Meet+the+GREENS



Indira Kumar Sustainability Education Curriculum Module #2 February 19, 2013

**The Greens** A site for kids about looking after the planet http://www.meetthegreens.org/

**Organization** The GREENS was created by WGBH in Boston and was produced with the support of Ed Burtynsky and the TED Community. The GREENS is a site for kids from WGBH about sustainability and green living.

**Mission** “WGBH enriches people’s lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives.” WGBH is committed to fostering informed and active citizenry, making knowledge and the creative life of the arts, sciences, and humanities available to the widest possible public, reflecting the diversity of their audience by inviting a sense of inclusion and a better understanding of each other, improving access to public media for all, being a trusted partner to parents and educators by providing programs and services that promote the healthy development of children and serving the individual as a participate who is able and willing to learn new skills through their programs and services.

**Educational Philosophy**

The educational website aims to get kids thinking about the world and their responsibility. “The GREENS project is upbeat and optimistic. We encourage kids to make informed choices and meaningful changes. Through the animated episodic adventures, a blog, kids' mail, and regular updates, we explore green living, sustainability, ecology, environmental care, and social equity. We nudge kids to research, to challenge, to discover, and to take action wherever and whenever they can.” Green Business named the GREENS “Ten Best Environmental Sites on the Web”.

**Learning Outcomes of the GREENS** The GREENS is a website geared towards children ages 9-12 focusing on sustainability, green living and environmental responsibility. The website offers short, animated episodes with a full cast of members from all different walks of life. These episodes focus on basic concepts of sustainability but are very informative and have an upbeat, humorous attitude. “Green Games” supplement topics of energy conservation, nature and clothes swapping. The website features a “Carbon Calculator” where children aim to lower their personal carbon footprint to achieve a community goal. “The GREENS Activity Guide” offers six activities designed for children (ages 9-12) in afterschool programs. “Investigate!” deepens kids’ understanding about the problem. “Take Action!” encourages kids to take part in hands-on activities that they can solve. Topics include: waste and landfills, recycling and reducing, and global warming and carbon footprint.

“Reuse, recycle, inspire and greenify the world by way of animated stories and blog entries”

**Do you think the curriculum is appropriately designed to produce the intended learning outcomes?**

The curriculum and website offer fun, interactive games and activities for children. The multimedia approach definitely supplies the audience with enough finger-food to keep their interest and desire to revisit the website. Simple online games and amusing episodes allow kids to learn about environmental studies and have fun at the same time. The activity guide provides very useful, pertinent information that suggest students to live a more sustainably lifestyle. The activities themselves are no/low cost and give children a great visual and take-home project when complete.


 * Does this curriculum teach the kind of literacies the EcoEd Research group advocates? **

Some very important topics from the EcoEd group are covered in in this curriculum however, they are the safer, less politically driven topics. This website covers basic topics in waste, recycling and global warming. The activities get children to investigate and question these topics. The creative, take-home activities allow for kids to display their work and even educate their parents about sustainability.


 * What could be layered into this curriculum so that it addresses more of the learning outcomes that the EcoEd Group advocates? **

The curriculum did a great job covering selected environmental topics with supplemental shows, games and activities. To further the program, I think they should provide more individual activities and projects that kids could do on their own. Some topics are lacking and would be looking forward to see the next iteration of topics to include air pollution, hydraulic fracking and water sanitation. This curriculum has provided excellent information and methods of teaching topics in waste and recycling.


 * Hybrid Haiku **

// A Prius passes //

// I drink in the sweet spring air //

// And hear the birds sing. //