Systemic Sustainability

Environmental Curriculum and Instruction

1.1 Activities

Elementary & middle schools must provide one example of outdoor/environmental instruction per grade level.

High schools must provide one example of outdoor/environmental instruction in four subjects (which may include multiple different differents sciences).

Grades
Kindergarten
Class Name (3rd grade science, AP Biology)
Kindergarten science
Date
Fri, 15 Dec 2023
Lesson / Activity
Bird Feeders
Teacher Name
Janelle Mcintyre
Students Count
71
Activity Description

On December 15th, Kindergarten students made bird feeders to hang in the trees outside their classroom windows. This was an extension of the Kindergarten Science Unit about what animals need to live and grow. In the classroom they completed a journal entry to show what animals need. Observation of the bird feeders gave the students an opportunity to see the birds get what they need to survive.

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Grades
Grade 1
Class Name (3rd grade science, AP Biology)
1st grade
Date
Fri, 10 Nov 2023
Lesson / Activity
Howard County Conservancy Field Trip
Teacher Name
Samantha Rodriguez
Students Count
72
Activity Description

First grade students went on a field trip to the Howard County Conservancy in Woodstock, MD. On this trip, they learned about nature by going on a hike. They also learned about wildlife by listening to a lecture about owls and saw an owl that the Conservancy rescued. Students walked around the grounds and found insects, leaves, bark, etc. to observe and look at through magnifying glasses.

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Grades
Grade 2
Class Name (3rd grade science, AP Biology)
2nd grade science
Date
Fri, 5 May 2023
Lesson / Activity
Butterfly Release
Teacher Name
Suzan Stratakis
Students Count
69
Activity Description

All 69 second grade students participated in releasing Painted Lady Butterflies after making observations and learning about pollination in our science unit.

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Grades
Grade 3
Class Name (3rd grade science, AP Biology)
3rd grade science
Date
Fri, 14 Oct 2022
Lesson / Activity
Planting Green Beans
Teacher Name
Maureen Cruz
Students Count
63
Activity Description

Third grade students planted green bean seeds and observed them through the growth process. We were very excited this year because we were able to grow large vines. Students were very excited to observe the life cycle of a seed they had planted. We continued to use our observation skills into the cold weather months.

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Grades
Grade 4
Class Name (3rd grade science, AP Biology)
4th grade math
Date
Fri, 8 Dec 2023
Lesson / Activity
Number of Water Bottles Saved
Teacher Name
Lois Bailey
Students Count
64
Activity Description

Our school has water bottle filling stations at each water fountain. As part of a math lesson that was a review of subtraction with regrouping, 64 Fourth Grade students calculated the number of plastic water bottles saved during the month of November.

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Grades
Grade 5
Class Name (3rd grade science, AP Biology)
5th grade
Date
Fri, 22 Sep 2023
Lesson / Activity
Geosphere Watershed Models
Teacher Name
Kim West
Students Count
79
Activity Description

5th grade students utilized their knowledge of a geosphere and aspects of a geosphere to create a geosphere watershed model. This model was then used to show the interactions of Earth's systems and what humans can do to prevent pollution in our waterways.

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Grades
Pre-K
Class Name (3rd grade science, AP Biology)
Pre-K/Preschool
Date
Tue, 7 Nov 2023
Lesson / Activity
Recycling and Reusing
Teacher Name
Nancy Barsoum
Students Count
100
Activity Description

Students learned about recycling and reusing. The students learned about the importance of recycling and its effects on the environment. This involved turning the housekeeping center into a recycling plant. The kids helped to make labels for a few boxes and covered the boxes with the recycling colors. The kids brought in different items to be recycled from their homes and learned how to sort the different items into boxes. They also learned about the different symbols on plastic products and sorted according to the numbers on the items. Students then learned about reusing things instead of throwing them away and made different instruments from recycled materials.

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1.2 Green School Awareness

1.2.1 School Wide Awareness - Staff

Demonstrate that all school personnel are aware of the Green School status of your school and the application process.

Summary Description

At a staff meeting on November 6, 2023, all staff was informed that we are reapplying for our Green School Certification. The Green School Committee reminded the staff that they will be asking for participation across grade levels. More information will be distributed during the course of the year. They were encouraged to contact any of the committee member if they have any questions.

Date
Mon, 6 Nov 2023
Staff in Attendance
63
Meeting Description

At a staff meeting on November 6, 2023, all staff was informed that we are reapplying for our Green School Certification. The Green School Committee reminded the staff that they will be asking for participation across grade levels. More information will be distributed during the course of the year. They were encouraged to contact any of the committee member if they have any questions.

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1.2.2 School-Wide Celebration

Demonstrate how your school celebrates beig a Green School by hosting a school-wide environmentally-focused event open to all students.

Summary Description

Talbott Springs will be celebrating Earth Day/week in April. Each day classrooms will be learning about different ways our school is helping our environment. Students will also be generating new ideas to implement in the future. Each day classes will be asked to complete a digital survey to share what they learned. Prizes will be awarded for classes that participate. 491 students will participate in this celebration.

Grades
Pre-K, Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 4, Grade 3, Grade 5
Other Grades
Date
Mon, 22 Apr 2024
Celebration / Event title
TSES Earth Week
Event Description

In April 2024, Talbott Springs will be celebrating Earth Week with daily mini-lessons presented in each classroom Preschool-5th grade. Classes will be challenged to respond to daily questions about each topic. Participating classes will be entered into a raffle to win fun, earth-friendly prizes. Some of the prizes include nominating a teacher to dye their hair green, watering the garden for a week, and a party with food harvested from our garden.

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Other Files

Earth Week at TSES Slides (8.86 MB)

Slideshow that teachers will share with the students each day.

Environmental Professional Development for Teachers

1.3.1 Environmental Professional Development for Teachers

Demonstrate that 10% of staff have completed an environmental PD. Instructional staff is defined as any staff that manages a gradebook.

  • New Schools must have all PD completed within the past 2 academic years.
  • Renewing schools must have all PD completed within the past 4 academic years.

A teacher who has participated in multiple workshops may only be counted once..

Summary Description

On February 12, 2014, Talbott Springs invited Teddy Driscoll to provide professional development for our staff. Mr. Driscoll is the Elementary Programs Manager for the Howard County Conservancy. Mr. Driscoll presented a program entitled "Stories from the Garden" to 16 staff members. During the program we learned about how to incorporate interpretive storytelling in our lessons. He modelled a lesson and then gave us time to practice in small groups. We were encouraged to use our school garden to allow students to explore, discover and learn through interpretive storytelling.

Number of Teachers
16
Date
Wed, 21 Feb 2024
Teacher
Lois Bailey
Development Description

Invite sent to staff:

On Monday, February 12th at 3:30pm, we will have an optional presentation put on by the Howard County Conservancy. It won't be longer than 45 minutes. If you would be willing to attend, please fill out the google form linked here.

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Date
Mon, 12 Feb 2024
Teacher
Maura Watson
Development Description

Invite sent to staff:

On Monday, February 12th at 3:30pm, we will have an optional presentation put on by the Howard County Conservancy. It won't be longer than 45 minutes. If you would be willing to attend, please fill out the google form linked here.

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Date
Mon, 12 Feb 2024
Teacher
Nancy Barsoum
Development Description

Invite sent to staff:

On Monday, February 12th at 3:30pm, we will have an optional presentation put on by the Howard County Conservancy. It won't be longer than 45 minutes. If you would be willing to attend, please fill out the google form linked here.

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Date
Mon, 12 Feb 2024
Teacher
Teresa Roberts
Development Description

Invite sent to staff:

On Monday, February 12th at 3:30pm, we will have an optional presentation put on by the Howard County Conservancy. It won't be longer than 45 minutes. If you would be willing to attend, please fill out the google form linked here.

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Date
Mon, 12 Feb 2024
Teacher
Kendyl Walton
Development Description

Invite sent to staff:

On Monday, February 12th at 3:30pm, we will have an optional presentation put on by the Howard County Conservancy. It won't be longer than 45 minutes. If you would be willing to attend, please fill out the google form linked here.

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Date
Mon, 12 Feb 2024
Teacher
Rachel Williams
Development Description

Invite sent to staff:

On Monday, February 12th at 3:30pm, we will have an optional presentation put on by the Howard County Conservancy. It won't be longer than 45 minutes. If you would be willing to attend, please fill out the google form linked here.

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Date
Mon, 12 Feb 2024
Teacher
Beth Krakower
Development Description

Invite sent to staff:

On Monday, February 12th at 3:30pm, we will have an optional presentation put on by the Howard County Conservancy. It won't be longer than 45 minutes. If you would be willing to attend, please fill out the google form linked here.

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Date
Mon, 12 Feb 2024
Teacher
Patricia Cristiani
Development Description

Invite sent to staff:

On Monday, February 12th at 3:30pm, we will have an optional presentation put on by the Howard County Conservancy. It won't be longer than 45 minutes. If you would be willing to attend, please fill out the google form linked here.

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1.4 Achieving Sustainable Schools

1.4.1 School-Wide Staff Sustainability

Demonstrate the sustainability practices your teachers, staff, and other personnel have implemented school-wide to make your school green. Any actions involving students belong under Objective 2.

Behavior Change

Our school has installed 4 water fountains equipped with water bottle fillers. The fountains keep track of the number of plastic water bottles saved. This encourages students and staff to use refillable water bottles.

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1.4.2 Systemic Partnership

Demonstrate one partnership with a central office or board within the school system that supports part of the Maryland Green Schools Program. Any partnerships outside of your school system belong under Objective 3.

Summary Description

The Howard County Public School System Elementary Science Office has collaborated with HCPSS educators, as well as those from other school systems, community volunteers, scientists, and Monarch organizations to support the successful rearing of Monarch butterflies in the classroom. Our school participated in this program.

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Student Action

Schools must document eight total actions that address at least three of the listed sustainability practices.

These are student actions not adult actions. Adult sustainable actions can be documented in Objective 1.4.

2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention

2.1 Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention

Date
Mon, 28 Aug 2023
Activity title
Rain Barrel Usage
Activity Description

Students use two installed rain barrels to water the school vegetable garden. They learn how the rain barrel collects water off the roof and how it helps us use less water from the school water sources.

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2.2 Energy Conservation

2.2 Energy Conservation

Date
Thu, 14 Dec 2023
Activity title
"Turn Off the Lights" Sign Creation and Installation
Activity Description

In celebration of National Energy Conservation Day, students in 4th grade decorated signs to hang up in each classroom. The signs encourage everyone to turn off the lights when they leave the room.

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2.3 Solid Waste Reduction

2.3 Solid Waste Reduction

Date
Thu, 9 Nov 2023
Activity title
Paper Recycling
Activity Description

Throughout the school, students collect paper waste. This paper is then collected in a large bin in the hallway. Next it is place in a large dumpster that is emptied weekly.

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Date
Fri, 1 Sep 2023
Activity title
Composting
Activity Description

Every Friday, students collect food scraps from the school cafeteria and teacher's lounge and add them to our compost bin located in our vegetable garden area.

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2.4 Habitat Restoration

2.4 Habitat Restoration

Date
Fri, 1 Sep 2023
Activity title
Monarch Butterfly Habitat
Activity Description

We installed and maintain a Monarch Butterfly Habitat. We also have native perennial plants in our garden that attract insects. Students observe evidence of Monarchs during the course of the summer. There is a direct connection for the 3rd graders who participate in a Monarch Butterfly unit.

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2.5 Opportunities for Nature Exploration

2.5 Opportunities for Nature Exploration

Date
Fri, 1 Sep 2023
Activity title
Outdoor Classroom
Activity Description

Students use our Outdoor Classroom when participating in Science investigations. It is also used for other content areas. Students who need a break from their traditional learning classrooms also benefit from using this space.

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Date
Fri, 1 Sep 2023
Activity title
Vegetable Garden
Activity Description

Our Vegetable Garden provides opportunities for student participation. They help plant, maintain and harvest. Many of the primary students also use this space to build vocabulary by identifying colors, flowers, vegetables, etc. The produce from the garden is shared with school families and our local community.

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2.6 Responsible Transportation

2.6 Responsible Transportation

No records were added by the school.

2.7 Healthy Indoor Environments

2.7 Healthy Indoor Environments

Date
Mon, 18 Sep 2023
Activity title
Girls on the Run
Activity Description

All 3rd - 5th grade girls are invited to participate in Girls on the Run. There is a fall session and a spring session. The group meets twice a week to help students recognize their inner strength, increase their level of physical activity, imagine their possibilities, and confidently stand up for themselves and others.

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2.8 Citzen/Community/Participatory Science

2.8 Citizen/Community/Participatory Science

No records were added by the school.

Community Partnership

Demonstrate that your school is forming long-term partnerships to foster environmental stewardship and cultivate community wellness through real-world connections.

3.1 Community Partnerships

3.1.1 School Active in Community

Describe at least one environmentally-focused partnership in which your school is working to benefit your community.

Date
Sat, 3 Jun 2023
Partner name
Columbia Community Care
Activity Description

Over the summer, produce from our Vegetable Garden is donated to an organization called Columbia Community Care. This is a local organization that distributes food to community members.

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3.1.2 Community Active in the School

Describe at least one partnership in which a community partner is benefitting the school. These actions and projects occur on or near school grounds with support from the partner.

Date
Sat, 5 Aug 2023
Partner name
Community Ecology Institute
Activity Description

We have established a partnership with a Community Ecology Institute. This is a local organization that supports our Community Vegetable Garden. They have provided advice, garden planning, garden materials and volunteers to make sure our garden is successful.

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3.2 Additional Achievements

3.2 Additional Achievements optional

Share any environmentally-related awards, special recognition, certifications, or other achievements that your school, staff or students have accomplished.

Date
Mon, 15 Aug 2022
Title of award
LEED Certification (In-Progress)
Activity Description

Talbott Springs Elementary School opened a new building in 2022. TCA Architects designed it to be a LEED Silver building.

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