Step 1. Perform a Baseline Assessment:
Complete a baseline assessment. Note: data from a previous assessment / audit from a non-profit or government agency can be used to fill out the Green Star Schools Assessment.
Step 2. Create an Action Plan to obtain GSS certification: Students with the guidance of a teacher or advisor, will then prepare an Action Plan to reduce waste using the Waste Reduction and Recycling Assessment result.
The Action Plan will:
Identify barriers to make improvements and propose solutions
State how students will “Take Action”
State the students’ responsibilities related to waste reduction and recycling in the classroom
Step 3. Complete the Action Project(s) identified in your Action Plan (must do at least one): Students take action to reduce waste by completing one or more Action Projects. Note: Action Project(s) previously accomplished by your classroom/students can be used toward this requirement for certification.
Step 4. Do a Follow-up Assessment and Report on the actions taken by your class to conserve resources and reduce C02e: After completing the action project(s) identified in your Action Plan, complete the Follow-up Assessment and Report. This will help us calculate the positive environmental impacts of the students’ action(s).
Step 5: Celebrate and Share your project(s): Recognize and celebrate the environmental actions the students have taken. Share your story with the Green Star Schools Program by signing up your classroom and reporting your success on the GSS website.
Relevant Curriculum Topics
Topic 1. Provide an introduction to environmental topics and principles
Topic 2. Conduct a classroom/school Environmental Assessment
Topic 3. Take action in the classroom
Topic 4. Reach out beyond the classroom
Topic 5. Measure the impact of the actions. Evaluation, reflect and celebrate.
Tips for participating in GreenStarSchools
Use this GSS website to find action projects and tools to help your classroom, school, or district to conserve resources, reduce its carbon footprint (CO2 emissions), and get certified under the Green Star School program (Note – currently, GSS certification is only for classrooms, schools, and districts in San Mateo County.)
Once your classroom has completed an action project you can use the GSS website to create a project report to share what your class has done and learned to conserve resources and reduce C02 emissions. Our tools can help you determine how much C02 was saved by your project and your class can proudly display this on the GSS C02 Saved Leaderboard.
To get started, go to the Project and Tools section to find projects that help your classroom become GSS Certified (school and district certification will be available in Spring 2016).
Please note you can search and use the information and action projects and tools on this website without signing up your classroom. Nevertheless, we strongly encourage teachers in Alameda and San Mateo County to sign up their classrooms, so you can report and share your result and showcase your C02 reductions on the GSS leaderboard.