Go Green ….and Gold!
During the 2009/2010 school year, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School will celebrate our yearly theme in many forms throughout all divisions. Be Green ….and Gold! will encourage both faculty and students to look at our earth’s fragile eco system. In our commitment to preserve our resources and the beauty of our landscape, our new Middle School, the Sunlight Building, will be opening in January 2009. As a LEED certified building, Falcons will be learning in this new building, as well as gain a new understanding in our living laboratory.
Students who wish to delve deeper into this notion are encouraged to consult their school library for information about the ecology, our environment and our place within it.
We also offer two on line databases (accessable from home as well as on cmapus) to aid in ecological research: Access Science, Brain Pop and United Streaming are all valuable resources. In addtion, the Campus Center Library offers a number of ecological themed fiction novels ( many with an accompanying AR test) for LS and IS children to enjoy.
Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School
Picture Books
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry
The many different animals that live in a great kapok tree in the Brazilian rain forest try to convince a man with an ax of the importance of not cutting down their home.
Ben’s Dream By Chris Van Allsburg
On a terrifically rainy day, Ben has a dream in which he and his house float by the monuments of the world, half submerged in flood water.
Curious George Plants a Tree by M. Rey
The mischievous monkey learns about protecting the environment by planting trees and recycling paper. Includes tips on conserving energy and resources.
The lorax By Dr. Seuss
The Once-ler describes the results of the local pollution problem.
The Earth and I by Frank Asch
A child explains how he and the Earth dance and sing together and take turns listening to each other.
Children of the Earth: Remember by Schim Schimmel
Out of love and concern for their planet, the animals and people of Mother Earth work together to protect the natural world.
Dear Children of the Earth: A Letter from Home by Schim Schimmel
Wartville wizard by Don Madden
An old man fights a town of litterbugs by magically sending each piece of trash back to the person who dropped it.
Farewell to shady glade by Bill Peet
When building machinery moves into their woodland home, the animal inhabitants of Shady Glade must search for a new place to live.
Where once there was a wood by Denise Fleming
Examines the many forms of wildlife that can be displaced if their environment is destroyed by development and discusses how communities and schools can provide spaces for them to live.
The dumpster dive by Janet Wong
Once a month–every week in the summer–Steve the electrician dons special gear and, with the help of youngsters who live in his building, dives into a dumpster seeking useful objects that they can transform into imaginative new ones.
Uno’s garden by Graeme Base
Uno builds a home and garden in the magnificent forest among the playful puddlebuts and feathered frinklepods, but as the place becomes more and more popular, it is overtaken by tourists and buildings until the forest and animals seem to disappear altogether.
The water hole by Graeme Base
As ever growing numbers of animals visit a watering hole, introducing the numbers from one to ten, the water dwindles.
Meadowview street by Henry Cole
Upon moving to a new house, young Caroline and her parents encourage wildflowers to grow and birds and animals to stay in their yard, which soon has the whole suburban street living up to its name.
Trouble with dragons by Debi Gliori
When dragons cut down too many trees, blow out too much hot air, and do other environmental damage, the future looks grim, but other animals advise them on how to mend their ways and save the planet.
Someday a Tree by Eve Bunting
A young girl, her parents, and their neighbors try to save an old oak tree that has been poisoned by pollution.
Winston of Churchill : one bear’s battle against global warming by J.D. Okimoto
Winston, a great white bear who hunts from the ice of Hudson Bay near the town of Churchill, Manitoba, rallies his fellow polar bears to protest the human activities that are causing the planet to warm and melting the ice of the bears’ traditional hunting grounds.
Fiction Novels
Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery by David Adler
On Green Day, Cam and her classmates discuss ways to protect the environment, but when money collected for the school’s new skylights disappears, Cam uses her photographic memory to solve the mystery.
Wiggle and Waggle by Caroline Arnold
Two worms who are best friends have fun together as they tunnel their way through a garden. Includes facts on how worms help plants grow.
Green Boy by Susan Cooper
Twelve-year-old Trey and his seven-year-old brother Lou, who does not speak, cross the barrier between two worlds, that of their island in the Bahamas, and a land called Pangaia, and play a mysterious role in restoring the natural environment in both places.
The Prince of Butterflies by Bruce Colville
When surrounded by thousands of butterflies, eleven-year-old John becomes transformed into one of them and finds his entire life altered because of this experience.
Books of Ember (series) by Jeanne DuPrau
City of Ember/People of Sparks/Prophet of Yonwood / Diamond of Darkhold
The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner
Two New Zealand teenagers receive a desperate SOS from their future selves and set out on a quest to stop an impending ecological disaster that could mean the end of humanity.
Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman
One by one, a number of people of varying ages and backgrounds transform a trash-filled inner-city lot into a productive and beautiful garden, and, in doing so, the gardeners are themselves transformed.
Vampire Island by Adele Griffin
The Livingstone kids are fruit bat hybrids who have left Old World dangers and immortality behind for a “normal” life in New York City, but normal doesn’t necessarily mean easy, especially with lingering vampire traits complicating things.
Skullduggery by Pete Hautman
During a field trip in the local woods, Roni and Brian find the local archaeology professor, Andrew Dart, knocked unconscious in a cave, which leads them to investigate a land development scheme.
Kailey by Amy Goldman Koss
Ten-year-old Kailey launches an art protest to keep a developer from spoiling the cove and its tide pools that are special to her and her family and friends.
Tin Can Man by Marcia Leonard
A phonics-based story for readers in pre-kindergarten through grade one in which a girl and her father build a figure out of tin cans that wins a blue ribbon.
Judy Moody Saves the World! by Megan McDonald
When Judy Moody gets serious about protecting the environment, her little brother Stink thinks she is overdoing it, but she manages to inspire her third grade class to undertake an award-winning, environment-saving project.
Messy Bessey’s Garden by Patricia McKissack
Messy Bessey discovers that with proper care her garden will flourish.
Recycled by Jilian Powell
Miss Drew’s efforts to teach her class about recycling are very successful.
The Beasties by William Sleator
When fifteen-year-old Doug and his younger sister Colette move with their parents to a forested wilderness area, they encounter some weird creatures whose lives are endangered.
Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things by Wendelin Van Draanen
While on her first hiking and camping trip, thirteen-year-old Sammy tries to solve a mystery involving endangered condors while avoiding scorpions, ticks, and embarrassment.
Where Have the Unicorns Gone? by Jane Yolen
The unicorns flee from the noise, violence, and destruction of civilization and find refuge in the sea.
Abel’s Island By William Steig
Castaway on an uninhabited island, Abel, a very civilized mouse, finds his resourcefulness and endurance tested to the limit as he struggles to survive and return to his home.
Hoot By Carl Hiaasen
Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in another boy’s attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls from a proposed construction site.
Scat by Carl Hiaasen
Nick and Marta are both suspicious when their biology teacher, the feared Mrs. Bunny Starch, disappears, and try to uncover the truth despite the police and headmaster’s insistence that nothing is wrong.
Flush by Carl Hiassen
With their father jailed for sinking a river boat, Noah Underwood and his younger sister, Abbey, must gather evidence that the owner of this floating casino is emptying his bilge tanks into the protected waters around their Florida Keys home.
National Parks Mysteries series by Gloria Skurzynski
Exciting mystery-adventure stories take place in the U.S. National Parks, and introduce readers to a particular park’s history as well as its ecology.
Maxium Ride #4: Max by James Patterson
When millions of fish start dying off the coast of Hawaii and something is destroying hundreds of ships, the government enlists the Flock–a band of genetically modified children who can fly–to help get to the bottom of the disaster before it is too late.
There’s an owl in the shower by George, Jean Craighead
Laws protecting the spotted owls in the old growth forest of northern California cost Borden’s father his logging job. Angry, Borden vows to kill any spotted owl he sees, but has a change of heart when he and his father find themselves taking care of a young owlet.
My side of the mountain George, Jean Craighead
young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the Catskill Mountains including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that he needs human companionship.
Frightful’s Mountain. George, Jean Craighead
As she grows through the first years of her life in the Catskill Mountains of New York, a peregrine falcon called Frightful interacts with various humans, including the boy who raised her, a falconer who rescues her, and several unscrupulous poachers, as well as with many animals that are part of the area’s ecological balance.
Non-fiction Books
A cool drink of water by Kerley
Depicts people around the world collecting, chilling, and drinking water.
I love our earth by Bill Martin
Presents a introduction to nature, in simple text with photographs, celebrating the Earth’s seasons, climates, and colors.
Gone Wild By David McLimans
Presents the alphabet in capital letters designed to look like endangered animals, and lists facts on each species, covering their habitats, geographic ranges, threats to survival, and statuses.
The Dirt on Dirt by Paulette Bourgeois with Kathy Vanderlinden
Text describe where dirt comes from and its importance to nature; and includes instructions for creating a fossil footprint and growing a garden playhouse.
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: A Message from Chief Seattle by Chief Seattle
A Suquamish Indian chief describes his people’s respect and love for the Earth, and concern over its destruction.
M is for majestic: a National Parks alphabet by David Domenicon
Examines the history and lore of America’s national parks from Acadia National Park to Zion National Park.
Let’s get ready for Earth Day by Llyod Douglas
A boy describes how his class prepares for Earth Day, by learning about the holiday from their teacher, preparing and hanging posters, and planting a tree.
Endangered Planet by David Burnie
Shows how natural habitats and cycles are threatened by human behavior and explores possible solutions.
Earth’s Water Crisis by Rob Bowden
Examines the potential for a serious global water crisis, the effects of global warming on water supplies, and ways to keep nations from going to war over water.
Earth’s Garbage Crisis by Christian Dorion
Examines the careless use of the Earth’s natural resources, efforts to encourage recycling of garbage, and ways to safely dispose of industrial waste.
Down to earth guide to global warming by Laurie David
A collection of facts and information about global warming and its consequences, with suggestions on maintaining a healthy environment in the home, at school, and in the community.
Recycle by Gail Gibbons
Explains the process of recycling from start to finish and discusses what happens to paper, glass, aluminum cans, and plastic when they are recycled into new products.
Oil Spill by Melvin Berger
Explains why oil spills occur and how they are cleaned up and suggests strategies for preventing them in the future.
Why should I recycle by Jen Green
Mr. Jones takes his students on a visit to a recycling center, and teaches them some of the many ways in which they can recycle and reuse.
The future of the earth: an introduction to sustainable development for young readers
by Philippe J. Dubois
Discusses the diversity, richness, and complexity of sustainable development issues around the world.
Biographies
Rachel Carson: pioneer of ecology by Kathleen Kudlindki
A biography of the ecologist and writer most noted for her book “Silent Spring” concerning the dangers of pesticides and their uses.
Rachel: The story of Rachel Carson by Amy Ehrlich
A biography of Rachel Carson, author of “Silent spring,” which sparked the beginnings of the modern environmental movement.
Poetry Books
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return.
The opening of our new green Middle School building will occur in January 2010. In preparation for the coming 2009-2010 school year, I have found myself researching issues relating to sustainability and libraries. What are schools, and in particular librarians, doing to make our environment a healthier one?
ventilation, demand-based ventilation and a green roof with storm water cistern system. It is projected that a minimum of 80% of the original structure will be recycled during construction. The new library building will also be home to a Sustainable Resources Center.
materials were recyceld, improve energy efficiency by 10% above Seattle energy code requirements, and used locally produced building materials when feasible. Special attention was paid to the air quality inside the building through installation of low-emission carpeting. The library also conducted a two-week re-ventilation process to get rid of all construction dust and chemical residue in the air prior to opening the new building.”
Going green happens in small steps. It happens our homes in our work places and in our communities by making little changes to our everyday activities. The smallest of actions will have the greatest impact in changing our way of thinking.
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