This Issue:

Table of Contents

Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

Mini-Lesson

Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

Earth Smart

Spanish Translation

By Andrea Delbanco

Spring is an exciting season at Goodwillie Environmental School, in Ada, Michigan. For the 96 fifth and sixth graders who attend this special school, it's time to make the most of the great outdoors, which they call their living classroom. As the weather warms, the students will learn about wildflowers, spend a wet and wild evening tracking frogs and gear up for a five-day backpacking trip that all sixth graders take before graduating.

The teachers and the students at Goodwillie believe that to know about nature is to love and respect it. They share an interest in the environment and try to spend some part of every day outside, even during Michigan's bitterly cold winter months.

Many high-tech features help to make Goodwillie a certified green school (see "What Is a Green School?" on page 5). The school building is as environmentally friendly as the students and teachers it protects. Goodwillie is designed to tap into natural resources to keep the building running, but to use those resources sparingly. Solar panels capture the power of the sun to heat the school in winter. Its walls are insulated with 100% recycled material, and the outdoor deck is made from sawdust and old milk jugs.

Take it Outside!
On any school day, students might tap a tree for sap, visit the school pond or pick up trash along the road. Kids also take on larger outdoor projects, including building a wooden canoe and creating a butterfly garden.

One of the messier class tasks is to gather manure from the school's chicken coop to make compost for gardening. Sixth grader Emily LePard, 11, told TFK, "Everybody has to feed the chickens and clean the coop." But Emily has learned that the chores are worthwhile. "The eggs taste a lot better [than store-bought eggs]." Plus, the chickens produce more than just tasty eggs and good material for compost. They also make money through a student-run store that sells eggs.

Phenology (fih-nah-luh-jee), the study of the weather and the life cycles of plants and animals, is one of Goodwillie's most important subjects. "We go into the woods or field and write about some of the things we're seeing, such as the changes in season," Clara Cullen, 10, explains. "It's fun."

Each student picks a spot on the school grounds or in the county park nearby. The students focus all of their senses on their surroundings. Then they write down field notes about everything they observe, including the weather. An artist comes to the school to help them learn to make sketches that accurately record what they see. Each student collects samples of bark and leaves. They return outside and repeat the process over and over to observe the changes from season to season.

For Clara, phenology, like everything at her special school, really opens her eyes to the environment around her. "It's amazing how much is out there that you don't notice when you're not tuned in," she says. You, too, can appreciate the great outdoors, whether your school is on a busy city street or near a park. Just tune in.

What is a Green School?
Schools across the country are turning green. So-called green schools are built with recycled and environmentally friendly materials. They are designed to use less energy than traditional school buildings. In the next few years, Southern California alone plans to open 150 green schools. Studies have shown there are good reasons to go green, including:

• It's healthier. Good air quality cuts down on asthma attacks and airborne germs that can cause illnesses.
• It's more comfortable. Students learn better in classrooms that have natural light and ideal temperatures.
• It's cheaper. Green schools have lower energy bills.

Go On, Get Green
Here's how to save energy and help the environment

Light Savers
Turn off the lights in a room when it is not in use. This bright idea can generate big savings on energy costs. Some schools use sensors that automatically shut off the lights when there is no motion in a room.

Heat Smart
Your school's thermostat should be set to 78∞F in warm weather and 68∞F in cooler weather. The temperature can be even farther from the comfort zone at night and on weekends, when no one is using the school building.

Reuse, Recycle
Reuse paper, cans, bottles and batteries. Use both sides of notebook paper. Carry a lunch box rather than a paper bag. Recycle whatever you can't reuse.

Don't Drip
Leaky faucets can waste large amounts of water. A small, steady flow can add up to hundreds of gallons a year. Report any drips you see.

Think!
How is Goodwillie different from your school? Name three ways.

Next: Found: A Fish Fossil with Fingers