Ten schools recently received $1000 to improve the environmental education collection in their library media center as winners of a 2004 Project Tomorrow Environmental Education Library Grant.
Winning schools include: Enloe High School, Raleigh; Walter H. Page High School, Greensboro; Washington High School, Washington; Cedar Ridge High School, Hillsborough; South Granville High School, Creedmoor; Green Hope High School, Cary; Washington Montessori Charter School, Washington; Roland-Grise Middle School, Wilmington; Southeastern Randolph Middle School, Ramseur; and North Lincoln High School, Lincolnton.
Funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards to the Project Tomorrow Environmental Education Model Library Grant program will benefit students, teachers and communities.
 Debbie Michael of North Lincoln High School shares new books on weather with her students. |
“Environmental education at Green Hope High School involves not only the students, but their teachers, parents, and the community at large. Thus, the school library media center must be able to serve all of these constituents,” Jan Healy, the Green Hope librarian, said.
The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Office of Environmental Education administers the grant program that recognizes applicants demonstrating a desire to integrate environmental education experiences and activities while teaching North Carolina’s Standard Course of Study curriculum objectives. Each winning application conveyed a strong desire to improve student achievement and provide opportunities for problem solving and environmental stewardship.
“To prepare students for the world they will confront in the future, high school programs must place greater emphasis on applying knowledge and critical thinking skills to all learning tasks and on making connections across content areas for deeper understanding,” Julie Durr of Enloe High School said.
The 2004 grants
also recognized teachers who participate in environmental education
professional development during their summer vacation. A teacher from
each winning school had attended a five-day Earth/Environmental Science
Summer Institute where scientists and environmental educators led field
studies and hands-on activities that highlighted North Carolina’s
diverse natural resources and environmental education programs and facilities.
DENR Secretary Bill Ross commended EPA’s Office of Environmental
Education Air Quality Planning and Standards
for providing funds to the grant program and to these schools.
“Our future depends on a better understanding of natural systems and our stewardship of natural resources,” Ross said. “EPA's contribution will provide current environmental library resources to support classroom assignments and individual interests. These grants are a wonderful way to promote environmental literacy and stewardship and support efforts to improve student achievement. The Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards has provided $10,000 each year since the Project Tomorrow Environmental Education Model Library Grant program began in 1995. We are very grateful for their continuing support.”
Visit the Office of Environmental Education web site and the Library Grants site to learn more.
Current Issue | Archives | NCSTA
The Science
Reflector
Newsletter of the North Carolina Science Teachers Association
PO Box 1783, Salisbury, NC 28145
Elizabeth Snoke Harris, Editor