Character Education Newsletter

Kindness Elementary School - December 2010 Character Education Newsletters Broward County Air Quality Program Kindness is described as being helpful, thoughtful, caring, compassionate, and considerate. Go Green December is the perfect month to show kindness to your fellow human beings, as well as all of Climate Change the animals, plants, and natural resources on our planet. Broward County Kids Corner Broward County Public Take the Conservation & Climate Change (C3) Challenge! Schools Environmental We are proud to announce the 2nd annual Conservation & Climate Change (C3) Challenge! The Stewardship C3 Challenge is an educational competition intended to engage students, teachers, school Upcoming Events administrators, staff, and parents in practical strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions school-wide and at home. Become your school’s Climate Leader and register by e-mailing us December: at [email protected] and receive a free Back To School Eco-Friendly C3 Starter Kit. C3 Challenge Each kit contains items such as rules, bookmarks, pencils & pens made from recycled material, Clean Air Poster Contest a reusable shopping bag, stickers, book covers, Energy Star climate change materials, and a Broward County Teacher Resources CD. For more information visit January: www.broward.org/pollutionprevention. Clean Air Poster Contest

February: The winning school will receive: Clean Air Poster Contest

 Celebration Day hosted by the Broward County Air Quality Program at your school March: Clean Air Poster Contest  Sustainable School Plaque  E-Certificates for each teacher who participates Recommended Reading for  Winning banner for school (8’ by 3’) November & December:  2011 Clean Air Calendars CLIMATE CHANGE –  Recognition from the Board of County Commissioners Picturing the Science Gavin Schmidt & Joshua  Climate Change Collection (books, documentaries, and movies) for library Wolfe  A NatureScape butterfly garden

The Broward County Pollution Prevention, Remediation & Air Quality Division continues to incorporate Character Education into its educational efforts. Each month the newsletter will relate core values to science in an effort to educate students about good character and the importance of protecting our natural resources. This year’s newsletters support the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Science. Grade K - Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science Grade 1 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 6: Earth Structures; Big Idea 17: Interdependence Grade 2 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 17: Interdependence Grade 3 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 3: The Role of Theories, Laws, Hypotheses & Models; Big Idea 17: Interdependence Grade 4 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 2: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge; Big Idea 6: Earth Structures; Big Idea 17: Interdependence Grade 5 – Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science; Big Idea 2: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge; Big Idea 17: Interdependence

Activity 1: Eco-Friendly Holiday Tree Decorations

Option 1: Bottle-cap bow Materials: Photos or magazines Bottle caps Nontoxic glue Leftover scraps of gift-wrapping ribbon, various lengths and widths

Instructions: 1. Cut an image to fit the size of the bottle-cap interior and glue it in, pressing to make sure the image lies flat. 2. Take one of the wider ribbons and tie it into a bow proportional to the size of the bottle cap. 3. Then, take a thinner ribbon, preferably one with wire in it for stiffness, and thread it through the top of the bow's knotted center. Once threaded, pull ribbon to desired length and tie a knot at the top to form a loop. 4. Glue the back of the bottle cap to the bow.

Source: www.mnn.com/family/raising-a-family/photos/diy-christmas-tree-ornaments/bottlecap-bow

Option 2: Coffee can wreath Materials Coffee can lid Shells Nontoxic glue Raffia (or yarn)

Instructions 1. Cut out the inside of coffee can lid to use as wreath base. 2. Wrap raffia around the lid and tie in back to make a loop. 3. Glue cut shells and smaller seashells onto raffia. 4. Glue on raffia for hook to hang. Source: www.mnn.com/family/raising-a-family/photos/diy-christmas-tree-ornaments/coffee-can-wreath

Antarctic Auditions: Penguin Craft Materials  Black and white glossy acrylic paint  Plastic soda or water bottles (we used 12-ounce, 1-liter, and 2-liter bottles)  Styrofoam balls (2- to 3-inch diameter)  Black and yellow craft foam sheets  Tacky glue  Masking tape (optional)  Plastic knife (with adult supervision)  Googly eyes (3/4- to 1-inch diameter)  Funnel  Sand  Small doll accessories (optional)  Child's socks (optional)  Permanent marker  Cardboard to make a lawn sign- 15 by 19 inches or larger (optional)

Instructions 1. For each penguin, pour two parts black paint and one part water inside a bottle (we used 1 to 4 tablespoons of paint depending on the size of the bottle). Screw on the cap and shake the bottle to coat the sides. Remove the cap and save it for later. 2. On the outside of the bottle, paint a white oval from the spout to the bottom. Dry overnight (the inside may be slightly wet in the morning). 3. Coat a Styrofoam ball with black paint and let it dry. 4. Cut two wings from the black craft foam and a beak and feet from the yellow craft foam (you can download our template.) Glue the wings and feet to the bottle as shown and let them dry. If needed, use masking tape to hold the wings in place as they dry. 5. With the knife, bore a hole in the Styrofoam ball big enough to fit the neck of the bottle. Glue on googly eyes. Make a small slit below the eyes, insert a few dabs of glue, then slide the beak into the opening. 6. Funnel sand into the bottle to weigh it down (we used 1 to 2 cups depending on the bottle's size). Replace the cap and press the Styrofoam head on top. 7. If you like, dress the penguin in doll accessories or use kids' socks to make your own. For a hat, snip a 6- to 8-inch length from a sock and knot one end. For a scarf, cut a 1½-inch- wide loop from a sock, snip it open, and fringe the ends. 8. Write "Penguins wanted, apply within" on the lawn sign, then arrange it and the penguins in your yard as shown.

Source: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-material/recyclable-projects/penguin-lawn-decoration-802301/

If you have a sample FCAT question you would like to see featured in this section, please e-mail it to [email protected]

The distance to the center of the earth is 12,757 kilometers. What is the place value of the digit 1 in the number 12,757. A. Hundreds B. Hundred Thousands C. Ten thousands D. Thousands

Answer: C. Ten thousands

The Walking School Bus Join the bus! A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with parents or volunteers. It gives children a jump start on daily exercise and learning. Benefits include saving fossil fuels, reducing traffic & emissions around the school and students getting physical activity.

Spread the Word!!!

Subscribe to our electronic Character Education Science FCAT Warm-up Newsletters Today! The monthly edition of this newsletter is distributed only through a FREE electronic e-mail subscriber list. E-mail the Broward County Pollution Prevention, Remediation & Air Quality Division at [email protected] to ensure that you continue to receive this valuable curriculum resource. The newsletters are also available on our Environmental Kids Club web site at www.broward.org/kids. Archived copies of the newsletter are also available through the School Board’s BEEP system.