This article provides information about an elementary school that is the largest net-zero energy school in Wisconsin.
Students will learn about the importance of sustainability in relation to climate change and the steps taken to include the local community in decision-making.
The benefit of becoming energy efficient is often mentioned as a valuable topic for students to learn.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The information will work well as either a whole-class read-aloud or as an individual assignment.
Themes of sustainability and community support are found throughout the article, which can be starting points for units about those topics.
With one click, this article can be translated into many languages.
Additional Prerequisites
Teachers of younger students may wish to provide a definition list to support comprehension.
Students should have a basic understanding of the phrase "net-zero energy school" before reading.
Teachers and/or students will need internet access to read the article, unless the teacher wishes to print it.
Differentiation
Connections can be made in math classes due to numerical data being mentioned.
Since the article is fairly short, it can become the basis for an excellent substitute lesson plan.
Consider having students conduct research about energy efficient projects on a local level.
Students in social studies classes can utilize the information to construct an infographic that explains how a community worked together to help the planet.
Scientist Notes
This article resource features an elementary school built with sustainability in mind and is recommended for teaching.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Civics
D2.Civ.1.6-8 Distinguish the powers and responsibilities of citizens, political parties, interest groups, and the media in a variety of governmental and nongovernmental contexts.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Foundational Skills (K-5)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.4 Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
Reading: Informational Text (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.5 Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the ideas.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.8.2 Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
5-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
ETS1: Engineering Design
HS-ETS1-1 Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
