated bulletin boards.

8th Grade students participated in a recycled paper artwork in celebration of Earth Day

Environmental Club designed, built and maintain a butterfly garden. They tilled the land and planted native plants into the garden to attract wildlife and butterflies. The following native plants were added to our habitat project; common milkweed, swamp milkweed, fennel, mountain mint, joe pye weed, butterfly weed, turtle head, verbena, lobelia, cardinal flower, native honeysuckle, yarrow, lavender, blue eyed grass, coneflower, black eyed susan, bee balm, salvia, aster, false indigo, beauty berry.

A group of 8th-grade students built birdhouses and bat houses that will be added to their community homes and around our school grounds.

7th Grade students, in conjunction with Cornell University, monitor the bird activity on our school grounds

Outside of the application window, an outdoor classroom was built for students and staff to use throughout the day. Since the building, students can ask and encourage all teachers to consistently use the outdoor classroom for their lessons. Staff then signs up to reserve the space for student use.

6th, 7th and 8th-grade students propagate and maintain indoor plants in the science classrooms to enhance air quality.

Environmental Club conductions monthly clean-up events to maintain a litter-free environment. The students break up into sections around the school grounds and collect as much litter. Student groups are currently working on ways to reduce the amount of litter found outside.

Students organized and participated in an outdoor running club that utilized the school grounds and encouraged students to spend time outdoors

Students consistently advocate for turning off the lights and using the lights from the windows, throughout the day. This promotes a healthy school environment by using natural lighting during the class period.

7th-grade students participate in the Cornell Bird Ornithology Project FeederWatch. Students

Students will be conducting a Citizen Science on earthworms in the mid-Atlantic. This project seeks your help to produce a better map of distribution for L. friendi, the ‘other’ nightcrawler. To achieve this, we need your help to collect and photograph these large earthworms. They will collect earthworms around on community and send them back to Johns Hopkins in the coming weeks.

Students used their voices to get "Clothes for Cash" bin on our school grounds, which occurred prior to the application window. During the 2021 school year, students were promoted to their parents to bring used clothes for our used clothes drive. They monitored the number of clothes collected for each month. Then they challenged their parents to beat previous totals.

In conjunction with Mt.Hebron Environmental Club, students from Patapsco and Hebron worked together to make leaf stencils, Earth Day body art, and potted plants for our community members to take home.

Patricia Newman – Environmental Writer and speaker that virtually presented and hosted an environmental education assembly. Student groups read her books and completed several lesson plans associated with her books.

Students have the opportunity to participate in several investigations developed by Towson; Towson Loaner Lab. Each kit comes with several lesson plans and investigations for students to complete. Our students have completed Ocean Acidification and It's a Gassy World.

The Howard County Conservancy is involved in several aspects of our school. In 6th grade, the Conservancy works in conjunction with our 6th-grade educators during Outdoor education, and then again later in the year with our Climate KNOWLedge Unit. With the KNOWLedge unit, they conduct a school-yard report and a Climate Field Trip. Additionally, they had representatives at our Earth Day, Go Patapsco Go Green, community event.

Students of the Mt. Hebron Environmental Club came to our Go Patapsco, Go Green event, where they shared about conservation efforts and helped the community to develop

The University of Maryland was part of our community event. Their contributions talked about best practices for composting and the perfect recipes They shared with our community how composting would be beneficial to our environment.