HISD’s Zero-Waste School Program aims to minimize the amount of waste generated on campuses and improve knowledge and awareness among HISD students, staff, and families about the importance of minimizing our waste.

In this Part 1 of our 4-part series, the provided lessons and activities aim to help your students come up with their own definition of sustainability, and to apply that definition to explore opportunities for improving sustainability in their own campus community.

Student Activity: Defining Sustainability

Time Required: 30-45 minutes

Grade Level: 3rd to 12th

Subject Area: ELAR, Science, Social Studies

Objective: Students create a clear definition of sustainability to begin the process.

Student Activity: CELF’s Sustainability in our Classroom lesson

Time Required: 45 minutes

Grade Level: 1st to 12th

Subject Area Covered: ELAR, Science, Social Studies

Objective: Students map their classroom to identify sustainability practices in their classroom, and identify ways they can become more sustainable in their campus practices.

Student Activity: NWF Community Forum Planning activity

Time Required: 30-45 minutes

Grade Level: 1st to 12th

Subject Area Covered: ELAR, Science, Social Studies

Objective: Building on students’ ideas for improving campus sustainability, students’ collect input from campus community members to develop their sustainability action plan.

Student Activities: NWF Eco Code Lesson Plan; Slingshot Challenge

Time Required: 30-45 minutes

Grade Level: K to 12th

Subject Area Covered: Math, ELAR, Science, Social Studies

Objective: Create a campus Eco Code to help motivate the campus community toward sustainability goals.

Your 13-18 year old students' are invited to submit a 1-minute video outlining their innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Submit by February 1, 2024 for the chance to receive up to $10,000 in funding.

We need your feedback! In our next newsletter, look for the survey link to rate the Defining Sustainability for our School resources for a chance to WIN A VISA GIFT CARD! Only pilot teachers are eligible.

Stay tuned for our next newsletter on February 6th, where we’ll be exploring the waste we produce on campus.