Hey People!
My name is Tana Shepard aka Eco Chick and I am a K-12 Climate, Energy, Conservation specialist and coordinator of the 4J/EWEB Education Partnership. Our program provides free educational opportunities for 4J teachers and their students.
Each month the Eco Experience newsletter includes monthly environmental themes & resources, learning/PD opportunities, Eco tips and tricks, EWEB Education Partnership updates, and climate change education lesson links, videos, book recommendations and MORE.
I am looking forward to working with you ALL this year.
Best wishes,
Tana aka Eco Chick
In this issue:
- Fall with the 4J/EWEB Education Partnership (4J/EEP)
4J Loves Food, not Waste-A Systematic Approach
Classroom resource conservation tips
Commingle Recycling in Eugene-let's do it right!
As you start wrapping your head around school year 24/25, I'd like to remind you the 4J/EWEB Education Partnership Program is here to support you and your students!
The 4J/EWEB Education Partnership (4J/EEP) is a grant funded program within Eugene School District 4J. About 30 or so years ago, this phenomenal partnership was formed to support and supplement science education, particularly in the areas of energy and water. Prior to the pandemic, the program was slightly revisioned with the theme: Our Changing Planet-Preparing for Our Future.
Check out our website's teacher page for program offerings. (Note: updates always in progress)
Reach out with questions. shepard_t@4j.lane.edu
Salmon Education
We have space for up to 60 classrooms to raise salmon in their classrooms with the ODFW Fish Eggs to Fry program, a priority to third and fourth grade. If you are new to 4J, check in with your team/building leadership to find out which grade level participates in your setting.
We are so excited to work with teachers and students from late October to winter break raising salmon in your classrooms and releasing them into the "wild". A teacher training is provided the first week in October.
This experience is has great science and social studies connections with Tribal History, Shared History and the NGSS standards, especially 3rd and 4th grade.
No Time to Waste
Understanding the value of natural resources, what they and and where they come from, as well as how to conserve, protect and regenerate them is important knowledge to carry forward as humans sharing planet Earth.
Schedule a classroom visit with Eco Chick. We will work with you to streamline the visit to your teaching needs. Visits typically include a story, information and an activity.
4J Climate Justice
4J Climate Justice Team for high school students-this team includes representatives from all 4J high schools' climate related clubs and acts as an advisory committee to district initiatives. This team is designed to support building based climate teams, connect highschoolers across the district and work on student driven initiatives.
(photo: 4J CJT students presenting to the school board June 2023)
Interested in starting a "Green" Team" in your building this year? Need a little help with how to get started?
We're here for you!
Set up an initial consultation and we will work together to get a team going at your site.
This year Eugene 4J will continue our carbon reduction efforts with the 4J Loves Food Not Waste Plan in ALL kitchens and ALL cafeterias across the district. The plan is part of our Climate Action Plan partnership with the City of Eugene and our shift to in-house cooking in 4J Nutrition Services prior to Covid closures.
Understanding the value of food and where it comes from, as well as how to dispose of your meal remains is important knowledge to carry forward as humans on planet Earth.
Check out the Love Food Not Waste Resources for information about the plan and some resources to help you help your students understand this shift in their cafeteria experience.
24/25 Elementary Love Food Not Waste Resources
24/25 Secondary Love Food Not Waste Resources
Be a Waste Warrior-K-12 lessons (by grade band), activities, and resources to teach the planetary impact of what we eat and what we throw away. WWF Food Waste Warrior FREE!!
Tips to go beyond the 3 R's!
5 R model-Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot
Small shifts, big difference!
Resources cost money! We can alleviate unnecessary waste AND wasteful habits by adopting a few new ways of operating in our classroom and school spaces.
1. Lighting-Go natural or use only one bank of lights when possible
2. Save energy-turn off your projectors and doc cameras when not in use, close doors and window when A/C or heat are on.
3. Decrease the amount of paper you print and reuse single sided paper for notes, scratch paper, etc. by having a single sided paper basket available
4. Use only one paper towel to dry hands-if you fold it in half, it works like more than one!
5. Create waste stations for trash and recycling and (next level-food waste!) and train your students/staff on it (see below for recycling guidelines)
6. Be a role model: Encourage and model using reusable cups and water bottles.
7. Reuse decor year after year...the students don't care if you re do your decor every year.
8. Use the staffroom refrigerator and microwave or bring a mini-cooler-individual frigs and microwaves are one of THE most wasteful things we can do in our buildings. (Or, alternately, consider sharing in a common space with your colleagues.
9. To laminate or not laminate-that is the question...usually not. Once paper is laminated, it is not longer recyclable.
Just say no to Wishful recycling-When in doubt, throw it out or find out!
In schools, there are very few items that are truly recyclable. Out in classrooms, I see MANY unrecyclable items in the blue bins-including food. Any item that is "dirty", contaminates the waste stream. See below for Sanipac's guidelines. Click on the photos to link to the printable PDF's for your classroom and building spaces.
Use this link: Sanipac Recycling Guidelines to print for your classrooms and other building spaces.
4J/EWEB Education Partnership
TOSA-Climate, Energy, Conservation
Grant Coordinator-EWEB, SPLASH!, Love Food Not Waste
Email: shepard_t@4j.lane.edu
Website: https://bit.ly/4J-eep
Phone: 541.790.5533