“The S² Challenge toolkit is a 30-day program - funded through a New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) grant - to promote, encourage and engage students in sustainability,” explains Tarkeysha Burton, South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) Recycling Coordinator. Burton designed the Sustainable Schools (S²) Challenge Toolkit which is geared for the classroom and free to all public, private and charter schools.
Burton explains, “The activities in the guide are intended to meet both New Mexico English and Language Arts and Science standards; this gives teachers a way to integrate activities into their regular lesson plans without compromising the quality of education for their students.”
The S² Challenge is available not only for children in Las Cruces, but also throughout New Mexico, this fall. The Sustainable Schools Challenge aims to inspire and cultivate environmental advocates and motivate students and teachers to think both locally and globally about how taking simple actions today to have a huge impact on tomorrow.
Thanks to a Recycling and Illegal Dumping grant administered by NMED, the S² Challenge toolkit is available free in printed form or online as a .pdf file, and outlines different activities for different grades in beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. From cooking hot dogs with solar power to calculating formulas to determine the weight of gas pollutants, the curriculum can blend seamlessly into existing lesson plans.
Teachers can engage students in a wide variety of topics pertaining to environmental issues: climate change, solar energy and energy efficiency, solid waste and recycling management, and consumption. “With the student’s leadership on different projects, the S² Challenge can foster a new environmentally savvy generation,” says Burton.
The S² Challenge runs just a month, from October 1 to October 31, 2018, plenty of time to establish good habits. The school with the most teachers participating from the Las Cruces Public Schools, Gadsden ISD or Hatch Valley Public School District with the most teachers participating wins the challenge and receives recognition for the SCSWA, a banner and plaque for the school. The teacher who accepts the challenge for their students is asked to take the Sustainability Promise that asks for “understanding and implementing practical strategies that can help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gas emissions, reduce solid waste and consumption and to help encourage recycling and other environmentally sound behaviors.”
The S² Challenge toolkit can be picked up at the SCSWA offices 2865 N. Motel Blvd. during regular business hours, can be delivered to schools, or found online as a .pdf file at https://scswa.net/s2challenge/
Green Connections is submitted by the South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) managing solid waste, recyclables, and working to stop illegal dumping for residents and businesses throughout Doña Ana County. Contact the SCSWA at (575) 528-3800 or visit www.SCSWA.net.